Bench warrants have been issued for the arrest of two suspects who failed to appear before the Kumasi High Court in a case involving the alleged sale of public land at Buobai in the Asokore Mampong Municipality.
The two, identified as the Kenyasehene and the Odikro of Buobai, did not attend proceedings. The court ordered their arrest as the case was adjourned to 12 March 2026.
Nine other accused persons, including former Asokore Mampong Municipal Chief Executive Alidu Seidu, remain in police custody after failing to meet bail conditions.
The court granted each of them bail set at GH¢800,000 with three landed property sureties to be justified. However, none has so far satisfied the requirements.
They face 12 charges, including conspiracy to falsify land records, fraudulent breach of trust, unlawful occupation of public land and possession of forged documents.
The case centres on a 10.54-acre portion of a larger 19.06-acre parcel acquired in 1999 by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly for public use. The land was initially earmarked for a septage treatment facility following the closure of the Kumasi landfill site at Ahenema Kokoben.
The project was later halted after opposition from sections of the Buobai community, and the land became the subject of disputes and alleged encroachment.
In 2014, a committee set up by the Assembly recommended that nine acres be allocated to some affected persons after demolitions and complaints from occupants. The remaining 10.06 acres were reserved for the construction of a hospital under a revised local plan filed with the Lands Commission.
Prosecutors say that between June 2020 and January 2021, the portion reserved for the hospital was redesignated for residential use without proper authorisation. They allege that 34 plots were carved out and allocated to five businessmen, with some plots occupied and others resold.
Investigators further claim that one of the accused presented a letter dated 20 September 2000, stating that the land had been returned to the stool. However, checks at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly reportedly indicated that the document was not authentic.
The complaint was filed by the current Municipal Chief Executive, Ben Abdallah Alhassan.
source :www.kumasimail.com
