The East Adenta Residents Association in Accra has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, and the Attorney- General’s department to immediately urge the Adenta Police Divisional Command to facilitate the prosecution of one Adamu Alhassan, a known notorious land guard, who is said to be terrorizing residents of the area.
In a letter dated 25th January, 2010, and signed by Mr Martin Acheampong, acting Chairman of the association and Mr Ben Boafo, Secretary to the group, to above mentioned offices, the residents said: “We beg to state that ever since we acquired land in the area for the construction of our various houses we have never had peace because of the activities of Adamu Alhassan and his gang.”
According to the residents, hardly would a day pass without them receiving death threats from Adamu Alhassan, who because of his raucous behaviour in the locality has won the name ‘Killer’ or ‘Taller Jordan.’
“Alhassan and his group for the past seven years treated residents with all kinds of inhumanity, including threats of harm and death, assault us with deadly weapons,” the petition said, adding that Alhassan and his gang at times seize vehicles and demolish building structures that are put up by land owners.
The group laments that due to Alhassan’s high connections and contacts with people both within government and in the police service, the Adenta Divisional Command is reluctant to process the prosecution of Alhassan and his group who include Haruna, Yaro, and one Isaac Asante whenever they arrested.
According to the petition, Adamu Alhassan was recently arrested by the Adenta police for illegal possession of harmful weapons and possessing dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and gun pellets, but is now walking a free man in the streets of Adenta, posing danger to informed who helped caused his arrest.
Aside from that, the group alleged in the petition that when Alhassan was arrested by the Adenta police, he openly and bluntly told the police officers and those around at the time that he (Adamu Alhassan) does not spend two days in police cell and true to his words he was released by the police on the third day of his arrest.
Paul Tawiah Quaye, IGP
Efforts by the association to have Alhassan and his group face the full rigours of the law in the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration did not materialize, as his influence at the time was too much and hot for the police to handle, the petition noted.
However, Alhassan is said to be in police custody when he was last week arrested by the Adenta police again for unlawful possession of gun pellets and pistol. He is alleged to have also illegally sold out two plots of land.
The residents have therefore called on the IGP to institute full-scale investigations into the activities of Alhassan Adamu and other land guards who are disturbing the peace in the Adenta municipality.
“We are pleading to the Inspector General Police and the Attorney General to use their able leadership and good offices to ensure that justice is never tempered with mercy this time. Since whilst in custody, boys namely Yaro, Haruna, and Isaac Asante who managed to escape arrest would continue to perpetuate the act,” the petition said.
STORY: STEPHEN DARKO
