Legal practitioner advises land fraud victims to seek justice through civil, criminal actions
Legal practitioner Kwasi Gyamfi Boadu of Asamoah-Cheremeh & Co has encouraged victims of fraudulent land transactions to take advantage of both civil and criminal legal mechanisms to recover their money and ensure offenders face justice.
Fraudulent land transactions have become a persistent challenge in Ghana, especially in densely populated cities such as Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi. Unscrupulous individuals often exploit gaps in land administration, selling the same parcel of land to multiple buyers or using fake documents to defraud unsuspecting victims.
Speaking on the Business Breakfast on Zed 101.9 FM, Mr Boadu explained that while many people focus solely on reporting land fraud cases to the police, the law provides additional avenues for redress.
“The law says you can also recover possession or your money in a civil action. So you can actually sue somebody that has defrauded you in a land transaction through your lawyer in a civil case. That is another mechanism available to victims,” he noted.
He emphasised that pursuing civil and criminal cases simultaneously is possible and beneficial.
“You can institute a civil action and a criminal action. The civil action helps you recover the money you have spent, while the criminal action ensures that the person faces imprisonment for the fraud committed,” Mr Boadu said.
He advised the public to always involve legal professionals when engaging in land transactions to prevent fraud or mismanagement. “Even we lawyers, in criminal matters, can watch briefs on behalf of our clients to ensure that due process is followed.
When a lawyer is supervising a case with the police, officers are very cautious because they know the lawyer can report them to the Professional Standards Bureau if misconduct occurs,” he explained.
He stressed that legal oversight not only protects victims but also ensures that justice is served fairly and efficiently.
