A Dansoman Circuit Court judge has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of one Ussha Haruna, the alleged ringleader of the gang of 10 landguards arrested last Thursday for terrorising the residents of Ashongman in the Ga East District of the Greater Accra region. 

The arrest warrant followed the failure by Haruna to show up in court on Monday, July 7,  when the case regarding the prosecution of the 10 was called.

It is not immediately clear why Haruna did not make it to court. 

However, information picked up indicates that some people at the police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Accra have asked that the case docket be brought to them casting doubts in the minds of Ashongman residents that some people at the CID with interest in the case want to as they claim, ‘make it a foolish case’.

It is not exactly clear how things will pan out in the end but some state prosecuting officers have expressed concern about the turn of events questioning the mandate of the CID to demand a case that does not fall within their domain, saying it goes against existing laid down prosecutorial arrangements.

The worrying development comes at a time when the police said it had made major breakthrough in the fight against landguard violence following last Thursday, July 3, 2025 special operation by the Anti-Landguard Unit led by DSP Nafiu Shittu, which carried out a targeted operation in Ashongman Estates leading to the arrest of the 10 notorious landguards.

The team, acting on credible intelligence from distressed residents, stormed the Bank of Ghana lands at around 10:00 AM and arrested the gang of suspected landguards who had long tormented landowners with threats, property destruction, and illegal land claims.

The suspects were arrested without resistance during the well-coordinated raid.

They face charges in court under the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999).

Their reported sponsor, Ussha Haruna, is also under investigation for orchestrating the group’s illegal activities.

This land, officially acquired in 2014 through a government auction and backed by court rulings in 2010 and 2024, has been a flashpoint for violent confrontations. Despite the legal clarity surrounding the land’s ownership, armed landguards repeatedly laid false claims, extorted payments, and intimidated residents.

DSP Shittu emphasized that the raid forms part of a broader national strategy to dismantle landguard networks and restore confidence in land ownership security.

Grateful residents of Ashongman Estates expressed renewed hope and appreciation for the police intervention and commended the Inspector General of Police, COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno for the hard work since assuming office. Many had endured years of fear and financial loss due to the unchecked actions of these groups.

The operation highlights the growing importance of community-police collaboration in combating urban land insecurity. It also reinforces the need for robust legal enforcement against landguardism, which continues to plague parts of Ghana’s rapidly developing neighbourhoods.

The land in question, located at the heart of Ashongman Estates, was legally acquired by its original owners in 2014 through a government auction, with full compensation duly paid.

The legitimacy of the ownership was further solidified by court judgments in 2010 and 2024, which affirmed the rights of the owners and dismissed any counterclaims. Despite this, the landguards, often armed and operating with impunity, had been terrorizing residents, claiming ownership of plots and demanding payments from legitimate landowners.

Acting on intelligence following complaints from affected residents, the Anti-Landguard Unit meticulously planned the operation to apprehend the culprits. On the morning of July 3, officers swooped in on the Bank of Ghana lands, catching the landguards off guard. The swift and coordinated effort ensured the suspects were apprehended without incident, a testament to the unit’s professionalism and resolve.

In an engagement with DSP Nafiu Shittu, Commander of the Anti-Land guard Unit, he revealed that the arrested individuals were part of an organized group notorious for intimidating residents, demolishing properties and illegally claiming land. 

DSP Shittu revealed that the operation was part of a broader initiative by the Ghana Police Service to crack down on land guard activities across the country. 

The arrests have sparked hope among Ashongman Estates residents, who have long felt abandoned in their struggle against the unlawful activities of land guards.  The 10 apprehended suspects who were sponsored, facilitated and encouraged by one Ussha Haruna include; Yussif Touffik, Chief Ali Ibrahim, Abdul Wajeed, Seidu Issah and Graham Smith.

The rest are Latiff Larry, Mohammed Omar, Emmanuel Mensah, Abdul Wallah and Said Abdullai all of who are currently in custody and charged with causing damage and engaging in Landguardism under the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999).

The successful operation at Ashongman Estates underscores the importance of collaboration between communities, law enforcement, and government institutions in tackling the land guard menace.

With urban land disputes on the rise due to increasing property values and unclear land documentation in some areas, the role of specialized units like the Anti-Landguard Unit led by DSP Nafiu Shittu is more critical than ever.