Keta MCE Caught in Fraud …Dragged to Court and Reported To AG, and CID

A case of fraud by false pretences and falsification has been reported to the police against the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Keta Municipal Assembly, Emmanuel Gemegah.

The complaint was lodged by a US-based Ghanaian, Benjamin Johnson, through his lawyer Kwasi Anti Larbi of Vordoagu, Dzeble & Co., on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. The issue revolves around the sale of purported “reclaimed lands” that allegedly belong to the Assembly, which Mr. Johnson purchased from the MCE.

However, it has come to light that the transaction may have been deceptive. In a statement to the police presented by Mr. Johnson’s legal team, various authorities including the Attorney General Department and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) were copied.

According to the complaint, Mr. Johnson was informed by Mr. Gemegah about the sale of the land and subsequently agreed to purchase two plots for Twenty-Eight Thousand Three Hundred and Twenty-Nine Ghana Cedis (GHc28,329.00).

A portion of this amount was paid before the demarcation of the land. Despite Mr. Johnson making payments and intending to develop the land, suspicions arose when inconsistencies and irregularities emerged.

These concerns included discrepancies in the demarcation of the land and the official documentation provided by Mr. Gemegah.

His concerns captured in a three page document, state that Mr Johnson was at a specific time was informed of the sale of the reclaimed land being led in the sale by Mr Gemegah. The lawyers stated that their client got interested and contacted the MCE for purchase of the land.

“Later, our client called him and spoke to him whereupon he confirmed that he was in the position to sell four (4) plots of land to him. Our client, however, settled on two (2) plots of land for which Mr Emmanuel Gemegah requested for a going price of Twenty- Eight Thousand Three Hundred and Twenty-Nine Ghana Cedis (GHc28, 329. 00) out of which Twenty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHc20, 000.00) was paid before demarcation”.

Furthermore, a subsequent visit to Ghana revealed that an encroacher, known only as Captain, had occupied the land and begun development activities.

Mr. Gemegah’s lack of intervention in halting this illegal occupation raised doubts about his involvement in the matter.

Mr. Johnson, after failed attempts to reach Mr. Gemegah, has sought legal representation to address the issue and seek redress for the financial losses and disruptions caused by the alleged fraudulent transaction, amounting to over GHc61,070.

Efforts to contact Mr. Gemegah for his response have been unsuccessful, prompting Mr. Johnson’s legal team to pursue legal action in pursuit of justice and accountability.