A landowner at Teiman-Burger Town in Accra, Mr. Kingsley Kwafo Ottopah, has petitioned the government over what he describes as unlawful demolitions and abuse of office by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly (LNMA).
In a petition dated June 11, 2026, Mr. Ottopah alleged that the MCE had supervised demolitions of legally acquired properties in violation of the approved Teiman Township Layout Plan.
According to him, the MCE is authorising the creation of roads that are “not captured in the approved Teiman Layout Plan,” despite an ongoing government-approved contract to upgrade roads already contained in the layout.
“The MCE of LNMA is engaged in abuse of office by diverting from the long-standing, government-approved Teiman Township Layout Plan,” Mr. Ottopah claimed in the statement.
He further alleged that the actions were intended to shield the Chief of Teiman, Nii Manle Dzahaa I, from accountability over the sale of lands and routes originally designated as public roads in the approved layout.
Mr. Ottopah claimed that on January 24 and 25, 2024, his fence wall, a saalo mango tree and other properties were demolished.
He said findings from a technical investigation conducted by officials of the LNMA indicated that the demolition was contrary to the approved Teiman Layout Plan.
“LNMA’s technical investigation team findings… confirm that the act was contrary to the approved Teiman Layout Plan,” he stated.
The petitioner also alleged that in April 2026, individuals he described as land guards destroyed building materials intended for the reconstruction of his perimeter fence and erected an unauthorised signboard indicating a road reservation.
He further claimed that police investigations linked the actions to instructions from the chief.
According to Mr. Ottopah, the dispute escalated despite what he described as directives from the Greater Accra Regional Minister cautioning against the seizure of privately owned land not captured in the approved layout.
“Despite directives from the Greater Accra Regional Minister instructing the MCE not to seize privately owned land not captured in the government-approved layout, the MCE defied the order and proceeded with demolitions and excavation of gutters on 3rd June 2026,” he alleged.
Mr. Ottopah maintained that he conducted due diligence before acquiring the land in 2004/2005 from the Kpobi We family.
He said checks carried out with the then Town and Country Planning Department confirmed that the land was not located on any road reservation within the approved township layout.
“Before I purchased this land in 2004/2005, I verified it at the Town and Country Planning Department and it was cleared as not being on any road captured in the approved Teiman Layout Plan,” he said.
He added that his land documents, which he said were duly registered with the Lands Commission, contain coordinates supporting his ownership claims.
Mr. Ottopah stressed that his actions were not intended to oppose development in the community.
“I am not fighting the Teiman community. I am simply protecting my land and property from illegal seizure for an unapproved road project,” he stated.
The petitioner said he has formally submitted petitions to the Greater Accra Regional Minister, the Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, and the President of the Republic.
Citing Articles 18 and 20 of the 1992 Constitution, he called for an investigation into the allegations and urged authorities to halt any demolitions outside the approved layout plan.
He also called for compensation for landowners whose properties may have been affected by the demolitions.
Below are attached photographs, video recordings, audio recordings and copies of registered land documents to support his claims.
