In a dramatic turn of events, a notorious land guard in the Okangman area near New Amanfro, identified as Emmanuel Acolatse, alias Emmanuel Afotey Kwei, and popularly known as ‘Van Damme,’ was apprehended yesterday by a combined team of police and private security operatives. Acting on intelligence, the Greater Accra Regional Police Command led the operation, which resulted in a gunfight between ‘Van Damme’ and the operatives before his capture. Two of his men were also arrested.
This arrest comes after a prolonged outcry from the chiefs, elders, and residents of Okangman, part of the Adentan Municipality, who have been pleading with the government to address the terror unleashed on them by land guards in the area. The Okangtsuru Family, led by Nii Adjetey Okanshan, has been vocal in calling for urgent government intervention to restore law and order in the area. Last Friday, the family head warned that the situation was nearing a breaking point, with the youth ready to retaliate if nothing was done.
The ongoing disputes over land boundaries between La and Nungua stools have further complicated the issue, with the Okangtsuru Family urging the government, the Boundary Commission, and the Lands Commission to swiftly demarcate the disputed areas. They believe this would prevent the recurrent boundary crises that lead to land theft and brutal harassment by land guards hired by different factions.
According to Nii Adjetey Okanshan, the Okangtsuru Family’s 80-acre registered land in New Amanfro has been a frequent target for land guards, resulting in violent clashes, intimidation, and harassment of developers and family members. He expressed concern over the police’s seeming inability to act decisively, attributing the delay to interference from interested parties.
With tensions escalating, several localities under La Tsui Anaa, including Adenta, Ashale Botwe, and Amanfrom, have joined forces to demand boundary demarcation with Nungua, hoping to put an end to the violence and land grabs that have plagued the area for years.
As of the time of filing this report, ‘Van Damme’ and his accomplices were still being held by the Greater Accra Regional Police Command.
