Mark Okraku Mantey, the deputy minister of tourism, arts, and culture, has been charged with forcibly entering a plot of land in Oyarifa allegedly belonging to an estate developer.
Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mark Okraku Mantey Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Mark Okraku Mantey
A bench warrant for the arrest of Mark Okraku Mantey, the deputy minister of tourism, arts, and culture, was issued by an Adentan circuit court for failing to appear before it.
The deputy minister is accused of violating Sections 7 (1) and (2) of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act. According to the prosecution, he forced his way onto the land, which was owned by one Alhaji Tony Baba.
Okraku Mantey was scheduled to appear in court today (18 January) to continue the case management conference in preparation for the trial to begin, but was unable to do so. His attorney was also not present, but he had obtained permission from the court.
Superintendent of Police Patience Mario, prosecuting, asked the court for a bench warrant to arrest the defendant. The warrant was issued by the court, presided over by Sedinam Awo Balokah, and the matter was adjourned to 8 February 2022.
Doubtful assertion
The prosecution contended that the complainant, Alhaji Tony Baba, was an estate developer residing in Accra’s North Legon neighborhood.
It stated that the complainant was developing a parcel of land at Oyarifa High Tension, which the accused person was also claiming ownership of.
According to the prosecution, the accused person arrived at the site on 3 March last year with three “thugs,” two of whom were on motorcycles and another in his (the deputy minister’s) car.
According to the prosecution, on 9 March last year, the accused person visited the site for a few hours, after which the “thugs” with whom he previously visited returned and attacked the workers, allegedly causing damage to portions of the building.
The complaint stated that the complainant contacted the police and identified the accused person as the perpetrator of the “unwarranted attacks and damages.”
Triple repercussions
According to the prosecution, the accused person was contacted during interrogation and asked to report to the police to assist with investigations.
While police waited for the accused person, additional damage was allegedly caused to the three-bedroom building on 10 March last year, and Okraku Mantey was identified as the person who brought and directed the “thugs” to cause the damage.
According to the prosecution, the complainant’s workers were allegedly attacked again on 3 April last year, injuring two people.
According to the report, police issued medical forms to the injured individuals so they could seek treatment.
On 20 March 2021, the building, which had been constructed to lintel level and was valued at GHC63,700, allegedly sustained additional extensive damage.