Open Letter to the President: A call for justice following sudden demolition

Dear Mr President, I am Benson Osei Acheampong, a cleaner at the University of Ghana. I am writing to bring a grievous incident to your attention, which has left me without a home and livelihood.

On May 18, 2022, a team of armed policemen led by one Clement Dzato and Mr Aniapam Nseboa Maxwell aka Alhaji Abass, accompanied by other individuals suspected to be land guards, arrived at my residence in my absence at East Legon, Mempeasem near the Trinity Theological Seminary.

They came with a bulldozer and some vehicles bearing government number plates: GV 773-14, GA 2613-13 and GR 3231-18 and claimed that my property, along with three additional plots of land, belonged to the government.

Despite my pleas, they proceeded to pull down my front and side walls, damaging part of my bakery shop.

The following day, on May 19, the same team returned and further demolished my bakery shop, destroying valuable equipment in the process.

Finally, on May 23, they destroyed my four-bedroom house, along with important personal belongings, documents and machinery (flour mixer and electric block machine), essential to my livelihood.

When I sought assistance at the Legon Police Station, I was turned away and was informed that government officials were behind the operation and the police could not intervene.

I further reported the incident to the Property Fraud Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at the Ghana Police Headquarters.

To my dismay, by May 25, 2022, a new construction had already begun on my land, with a foundation laid and a fence wall erected around it. My block and flour mixing machinery were destroyed and carried away.

I am, therefore, appealing to you, Mr President to investigate this injustice and ensure that my rights are restored. The loss of my home and business has been devastating and I seek your intervention in obtaining justice and fairness for the harm done.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I trust that under your leadership, justice will be upheld for all citizens.

Yours faithfully,
Benson Osei Acheampong
0243635576
bensonoseiacheampong@gmail.com