Land guards accused of forcing eviction of 1,900 households in New Ogbojo
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Residents of New Ogbojo, near Madina in Accra, say armed land guards attacked homes over three days and tried to force out more than 1,900 households, prompting a demonstration and calls for presidential intervention.
Residents of New Ogbojo, near Madina in the Ga East Municipality outside Accra, say that hired and armed land guards have moved to forcibly evict more than 1,900 households from the community, describing the situation as a growing human security crisis.
Residents said land guards stormed homes on Saturday, 19 September 2026 and Sunday, 20 September 2026, and attempted to evict occupants at dawn on Monday, 21 September 2026. They said the eviction attempts have included disconnection of electricity and water supplies, removal of residents' personal belongings and the demolition of apartments.
Affected landlords, residents and students demonstrated on Monday to draw the attention of President John Dramani Mahama, the Speaker of Parliament, the Interior Minister and the Inspector-General of Police to their plight. At a press conference the same day, the leadership of the Landlord Association of the New Ogbojo Community, led by Leslie Gyan and Suleman Abdul Rahman, said residents had acquired their properties legally from the Chief of the New Ogbojo Community and presented land indentures and other legal documents. They said some families have lived on the land since 1990 and 1992.
The association said children in the community have been caught up in the dispute, with some schoolchildren no longer attending classes because of alleged threats and school materials reportedly taken from their parents' homes. "A home provides security, dignity, privacy and stability," the association said.
Residents said they had reported the incidents to the Madina Police Station and escalated complaints to units at Criminal Investigations Department headquarters, including the Property Fraud Unit, the Emergency Command Centre and the Anti-Armed Robbery Department, but that the attacks had continued. "Any time the police arrive at the scene, the land guards call a man by name Commander Awal Mohammed. After the police engage him, they become powerless and drive away. We want to know the interest of this commander in our land and our community," they said. They are asking the President and the Speaker of Parliament to direct the Inspector-General of Police, the National Security Coordinator and the Interior Minister to investigate, and for authorities to establish whether any lawful court order authorises eviction or demolition in the area.