BY GRACE ZIGAH
The high-profile murder trial of self-acclaimed traditional ruler Benlord Ababio, also known as Nana Barima Ababio, has taken a dramatic turn after an Accra court granted him GH₵4 million bail with sureties, more than two years after he was accused of fatally shooting a soldier during a violent land dispute at Kasoa Millennium City.
The court’s decision has revived public interest in one of the most widely discussed land-related criminal cases, which exposed the growing menace of violent land disputes, the activities of self-styled traditional authorities and the deadly conflicts that continue to plague rapidly developing communities around Kasoa.
Benlord Ababio is standing trial for the alleged murder of Lance Corporal Michael Danso, a soldier with the Ghana Armed Forces, following a shooting incident that occurred on April 30, 2024, at the Millennium City Police Station in Kasoa.
According to the prosecution, the incident stemmed from an ongoing land dispute involving a parcel of land said to belong to Lance Corporal Abdul Omar Rahman, one of the soldiers involved in the case.
Court documents indicate that on the afternoon of April 30, 2024, at about 4:00 p.m., Lance Corporal Michael Danso, Lance Corporal Abdul Omar Rahman and Lance Corporal Ametus Matthew travelled in a Toyota RAV4 to the Millennium City Police Station to lodge a complaint over what they described as unauthorized development on the disputed land.
The prosecution said the officers had received information that individuals had entered the property and had begun construction works without the owner’s consent.
While the soldiers were at the police station seeking police intervention, prosecutors allege that Benlord Ababio arrived at the premises.
The prosecution further alleges that he opened fire on the vehicle occupied by the soldiers.
According to the prosecution’s case, Lance Corporal Michael Danso, who was seated behind the steering wheel of the Toyota RAV4, was struck by gunfire and died instantly.
The death of the young soldier sent shockwaves across the country and triggered widespread condemnation from the public, security analysts and military personnel, with many questioning how a land dispute had escalated into a fatal shooting at the premises of a police station.
The incident also intensified concerns over the increasing number of violent confrontations associated with land ownership disputes in parts of the Greater Accra and Central Regions, particularly in fast-growing communities such as Kasoa, where competing ownership claims and activities of land guards have frequently resulted in injuries and deaths.
Following investigations, Benlord Ababio was arrested and charged in connection with the shooting.
He has since remained before the courts, where the prosecution continues to present evidence in support of the murder charge.
