A Ghanaian property owner based in Canada, Bernard Oduro, has accused the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, of allegedly trespassing on his land at Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region.
Mr. Oduro maintained that he legally acquired the 2.66-acre parcel of land in June 2005 under a 99-year lease and holds a valid land title issued by the Lands Commission.
The certificate, sighted by DAILY GUIDE, identifies him as the registered lessee of the property, which is located in Dodowa and duly documented under Land Certificate Number TD22869.
According to him, despite his ownership, the land has been subjected to persistent encroachment over the years.
He explained that the dispute escalated during the tenure of former Greater Accra Regional Minister, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, whom he accused of using state authority to enter the land, demolish a fence, and commence development works.
Mr. Oduro said he subsequently sought legal redress, leading to an interlocutory injunction granted by the High Court in October 2025, restraining all parties from undertaking any activity on the land pending the final determination of the case.
However, he alleged that the situation has worsened under the current administration, claiming that individuals have again been sent onto the land to begin fresh development works.
These activities, he said, are reportedly based on assertions that the land belongs to the state and is earmarked for a public project.
He further stated that after petitioning the police, officers from the Dodowa Division moved to the site and arrested some of the alleged trespassers.
According to him, the arrests were short-lived, as the Regional Minister allegedly intervened to secure their release.
In a formal petition addressed to the Director of Special Operations and Assistant to the Inspector-General of Police, Eric Asamoah Asiedu, Mr. Oduro’s legal counsel, led by Professor Kwame Gyan, called for urgent enforcement of the court order and protection of their client’s property rights.
The petition emphasised that the injunction remains in force, and warned that failure by the police to enforce it could erode public confidence in law enforcement.
It also urged authorities to halt all activities on the land and prevent further encroachment.
Supporting documents from the Lands Commission further bolster Mr. Oduro’s claim. An official search conducted on November 9, 2023, confirmed that the land is not state-owned.
A subsequent search dated August 22, 2024, also reaffirmed that the land is not state land and indicated that it is affected by a registered land certificate issued to Mr. Oduro, with Overtaken Company Limited listed as the grantor.
The documents additionally show historical transactions on portions of the land, including a lease agreement dating back to 2005 and earlier conveyances, as well as a judgment in favour of the Odoi Kese Family in 2012.
However, the records also note the existence of conflicting claims and applications affecting parts of the land, suggesting a complex ownership history.
Minister’s Response
Responding to the allegations in an interview, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, denied any wrongdoing, insisting that her actions are in the public interest.
She explained that the land in question forms part of an area considered a forest reserve for the people of Dodowa, although she acknowledged that it has not been officially gazetted.
According to her, the area had been encroached upon in the past, including sections regarded as culturally significant.
She said earlier interventions led to the demolition of structures and efforts to restore the land through tree planting and environmental protection measures.
Madam Ocloo stated that her current intervention involves fencing the land and grading portions of it to temporarily relocate traders from the Dodowa market, which is expected to undergo redevelopment into a 24-hour facility.
“I am not taking possession of anybody’s land. I have no personal interest there. My focus is to ensure that a government project is not sabotaged,” she said.
While acknowledging that Mr. Oduro may have acquired the land from local chiefs, she questioned the legitimacy of the original sale and pointed out that there are multiple claimants to the property.
She also downplayed claims of violating a court injunction, stating that no construction is taking place on the land, but rather preparatory work to support a temporary market arrangement.
Efforts to reach the former Regional Minister, Titus Glover for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or text messages.
A Daily Guide Report