The Amasaman Circuit Court has granted bail to a businessman and a farmer over an alleged GH¢120,000 land fraud.

Nii Korley Sai Boni IV, 53, and Kingsley Oblitey Quansah Commey, 44, were granted GH¢150,000.00 bail with two sureties each.

They are accused of granting 20 plots of land without titles to Mr Ray­mond Kwaku Marfo, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RKM Estate Develop­ment Company.

The court, presided over by Ms Enid Marful-Sau, ordered that the sureties deposit their valid national identity cards with the Registry.

Nii Boni and Commey denied con­spiring to defraud Mr. Marfo.

The court instructed the prosecu­tion to serve the accused with neces­sary materials by April 2, 2025.

Chief Inspector Frederick Awuah-Ansah, prosecuting, said Mr Marfo was the CEO of RKM Ghana Limited, an estate development company.

He said that Nii Boni is a business­man and self-styled chief of Korley­man near Medie, while Commey is a farmer from Papase near Adjen Kotoku in the Ga West Municipality.

In June 2022, Mr Marfo was working on a land he purchased from Abusua­payin Ayitey Ankwah of Ankwa Dobro.

Nii Boni and Commey, along with one Obodai (now deceased), con­fronted Marfo, claiming ownership of the land.

The prosecution said Nii Boni and Commey convinced Marfo to buy 20 plots along the road leading to Sam­sam.

Marfo paid GH¢120,000.00 for the plots, and an official receipt was is­sued. However, when Marfo attempt­ed to begin work on the land, he was informed by Nii Boni and Commey that there was an injunction on it.

After conducting a search at the Lands Commission, Marfo discovered the land was registered in the name of Babbel Limited.

Marfo then reported the case to the Amasaman Divisional CID on May 10, 2024. Subsequently, Nii Boni and Commey were arrested, and in their caution statements, they admitted the offence.

They promised to repay the amount involved but failed to do so.

After thorough investigations, Nii Boni and Commey were charged and brought before the court.

 The Gaming Commission of Ghana has warned gaming operators involved in underage betting to desist from it.

The Commission also said such facilities will be closed down if it continues in the illegality.

“There is the need to pay atten­tion to underage gambling because the children are our future,” he added.

Acting Gaming Commissioner of Ghana, Emmanuel Quainoo said this in Accra when he paid a courtesy call on the Editor and Acting Editor of The Spectator and Ghanaian Times news­papers, respectively.

The call was part of the Acting Commissioner’s familiarisation tour to some media houses and to build partnerships with them.

He said the mandate of the com­mission was to regulate the activities of game operators and ensure they conform to the law.

The Acting Gaming Commissioner said the commission has been re­ceiving calls on illegal and underage gambling, a situation he said will need the assistance of the media in clamping down such operators.

He mentioned that the commis­sion has so far licensed 55 gaming operators across the country.

He explained that as of January 2025 to date, 23 casinos, 15 Sport betting, two route operators and five remote interactive games have been licensed.

He mentioned that other oper­ators have put in applications while the rest have paid part of their license fees.

He said the commission was hop­ing to expand their operations and be visible in all regions across the country.

The Acting Editor of The Ghanaian Times Alhaji Salifu Abdul-Rahman said the rate at which the youth in the Zongo community are involved in betting was alarming.

Alhaji Abdul-Rahman called on the Gaming Commission to intensify their education in schools, especial­ly in the zongo communities while urging them to clamp down on illegal operators.

The Editor of The Spectator, Mrs Georgina N.M. Quaittoo thanked the Commission for the visit, saying “we are willing to partner and support you.”

Also present at the meeting were Deputy Director, Human Resource and Administration, Ms Jennifer Puplampu, Deputy Director, Finance Mr Nana Kwame Sekyi Dadzie and Head of Corporate Affairs Ms Be­atrice Baiden.

 By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu