The Greater Accra Regional Police Command has arrested and detained six persons suspected to have engaged in landguard activities and possessing firearms.
The six suspects were nabbed following a distress call to the police on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at about 12:50 pm, according to a brief given by the peace enforcement agency on Sunday, January, 11.
Land guards are individuals or groups hired to enforce claims over disputed lands, often using violence and intimidation. The phenomenon has become a significant security concern in Ghana, particularly the Greater Accra region, with incidents of harassment, extortion, and even murder linked to land disputes.
The Ghana Police Service has taken steps to address the issue, establishing an Anti-Land Guard Unit that has led to a decline in landguard-related violence in areas such Asalaja, Oyarifa, Kasoa and Ablekuma, which hitherto, used to be hotspots for such incidents.
The unit has adopted intelligence-driven operations, patrols, and swift responses to distress calls to curtail the menace.
Meanwhile, government has enacted laws, including the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act (2019) and the Land Act (2020), to criminalise landguardism. Despite these efforts, the problem persists, with over 40 cases reported weekly to the Property Fraud Unit, a figure far below what was recorded prior to the establishment of the unit.
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