Investigations into Monday’s arrest of Nigerian businessman, Benedict Peters, have revealed that the incident had nothing to do with the John Mahama administration or any dealings involving his companies, including Frontiers Healthcare Services.
Instead, it was purely a landlord-tenant dispute, reports The Herald, one of Ghana’s credible newspapers.
His arrest had stirred public outrage across Ghana as some citizens wondered how a foreigner could boldly obstruct movement of other persons in a highbrow neighbourhood where decorum ought to be the norm.
Peters reportedly blocked the road leading to and from the plush Aurora Apartments in Kanda, near the Flagstaff House—between the 37 Military Hospital and the Presidency—prompting desperate tenants to contact the Presidency through the Director of Operations, ex-Police Commissioner, Nathan Kofi Boakye, for intervention.
This came after several unsuccessful requests for him to move his cars, which had been parked across the residential complex’s exit route.
According to Herald, Ghanaian businessman, Ibrahim Mahama, a younger brother of President John Dramani Mahama, was seen on the premises to verify that some of his workers could not report to work, because Benedict Peters had blocked the road and refused to allow them, along with the property owners’ officials, to exit the facility until his demands were met.
Peters, who owns eight apartments in the building, owned by Ernesto Taricone, Executive Chairman and CEO of Trasacco Group, reportedly insisted on receiving a key to access all of them—contrary to an arrangement granting him access to only one key per apartment, with no permission to access the other apartments.
The Herald learnt that, Mr Peters, had been locked in a prolonged disagreement with the property managers before he escalated the matter by blocking the road on Monday in protest.
Further complicating the standoff, was what appeared to be a private militia under Peters’ control. These heavily armed individuals allegedly engaged in physical altercations with state police and soldiers.
Mr Peters, was also said to have threatened to shoot anyone who attempted to confront him over the roadblock.
As a result, other residents, including workers of Ibrahim Mahama, were left stranded for hours, waiting for him to remove his vehicles.
It wasn’t until Ibrahim Mahama reportedly entered the apartment, confronted Peters, and physically brought him downstairs to meet with police and National Security operatives that progress was made.
Peters was subsequently taken to the Greater Accra Regional Police Command to provide a statement. His vehicles were then towed to clear the blocked road.
Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande—who also serves as Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency—confirmed to The Herald that “disagreements with facility owners over additional keys to the lift leading to floors where he had apartments led to the standoff”.
Residents have since expressed relief over what they described as longstanding grievances involving Mr Peters, who has resided in the area for several years.
Some residents claimed his presence in the neighbourhood, had caused various disturbances and urged authorities to act.
One resident, Jacob Asamoah, disclosed they had filed multiple complaints with law enforcement, regarding the noise and congestion linked to Peters’ activities. “We’re hopeful that this development will bring some peace to our community,” he said.
Mr Asamoah, also alleged that vehicles had previously been used to block the entrance to the apartments, inconveniencing other residents. These incidents reportedly prompted the decisive intervention by security agencies.
According to reports, Mr Peters was arrested during a joint operation involving the National Security, the Police, and other security bodies.
The arrest followed a confrontation at the residence, with videos circulating online showing a tense standoff. Some individuals appeared to resist arrest, though full details have not yet been officially confirmed.
Mustapha Gbande, who led the operations and granted interviews, raised concerns about the type of vehicles and motorcycles found on the premises, questioning whether such equipment should be in private hands.
Mr Peters, who also owns the Nigeria-based Aiteo Group of Companies, has previously been linked to legal and political controversies in Nigeria.
He was named in court proceedings initiated by a civil society group calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate alleged financial misconduct. However, Nigerian authorities, have confirmed that he has neither been charged nor convicted.
In Ghana, his name surfaced during public debates concerning the COVID-19 testing contract at the Kotoka International Airport.
North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, raised concerns over the transparency of the contract between Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) and Frontiers Healthcare Services.
According to Mr Ablakwa, the GACL, earned just $10 per test, while Frontiers generated substantial revenue during the contract’s lifespan.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the details surrounding Mr Peters’ arrest or any charges that may follow.
Benedict Peters—widely known as Ben Peters—was reportedly arrested on Monday, April 7, 2025, in a joint operation involving Ghana’s National Security, the Ghana Police Service, and the Ghana Armed Forces.
He and approximately 25 unidentified men were allegedly arrested for blocking access to an apartment complex close to the Jubilee House and for activating a police siren on one of their vehicles.
This is not the first time the Nigerian billionaire businessman, has made headlines in Ghana.
During the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Ben Peters—believed to be a friend of the Akufo-Addo family—was involved in several corruption-related controversies.
He owns Frontiers Healthcare Services Limited, the company that handled COVID-19 testing at Kotoka International Airport during the pandemic.
In 2022, Ablakwa claimed that Ben Peters earned GH¢984.7 million (approximately US$130 million) in just 18 months from the testing regime, while the Ghana Airports Company, earned only US$8 million.
In 2023, Peters’ name again emerged in the ‘Heaven Scandal’, also disclosed by Ablakwa, who claimed that 62.14 acres of airport land—valued at over US$6.3 million for 1.7 acres in 2019—was sold to Heaven Builders Limited, a company owned by Peters, for just US$1.3 per 1.7 acres. Ablakwa alleged that Peters is a friend of Edward Akufo-Addo, alias “Bumpty”, the younger brother of President Akufo-Addo.
In addition to Frontiers Healthcare and Heaven Builders, Ben Peters, has extensive assets in several African countries’ oil, gas, and mining industries.
He is the founder and CEO of Aiteo, believed to be Africa’s largest indigenous oil producer, and Bravura Holdings, a vertically integrated mining company developing platinum, lithium, steel, copper, and gold assets across the continent.
Madam Djamson-Tettey, was kicked out of GACL as MD by the Akufo-Addo government due to Benedict Peters’ overbearing influence in Ghana.
-The Herald
