…National Security Petitioned To Investigate Dzato
A bitter land dispute has erupted in Amrahia and surrounding communities, with residents accusing Clement Dzato, a controversial figure in land deals, of orchestrating a campaign of intimidation and harassment to seize land rightfully belonging to them.
The residents have formally petitioned the National Security Coordinator, DCOP Abdul Osman Razak, seeking urgent intervention and protection.
The heart of the matter lies in land originally owned by families in Danfa, Kweiman, Amrahia, and neighbouring areas.
While the government previously acquired the land without compensation, the Akufo-Addo administration, prior to its electoral defeat, allocated 40% of it back to the families in lieu of compensation.
The government retained the remaining 60%. This agreement was documented in 2020 under the hand of then Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh.
However, the families allege that despite this agreement, they are being systematically denied access to their allocated land.
Their petition, dated January 28, 2025, details a pattern of harassment and trespass orchestrated by Dzato and his associates, allegedly including land guards and even elements within the police and the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), formerly the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).
The petition, signed by the families’ legal counsel, Gregory Kwadwo Asiedu, accuses Dzato of employing thuggish tactics, deploying land guards to patrol the disputed areas and threatening anyone attempting to assert their land ownership.
The petitioners are demanding that national security officials investigate Dzato’s activities and ensure their peaceful possession of the land allocated to them by the government.
Information obtained by The New Republic paints an even more troubling picture.
Sources allege that Dzato, in collusion with officials at the Lands Commission, police, and NIB, has personally appropriated 232 acres of the 40% designated for the families.
He is further accused of selling off these lands without the knowledge or consent of the rightful owners, using the proceeds for his own benefit.
The petition also implicates former Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, and other individuals, including Alex Quainoo, former director of the NIB, Nana Atobrah Quaicoe, and Vincent Nsafuah, suggesting their involvement in or support of Dzato’s alleged activities.
Jinapor previously defended the engagement of Dzato’s company, Messrs Aynok Holdings Limited, for land reclamation projects.
The families are specifically calling for the immediate removal of police officers allegedly complicit in the intimidation.
They also express concern that Dzato is actively seeking to curry favor with the current administration in an attempt to renew his government contracts, which would allow him to continue his alleged land grabbing operations.
They warned that this could impact their future support for the ruling NDC party.
Dzato’s history with land disputes is well-documented. His operations were previously scrutinized by the Lands and Forestry Committee of Parliament, with some members raising serious concerns.
However, the previous government defended his engagement, claiming he was legitimately hired to reclaim and protect state lands.
Alhassan Suhuyini, then a Member of Parliament and now Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Minister, was a vocal critic, questioning the government’s reliance on individuals with alleged ties to land guard activities.
He also highlighted concerns about Dzato’s methods, including claims that he was compensated with land in exchange for his services.
The current allegations against Dzato underscore the ongoing challenges in land administration and the urgent need for transparency and accountability.
The petition submitted to the National Security Coordinator represents a desperate plea for intervention, highlighting the potential for further conflict if these issues are not addressed swiftly and decisively.