Nana Barima Ababio, known as BenLord Ababio, a self-proclaimed traditional ruler, appeared in an Accra High Court on Tuesday alongside his accomplice, Nana Kofi Amo Kwakye. The pair faces serious charges linked to a land dispute that allegedly led to the death of Lance Corporal Michael Danso.
Both men have been charged with conspiracy, while Ababio faces an additional charge of murder. Represented by their legal counsel, they pleaded not guilty to all charges before Justice Mrs. Lydia Osei-Marfo, a judge serving in both the Court of Appeal and the High Court.
The court denied bail to Ababio, citing the grave nature of the allegations, the evidence presented, and the necessity of safeguarding both community interests and the personal safety of those involved. In contrast, Kwakye was granted bail under new conditions.
Earlier in July 2024, Kwakye had secured bail at the Amasaman High Court. However, during the latest court appearance, he was admitted to bail for GHC One Million, requiring two sureties to present landed documents of equal or greater value. The court specified that these documents must be fully registered with the Land Commission and verified by the court’s registrar.
Additionally, Kwakye is mandated to deposit his passport with the court’s registry, while his sureties must provide their Ghana Cards for identification. The court also instructed him to report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Operations Director every Friday, with the case investigator responsible for diligently recording his daily reports.
The prosecution, led by Dufie Selasi, confirmed that the defendants had been served with all necessary documents, including the Bill of Indictment. The matter has been adjourned to October 30, 2024, for further proceedings.
The incident that prompted these charges occurred on April 30, 2024, when Lance Corporal Danso, along with colleagues Lance Corporals Abdul Omar Rahman and Ametus Matthew, drove to the Millennium City Police Station to report a trespass. They had learned that encroachers were developing land belonging to Lance Corporal Rahman.
During this time, Ababio allegedly arrived at the police station and opened fire on Danso, who was driving, resulting in the officer’s immediate death. Following the shooting, Ababio was disarmed and arrested for investigation, which subsequently led to Kwakye’s involvement in the case.
