Murder Of Soldier Saga: Set Up Independent Committee Of Inquiry To Probe Into Prevalent Landguardism In Gomoa Fetteh—Kofi Asmah Tells Dr Bawumia
The seasoned estate developer appealed to Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Mahama to establish an independent commission of inquiry to investigate the shooting and killing incidents at Millennium City and its adjoining communities, urging proactive measures to arrest the perpetrators and restore peace to the area.
Freeman Koryekpor 
CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) and Director of 21st Century Development Limited, Mr. Kofi Asmah, Mr. Kofi Asmah, has decried increasing attacks on genuine land developers by hired land guards in Millennium City at Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region, lamenting the detrimental impact of land guard activities on his real estate business.
The seasoned estate developer appealed to Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Mahama to establish an independent commission of inquiry to investigate the shooting and killing incidents at Millennium City and its adjoining communities, urging proactive measures to arrest the perpetrators and restore peace to the area.
Mr. Asmah criticized the alleged collusion between police officers in Millennium City
and one Kwasi Alhaji, stressing the urgent need for government intervention to prevent further loss of life and business disruption caused by hired land guards.
He emphasized the necessity for government intervention to prevent further loss of life and business disruption caused by hired land guards in the community.
Mr. Asmah condemned the shooting and killing of Lance Corporal Michael Danso, a military officer stationed at the Army Base workshop in Burma Camp by Benlord Ababio, also known as Nana Barima Ababio, at Millennium City at Gomoa Fetteh.
According to him, incident which occurred near the Central East Regional Police Command in Millennium City, Gomoa Fetteh,on Tuesday April 30, 2024, sparking panic and tension in the area has put Ghana Police administration into shame.
“Mr. Asmah condemns this unprovoked attack in no uncertain terms. I and the chiefs and elders of Gomoa Nyanyano reiterate our commitment of ever ready to work with the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and National Security agencies to investigate and prosecute the shooters of the soldier.
'We are also ready to work with the national security agencies to maintaining law and order in our communities, and urge all citizens to seek peaceful and lawful means to resolve land disputes and to refrain from engaging in acts of violence to prevent such tragic incidents,” Mr Asmah advised.
According to him, he has personally reported 350 complaints against Kwesi Alhaji to the police officers stationed at Millennium City for using and-guard to attack many genuine land developers who purchased lands from his company, but it seems like the land guards have over powdered the police officers in the area.
According to him, the vision for the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to establish the Central East Regional Police Command at Millennium City at Gomoa Fetteh to fight crimes in the area has sabotaged by the police officers in the area.
"I must congratulate Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, the youngest Inspector–General of Police (IGP) for working hard to ensure the fight of crimes in the country. But frankly speaking l must tell you today that your police officers stationed in Millennium City are not helping you at all to fight crimes in Kasoa and Millennium City at Gomoa Fetteh.
"The true of the matter is that some of these officers are friends of Kwasi Alhaji and notorious land guards in the area who are helping these thugs to forcibly take the lands from individuals land developers who purchased their lands from his company," Mr Asmah reaffirmed.
He also lamented the lack of courage displayed by the officers, who failed to rush to the scene and rescue Lance Corporal Michael Danso, a military officer stationed at the Army Base workshop in Burma Camp.
He reiterated Lance Corporal Michael Danso, along with his colleagues Lance Corporal Abdul Omar Rahman and Lance Corporal Ametus Mathew, had visited the Millennium City Police station aboard a Toyota Rav4 with Reg. No. 3591-24 to report a case of trespass prior to the unfortunate incident.
Expressing his condolence to the family members of Lance Corporal Michael Danso, Mr Asmah expressed disappointment in the police officers on duty at the Central East Regional Police Command before the tragic event unfolded on April 30, 2024.
Mr Asmah expressed these sentiments when he joined family members of Lance Corporal Michael Danso at Millennium City at Gomoa Fetteh to perform the necessary rituals to officially release the soul of Lance Corporal Michael Danso, who was shot to death by an individual identified as Benlord Ababio at Millennium City.
The principal elders and heads of the Kwesi Kani family at Kyebi in the Eastern Region stormed Millennium City at Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, to invoke curses on Kwesi Alhaji and other suspected individuals alleged to have killed Lance Corporal Michael Danso.
Amidst the beating of war drums and singing of war songs, the members of the Kwesi Kani family at Kyebi, joined by some chiefs and elders of Gomoa Nyanyano led by the Ankobeahene Nana Ayikoi I, poured libation to mark the one-week celebration of the soldier’s killing at the scene of the incident near the Central East Regional Police Command at Millennium City.
Some family members, including the wailing mother of the deceased soldier, also invoked curses on individuals they believe killed Lance Corporal Michael Danso.
They poured libations with Schnapp drinks and ordinary water, calling upon their deities and ancestors to deal with those involved and alleged to be operating under ‘orders from above’ to kill their beloved son.
Prior to the event, the principal elders and heads of the Kwesi Kani family at Kyebi held a meeting with the police chiefs of the Central East Regional Police Command to brief them on the rituals they intended to perform at the scene of the incident.
Addressing a crowded press conference amidst tears and wailing at Millennium City, the head of the Kwesi Kani family at Kyebi, Nana Yaw Boakye Ofori Atta, on behalf of the family, stated their demand for the police to arrest Kwesi Alhaji, the second suspect in the killing of Lance Corporal Michael Danso, before the soldier’s burial.
“We are giving a two-week ultimatum to the national security agencies and police to apprehend Kwesi Alhaji and other alleged killers of Lance Corporal Michael Danso near the Central East Police Headquarters at Millennium City,” the family declared. They also emphasized their desire for Kwesi Alhaji’s arrest for questioning, citing his alleged connection to the prime suspect, Benlord Ababio.
They expressed their wish for their ancestors and the spirit of the deceased soldier to punish any lawyer who would be paid by the suspects to defend them in court, stressing the unbearable devastation caused by the murder.
Furthermore, they highlighted the broader issue of land disputes in Millennium City and the apparent inadequacy of law enforcement agencies in addressing the menace of land guards in the area and across the country.
Flanked by Abusuapani Kofi Akom of Kyebi, Nana Yaw Boakye Ofori Atta clarified that the suspect, reportedly a chief in the area, is not recognized in the register of Chiefs in the Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Area. He identified Benlord Ababio as a ranking member of a landguard syndicate in Gomoa Fetteh, in violation of the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036), which criminalizes “landguardism” in Ghana.
He urged National Security Agencies to address the threats posed by landguards and restore peace to the area swiftly.
