The Nungua Stool has issued a strong warning to prospective land buyers to avoid engaging in land transactions with the Okpelor Sowah Din Family of Teshie over lands at Nmai Djor(Trasacco Enclave), insisting that any such dealings are unlawful and expose buyers to serious legal risk.
At a press conference held in Accra, the Stool cautioned that documents purportedly issued by the Okpelor Sowah Din Family or Asamoah Properties in respect of any parcel of land in Nmai Djor is invalid, stressing that ownership of the area has been conclusively determined by the courts in favour of the Nungua Stool.
The warning follows what the Stool describes as the forceful invasion and occupation of the disputed lands by armed land guards, allegedly backed by private developers, including Trasacco. The Stool further alleged that some National Security personnel have been seen facilitating activities on the land, a situation it says has heightened tension and insecurity in the area.
According to the Stool, the situation escalated into a shooting incident on Saturday, January 10, posing a serious threat to lives and public peace. It described the development as dangerous and unacceptable, particularly while the matter remains before the courts.
The Nungua Stool maintained that all ongoing construction and land transactions at Nmai Djor violate existing court processes, including a pending appeal and stay of execution in the long-standing Ashalley Botwe land litigation, as well as several related suits involving its grantees. It warned that any sale, development, or interference with the land amounts to contempt of court.
To reinforce its position, the Stool cited multiple Supreme Court judgments which it says firmly establish its ownership of Nmai Djor. These include the 2020 Empire Builders Ltd v. Topkins Enterprises Ltd & Others ruling, as well as the 2023 decision in Nii Daniel Marley Nai v. Katamanso Stool & Lands Commission, which reaffirmed the historical boundaries of Nungua lands based on colonial-era records.
The Stool reiterated that the Sango Lagoon (Sangonaa) remains the traditional boundary between Nungua and Teshie, placing Nmai Djor squarely within Nungua territory.
It therefore urged members of the public to exercise extreme caution, warning that individuals who purchase land from unauthorised sources risk losing their investments and becoming entangled in protracted litigation.
The Nungua Stool also called on the Ghana Police Service, National Security, and the Regional Security Council to intervene urgently to restore calm and prevent further violence, adding that it will pursue criminal action for fraud and contempt of court against any party that continues to operate unlawfully on the land.
“Land disputes must be resolved through lawful adjudication, not through force or intimidation,” the Stool stressed.
THE FOLLOWING ARE BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE SEVERAL JUDICIAL PRONOUNCEMENTS IN FAVOUR OF THE NUNGUA STOOL.
A. In Empire Builders Ltd (Trassaco) V. Topkins Enterprises Ltd & Others (Civil Appeal No. 14/10/2019, judgment delivered on 16 December 2020), the Supreme Court conclusively determined ownership of a vast tract of land, including 456 acres forming part of the ADJIRGANO/NMAi DJOR area. The Court affirmed the concurrent findings of the High Court and the Court of Appeal that the Nungua Stool is the allodial owner, and expressly rejected competing claims traceable to the Teshie Stool and its allied families.
B. In Nii Daniel Marley Nai v. Katamanso Stool & Lands Commission (Civil Appeal No. J4/13/2023, judgment delivered on 14 June 2023), the Supreme Court reaffirmed the entire historical boundaries of Nungua Stool lands, relying expressly on the 1892 judgment of Chief Justice Hutchinson of the then Gold Coast Supreme Court. That colonial-era decision, which remains good law, confirms the ancient ownership of the Nungua Stool over its territories.
VARIOUS SUBSISTING JUDICIAL PRONOUNCEMENTS IN FAVOUR OF NUNGUA STOOL DIRECTLY AGAINST THE OKPELOR SOWAH DIN AND ASHALLEY BOTWE FAMILIES OF TESHIE (NOTE:PARTIES IN THE FAMOUS CELEBRATED IN RE ASHALLEY BOTWE CASE)
C.In the consolidated case of Dan Frimpong v. Emelia Quaye(FAL/524/2012), Nii Okpelor Jacob Ablorh Mensah v. Emelia Adorkor Macquaye (FAL/573/2012), Dorothy Rose Sackey v. Emelia Adorkor Macquaye & Others (FAL/492/2015), Elizabeth Obea Siaw v. Madam Emelia Macquaye & Another (FAL/764/2015), and Isaac Martey v. Hausbauer Ltd & Others (LD/0126/2015), The High Court ruled that NMAI DJOR LANDS belong to the Nungua Stool and not the Okpelor Sowah Din family which is subsisting.
D.In Daniel Mensah and Veronica Mensah V Naana Tanor and Others,Suit Number IRL 355/2009 dated 18th August,2014 the court again ruled that Nmai Djor lands,the subject matter of the litigation before you, exclusively belong to the Nungua Stool and that the Adjetey Agbosu & ords V Kotey & ords case(IN RE ASHALLEY BOTWE CASE Civil Appeal no: 24/2002[2003-2005]1 GLR 685 dated 5th May 2004) and the (JACK KWARTENG ACHEAMPONG CASE,civil appeal no H1/88/2013,dated14th May 2015) on which the Okpelor sowah Din family rely does not affect the Nungua Stool and its grantees since they were not parties or called upon to testify in those cases.
E.In John Offei Armah& Ano V Agric cattle lakeside estate Ltd & Ano sui number BL/313/05 dated 22nd July 2016,the court held that ASHALLEY BOTWE LANDS forms part of the larger tract of land belonging to the Nungua stool.
PENDING SUIT BETWEEN GRANTEES OF THE NUNGUA STOOL AND OKPELOR SOWAH DIN FAMILY ON THE SUBJECT MATTER (NMAI DJOR TRASACCO ENCLAVE) LAND
F. In a High court ruling with suit number L/2970/1993 dated 12th December 2023 the Okpelor Sowah Din family was restained from undertaking possession of lands under the control of grantees of the Nungua stool who were not parties to their famous, IN RE Ashalley Botwe land issue.
