An Accra Circuit Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Emmanuel Martey, a 49-year-old carpenter, over a fraudulent land transaction.
Martey is alleged to have sold a plot of land at Kokrobite to Jennifer Botchwey for GH₵ 45,000, without possessing the legal authority to do so.
Martey faces charges under Section 277 (2)(b) of the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036) for engaging in fraudulent transactions.
Prosecutor Chief Inspector Princess Tetteh Boafo explained that the complainant, Jennifer Botchwey, a businesswoman residing in Kokrobite, Accra, was approached by Martey in September 2023.
Martey allegedly claimed he needed money to pay for medical care for his ailing wife and offered to sell the land to Botchwey for GH₵45,000.
Botchwey, accompanied by a witness named Bernard Brocke, initially paid Martey a deposit of GH₵ 25,000, with the remaining balance of GHC 20,000 completed upon Martey’s presentation of land documents.
However, in March 2024, when Botchwey attempted to develop the land, she discovered another person had already begun construction on the plot.
Attempts to retrieve her money were unsuccessful, and Martey claimed he was unaware that a family member had previously sold the land.
Botchwey subsequently filed a complaint at the Accra Central Police Station, leading to Martey’s arrest on October 13, 2024.
In his cautioned statement, Martey reportedly admitted to the offense.
Following investigations, he was charged and brought before the court, which has now issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
