Ben Peters, Businessman Linked to Akufo-Addo, Arrested for Blocking Road to an Estate

Accra, Ghana - 08 April, 2025 - A dramatic standoff unfolded near the Presidential office in Accra, Ghana, on Monday, April 7, as National Security operatives arrested a Ghana-based Nigerian businessman, Ben Peters, and 25 others.

The group allegedly blocked a road leading to an upscale estate at Kanda, home to several diplomats, including the Spanish Ambassador to Ghana and his family.

According to Mustapha Gbande, Deputy Director of Operations at the Jubilee House, Peters and his heavily armed "personal security guards" brought the estate to a standstill for over three hours. The group, estimated to be around 60 to 70 strong, wore black suits and white shirts and used sirens on their pick-up trucks.

This brazen display of power was sparked by an unresolved business dispute between Peters and the estate developer, who allegedly refused to provide him with "extra keys" to access various facilities.

Peters claimed ownership of several apartments in the estate, but authorities saw the roadblock as an unlawful act, rendering citizens helpless. Police motorbikes and an SUV were discovered during the arrest, and Peters was eventually overpowered by the Greater Accra Police Command. Contrary to initial reports, Ibrahim Mahama, the brother of President John Mahama, was not present during the arrest.

Ben Peters' business dealings have raised eyebrows, with Mr. Gbande revealing his alleged involvement in managing the COVID infrastructure project under President Akufo-Addo.

This has sparked concerns about foreigners wielding undue influence in Ghana, with Mr. Gbande emphasizing the need to prevent individuals from holding communities hostage.

"Allegedly, this is the man who President Akufo-Addo used to run the COVID infrastructure project. He was the one managing the office, handling COVID infrastructure, the same individual everyone was paying,'' Gbande said in an interview on JoyNews' Pulse.

"We cannot allow foreigners to treat us with such disregard. We shouldn't run a country where individuals can hold an entire community to ransom,'' he added.

Source: Lead News Online