The Power of Attorney holder for the Bossman family of Prampram and Osu in the Greater Accra Region, Chief Abdellah Abdul Fatau Nii Laryea Otiajasu, has accused the Afienya District Police Commander, ACP Stanley Dzakpasu, of colluding with the Kwashie Wayo and Nene Wakah families of Afienya in an ongoing land dispute.
Addressing a press conference at Afienya in the Kpone-Katamanso Municipality in the Greater Accra region, Chief Abdellah alleged that ACP Dzakpasu has been working closely with rival claimants to the Bossman family’s ancestral lands and has used his office to intimidate and harass members of the family.
According to him, the Prampram lands in question are widely recognized as belonging to the Bossman family, headed by Mr. Joseph Bossman.
However, he said some individuals have been impersonating members of the family and making false claims to the property.
Chief Abdellah, who holds the power of attorney for the family stated that since taking up the role, there has been persistent police interference and intimidation.
“The Commander of the Afienya District Police Command has exhibited clear bias and corruption. Under his leadership, police officers have continuously harassed members of the Bosman family. Anyone identified as a Bosman or associated with the family within the area is immediately arrested under fabricated charges such as robbery or other unfounded offences,” he claimed.
He further alleged that the Police Commander has publicly stated that he is not under the authority of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), insisting that he alone controls the Afienya District.
Chief Abdellah also accused ACP Dzakpasu of being compromised by gravel diggers operating on the disputed land.
He alleged that the Commander receives payments from these operators in exchange for protection and ignores their activities, which have led to severe land degradation.
“The Commander told us that he gets more money from the gravel diggers than from the Police Service, so he doesn’t care about losing his position. He vowed to continue protecting their interests even if we report him to the IGP,” Chief Abdellah underscored.
He said despite the ongoing court case over the ownership of the land, the police have continued to arrest members of the Bosman family unlawfully.
According to Chief Abdellah, the Bosman family has owned the land since 1880. He explained that more than 1,000 acres were leased to British Colonial Finance Limited for 99 years, a lease that expired in 2012. Since then, the family has undertaken all necessary legal processes to regularize and reclaim the property.
He appealed to the Inspector General of Police and the Minister for the Interior to investigate the conduct of the Afienya Police Commander and to ensure fairness in the ongoing dispute.
In another development a great-grandson and guarantor of the land, Jacob Bossman, said the property originally belonged to his great-grandfather, who formally registered it in 1896. That same year, he established a boundary agreement with the people of Larteh, and in 1913, commissioned professionals to prepare an official site plan for the land.
According to Mr. Bossman, part of the land, about 13,000 acres, was leased in 1913 to Colonial Business and Finance Limited. He alleged, however, that the current District Police Commander has been conniving with individuals who are illegally excavating gravel from the land.
An estate developer on the land, Mr. Victor Ladzekpo, also shared his ordeal, claiming that during a visit to ACP Dzakpasu’s office, the Commander issued threats against them.
“He warned that he would deal with us and that we would never be allowed to enter his office again. He even said he was not afraid of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and dared me to record him and send it to the IGP,” Mr. Ladzekpo alleged.
He further stated that the Commander told them they could file as many petitions as they wished, “even a hundred times,” but that no action would be taken against him without concrete evidence.
Mr. Ladzekpo said the situation has made it impossible for them to visit their own land, as police officers reportedly arrest and charge them as land guards any time they step foot on the land.
He added that the Commander threatened to ensure that they face criminal prosecution.
“Eventually, he ordered us out of his office, saying he had more important matters to attend to, and insulted us, calling us ‘very stupid people,’” he recounted.
The affected parties are calling on the Inspector General of Police and other relevant authorities to investigate the conduct of the Afienya Police Commander and ensure that justice is served.
Several calls and effort to reach ACP Stanley Dzakpasu for comment were unsuccessful.
