The Dansoman Circuit Court has remanded a 61-year-old estate developer, Michael Mantey, into police custody following his plea of not guilty to two counts of fraud in connection with a disputed land transaction dating back to 2015.
Mantey is facing two charges: defrauding by false pretenses under Section 131 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), and fraudulent land transaction under Section 277(2)(a) of the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036).
According to court documents presented by the prosecuting officer, Detective Chief Inspector Patrick Anane, Mantey allegedly obtained GH¢300,000.00 from Apostle Francis Amoako Atta, Head Pastor of Parliament Chapel International (formerly Freedom Chapel International), under the false pretense of selling a 0.18-acre plot of land in Odorkor Official Town. The church intended to use the land for expansion of its premises.
The prosecution stated that Mantey approached the church leadership in 2015, claiming his family was in financial distress and offering to sell the land — purportedly owned by his late mother, Patience Yarboi.
However, investigations later revealed that the land had been used as collateral for a loan and that Mantey’s siblings were unaware of the sale.
The siblings subsequently demanded an additional GH¢130,000.00 from the church, claiming Mantey had no sole authority to sell the property.
After nearly a decade of unresolved registration processes and legal disputes, including a civil suit filed by the Mantey family against the church for alleged encroachment, the accused was arrested on June 28, 2025, in Adabraka, Accra.
In his cautioned statement, Mantey admitted receiving the money but claimed he mistakenly issued land documents belonging to his late mother, instead of documents for his own quarter plot, which he had previously leased to his ex-wife.
During today’s hearing, counsel for the accused, Enoch Ashwere Afoakwah Esq., entered a plea of not guilty on both counts. Chief Aboagye, presiding over the matter, denied bail, citing Section 96(5)(b) of Act 30.
The judge ordered that Mantey be remanded into police custody to allow for further investigations, which must be expedited.
The case has been adjourned to July 9, 2025.
