Two men have been granted bail by an Accra Circuit Court in connection with the alleged destruction of a fence wall and security post belonging to real estate firm, Babbel Limited.
The total cost of damage has been pegged at over GH¢1.54 million.
The accused – Joseph Nii Laryea Adjei, a farmer, and Ali Ibrahim, a businessman – appeared before the court presided over by His Honour Mr. Isaac Addo(Esq.).
They both pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and unlawful damage to property. Each was granted bail in the sum of GH¢800,000, with one surety required.
They are part of a group of six men facing similar charges. The four other accused persons — Joseph Adjei (an auto sprayer), Nii Adjei Akpor I (a businessman), Alhassan Hafiz, and Daniel Tetteh — were absent from court and are yet to be arraigned.
In addition to the joint charges, the first accused, Joseph Nii Laryea Adjei, faces a separate count of abetment of crime.
The court has instructed the prosecution to regularise all legal processes in relation to the charges. The case has been adjourned to July 7, 2025.
Background of the Case
According to the facts presented by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Seth Frimpong, the complainant is Peter Asare, the Site Manager of Babbel Company Limited, a private real estate developer.
The company, ASP Frimpong said, legally acquired 100 acres of land at Addoteiman in 2012 for residential development. A perimeter wall and security post were erected on the land, which was subsequently painted and placed under constant surveillance.
However, sometime after the development began, the first accused, Joseph Nii Laryea Adjei, laid claim to a portion of the land. He initiated a civil case at the Madina District Court against individuals he accused of being land guards. The complainant, Babbel Limited, later joined the suit as an interested party. That litigation is still ongoing.
Despite the matter being before court, Adjei allegedly returned to the site on June 5, 2024, accompanied by individuals believed to be land guards, and forcefully demolished parts of the fence wall and the security post. The incident was reported to the police, leading to his arrest and temporary release on bail.
Escalation and Further Damage
The prosecution claims the destruction did not end there. On October 19, 2024, Adjei is said to have conspired with Ali Ibrahim, Joseph Adjei, and Nii Adjei Akpor I to carry out a second wave of destruction at the property.
Furthermore, he is alleged to have enlisted Alhassan Hafiz and Daniel Tetteh, both believed to be heavy machinery operators, to demolish additional sections of the wall using payloaders.
Following the incident, the matter was escalated to the Ghana Police Headquarters, and a patrol team was dispatched to intervene. The suspects were subsequently arrested.
A team from the Police Crime Scene Management Unit and the Architectural and Engineering Services Limited (AESL) was deployed to evaluate the extent of the damage.
Their joint assessment placed the estimated cost of destruction at GH¢1,541,368.50.
The court awaits the appearance of the remaining four accused, and the prosecution is expected to present further evidence at the next hearing.
