Court Issues Bench Warrant For Deputy Tourism Minister Over Land Grabbing Gangsterism

The Circuit Court at Adenta has issued a bench warrant for Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mark Okraku Mantey, in connection with his usage of thuggish hirelings to terrorise an estate developer and his workers over a piece of land.

Okraku Mantey became wanted when he failed to turn up in court on January 18, 2022, for the completion of a case management conference in respect of the matter.

The deputy minister for Arts, Culture and Tourism, has been charged for violating Sections 7 (1) and (2) of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act. Allegedly, he forcibly invaded the land, owned by one Alhaji Tony Baba.

Okraku Mantey’s lawyer was also absent but had earlier sought permission from the court.

Prosecuting, Superintendent of Police Patience Mario prayed the court for a bench warrant to effect the arrest of the accused person. The court presided over by Sedinam Awo Balokah, issued the warrant and adjourned the matter to 8 February 2022.

According to a report by the Ghana News Agency, the case of the prosecution was that the complainant, Alhaji Tony Baba, was an estate developer residing in North Legon, Accra.

It said the complainant was developing a parcel of land at Oyarifa High Tension, ownership of which the accused person, too, was allegedly claiming.

The prosecution said on 3 March last year, the accused person went to the site with three “thugs” two of whom were on a motorbike and another in his (the deputy minister’s) car.

The prosecution said on 9 March last year, the accused person visited the site for a few hours, after which the “thugs” with whom he previously visited the site went back to the site and attacked the workers and caused damage to parts of the building allegedly.

It said the complainant reported the matter to the police and mentioned the accused person as the one behind the “unwarranted attacks and damages”.

The prosecution said that, during interrogation, the accused person was contacted to report to the police to assist in investigations.

It said while police were waiting for the accused person, more damage was allegedly caused to the three-bedroom building on 10 March last year, and Okraku Mantey was identified as the one who had brought and ordered the “thugs” to cause the damage.

The prosecution said that on 3 April last year, the complainant’s workers were allegedly attacked again and two people sustained injury.

It said the injured people were issued with police medical forms so they could seek treatment.

On 20 March 2021, further extensive damage was allegedly caused to the building, which had been built to a lintel level and was valued at GHC63, 700.