Land dispute: Man who killed soldier at Kasoa denied bail

Benlord Ababio, also known as Nana Barima Ababio, a self-proclaimed security operative accused of shooting Lance Corporal Michael Danso over a land dispute, and his accomplice, Nana Amo Kofi Kwakye have been denied bail by the Achimota District Court.
Benlord, who claims to be a traditional ruler in Kasoa, is alleged to have colluded with Kwakye to kill the soldier.
Both men have been charged with conspiracy, and Benlord faces an additional charge of murder.
The court rejected their pleas, and they were remanded in custody.
They are scheduled to appear before the court on May 30, 2024.
During the court hearing, Benlord’s lawyer, Mr. Nashiru Yussif, reiterated his application for bail until trial.
He argued that his client was not a flight risk and had persons of substance to stand as sureties.
Mr. Yussif contended that Benlord had shown no indication that he would jump bail or interfere with police investigations, emphasizing that the award of bail is based on constitutional grounds and the likelihood of the accused appearing for trial.
Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Baffour Appenteng Nyamekye, who represented Kwakye, also supported Mr. Yussif’s arguments.
He claimed that Kwakye was a victim of circumstance and should be granted bail.
The prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Lawrence Anane, strongly opposed the bail applications.
ASP Anane argued that the court could deny bail if it believed the accused might interfere with police investigations.
He highlighted that the case involved murder, a first-degree felony with severe penalties upon conviction, and contended that granting bail could endanger the lives of the accused.
The prosecution detailed the incident, stating that on April 30, 2024, at around 4 pm, Lance Corporal Michael Danso and two colleagues, Lance Corporals Abdul Omar Rahman and Ametus Matthew, drove to Millennium City police station in a Toyota RAV4 to report a trespass.
They had been informed that some encroachers were developing a parcel of land belonging to Lance Corporal Abdul Omar Rahman. The accused appeared at the police station, where Benlord attacked and opened fire on Lance Corporal Michael Danso, killing him instantly.
Benlord was then disarmed by the police and arrested for investigation.