Citizen Eye Ghana (CITEG) has called for an urgent investigation into a land dispute between a businessman, Kofi Ntim Manu, known as Kofi Lee, and George Oti Bonsu, founder of The Base Movement.

At a press conference in Accra, CITEG President, Alex Kwaku Tetteh said the group which says it has over 98,000 members in Ghana and abroad wants accountability, respect for the rule of law and protection of citizens' rights.

Ntim Manu says he lost 24 plots of land at Atomic, Accra, in a 2019 transaction worth US$126,000 with Oti Bonsu. 

The case went to court.

CITEG, citing a copy of the judgment it received, says the court sentenced Oti Bonsu to three years in prison.

It also ordered him to pay Ntim Manu US$252,000, twice the transaction value or the cedi equivalent. 

"The Respondent is sentenced to three years imprisonment on Count 1. In addition, Respondent is to pay the Appellant an amount of money equivalent to t wice the value of the aggregate consideration of USD126,000.00 or its equivalent in Ghana cedis. Failure to pay the said amount the Respondent will serve a custodial sentence of 2 years," the court ruled.

Ntim Manu added that he later learned that US$162,000 had been paid into a court account, leaving US$90,000 unpaid. 

He also disclosed he has received neither the land nor the money.

"If the money was paid as compensation to Mr Ntim Manu, why does he maintain that he has neither received the disputed land nor recovered his money?" Mr. Tetteh asked.

CITEG also alleged that payment documents were presented to the Court of Appeal with claims that payment had been made and the land was being returned. 

It says an application was then filed to recover the US$162,000 on the grounds that the land had been returned but Ntim Manu disputes this.

CITEG further said it does not present these claims as proven and does not condemn anyone before the evidence is tested. 

It added that public office or political influence should not shield anyone from scrutiny but that being named does not establish criminal liability.

It demands “the Attorney-General should review the case file and decide whether to investigate or prosecute. The Court of Appeal should confirm the status of the proceedings, the compensation order, the US$162,000 payment, the alleged US$90,000 balance and the recovery application”.

“Law enforcement should investigate credible evidence of fraud or false representation. Both parties should provide documents showing whether the land was transferred and compensation paid. The courts should resolve the civil issues fairly and quickly.”

CITEG also noted that Ntim Manu's health has worsened during the long dispute.

"We want the facts established, court orders enforced, credible allegations investigated, and Kofi Ntim Manu to get justice through due process," Mr. Tetteh said.

CITEG said its action is not politically motivated and that it will keep pressing for equal justice.