{
  "id": 11114315,
  "title": "Tema native petitions EOCO over GH¢889,000 payment",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/tema-native-petitions-eoco-over-gh-889-000-payment",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-01T04:58:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/tema-native-petitions-eoco-over-gh%c2%a2889000-payment/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Tema resident Richster Nii Amarh Amarfio has lodged a petition with the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) to investigate a payment of GH¢889,000 made by Sonite Ghana Limited to individuals allegedly using the names of Tema chiefs, youth and residents for a piece of land. Amarfio's legal team seeks clarification on the authority of those impersonating traditional leaders and the circumstances surrounding Sonite's payment. The petition names four individuals, including Mr Abraham Adjei, T-Youth President, Mr Joseph B. Mensah, Vice President; Mr Sumaila Adjetey Aggaby, Assembly Member, and Mr Mohammed Eliasu, Organizer. A document indicates these individuals received GH¢889,000 on behalf of Tema Newtown residents, equivalent to around US$70,000. Amarfio wants to know why the names of Tema's leaders were used and why Sonite paid the amount. The EOCO is urged to investigate the demand's nature and purpose, as well as whether fraud, deception, or organized crime was involved. The lawyers also seek to establish whether unlawful conduct occurred before the payment and if the money was given under duress. The dispute centers around a 25,000-square-meter plot in Tema, which Sonite claims to own with a Korean partner. The company built warehouses in 2020 and began installing cold rooms for fish storage in September 2025. Individuals claiming to represent the community occupied the property and demanded 4,000 square meters, alleging they sold the land to the Korean partner who transferred it to Sonite. Sonite paid US$70,000 after negotiations, after which the land was cleared. However, the individuals returned and demanded the 4,000-square-meter portion again, leading Sonite to reject the demand and instruct its lawyer to recover the money. Amarfio's petition highlights the public interest in this matter, as individuals may have falsely claimed to act on behalf of traditional authorities, youth or community members, potentially implicating criminal or legal implications.",
  "summary": "Richster Nii Amarh Amarfio, a native of Tema, has petitioned the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) to investigate payment of GH¢889,000 by Sonite Ghana Limited to some individuals who allegedly used the names of the Chiefs, youth and people of Tema for a land.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}