They Razed Our Homes at Dawn Without a Warrant” – Residents Petition IGP Over Alleged Unlawful Demolition by Police and Private Individual

Story by Fada Amakye

Residents of a community in Accra have petitioned the Inspector-General of Police to investigate what they describe as an “egregious abuse of power and unlawful demolition” carried out by police officers and a private individual despite the matter being pending in court.

In a petition dated May 6, 2026, the residents accused Mr. Divine Amartey Odonkor and a team led by the Anti-Landguard Unit Commander and ASP Alex Norvor of arriving at their property at 6:23 a.m. on April 25, 2026, with excavators, bulldozers, and police vehicle GP-3979, and demolishing buildings and fence walls.

When confronted, they refused to produce a warrant, claimed they were acting on orders which they refused to disclose, threatened with violence, seized our phones, and deleted evidence,” the petition stated.

The residents said they explicitly informed Mr. Odonkor and the officers that the dispute was still before the court and awaiting final judgment, but their pleas were ignored. They argued that the action was a “blatant disregard for the rule of law and an affront to justice.

According to the petition, Officer Abraham Tetteh of the Devtraco Police Station admitted to targeting individuals who had previously questioned the team’s actions. The residents alleged that Tetteh said he “hated” one neighbor because she questioned them when they entered her premises in 2025, and that her electrical wiring was disconnected as a result.

The petition further claimed that Tetteh threatened to demolish another neighbor’s entire building if she did not meet him, after Mr. Odonkor had already demolished her 9-to-10-foot plastered fence wall along with the electrical cables inside it.

This incident is not just a case of property destruction. It is a display of unchecked aggression, leaving us shaken and our rights trampled,” the residents said. “All efforts made to stop them proved futile.

They are urging the IGP to investigate the incident, arrest those involved, including the officers named, and ensure accountability and redress for their losses.

Mr. Divine Odonkor’s actions are a stark affront to Ghana’s legal system, warranting swift and decisive action,” the petition stated. “We urge your office to take immediate action to prevent further harm and protect our neighbor’s property and safety.

The residents said they are counting on the police leadership’s cooperation to uphold the rule of law and prevent further harm.