Illegal Invasion of Nmai Djor Lands: Nungua Stool Condemns Armed Encroachment, Shooting Incident, and Defiance of Court Orders

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Tuesday January 13, 2026

Story by George Yawson Vineh

The Nungua Stool has strongly condemned what it describes as the unlawful invasion and forceful occupation of its ancestral lands at Nmai Djor, following alleged encroachment by Trasacco and the Okpelor Sowah Din Family of Teshie.

At a press conference on Monday, the Nungua Stool stated that the said parties are allegedly deploying armed land guards, with the reported presence of National Security personnel, to illegally develop the disputed land. The Stool described the situation as a grave threat to public peace and a direct affront to the rule of law.

Shooting Incident Raises Security Concerns

According to the Nungua Stool, tensions escalated on Saturday, January 10, 2026, when a shooting incident occurred at the site. The incident, the Stool said, endangered lives and heightened insecurity in the area.

“The situation is volatile, dangerous, and wholly unacceptable in a constitutional democracy governed by the rule of law,” the statement said, while condemning the incident in the strongest terms.

The Stool further expressed deep concern over what it described as credible reports of the involvement or protection of certain political actors, whom it accused of emboldening the alleged unlawful acts in open defiance of existing court processes.

Pending Court Actions and Alleged Contempt

For the avoidance of doubt, the Nungua Stool reiterated that there is a pending stay of execution and appeal arising from the case In re Ashalley Botwe (Suit No. L/2970/1993), alongside multiple other legal actions instituted by grantees of the Nungua Stool against the Okpelor Sowah Din Family.

The Stool emphasized that any entry upon, development of, sale of, or interference with the land while these matters remain before the courts constitutes contempt of court, an offence for which the law prescribes serious sanctions.

“The continued activities of Trasacco and the Okpelor Sowah Din Family, despite full knowledge of the pending proceedings, represent a deliberate attempt to overreach the courts and undermine the administration of justice,” the statement added.

Supreme Court Judgments Affirm Nungua Stool Ownership

The Nungua Stool said the press release was necessitated by what it described as persistent false claims, encroachments, and illegal sales of land within its territory by the Okpelor Sowah Din Family, whose claimed root of title traces to the Nuumo Nmashie Family of Teshie.

To set the record straight, the Stool cited several binding Supreme Court judgments, including:
• Empire Builders Ltd v. Topkins Enterprises Ltd & Others (2020)
(Civil Appeal No. 14/10/2019, judgment delivered on December 16, 2020)
The Supreme Court conclusively affirmed that the land in dispute, including a 456-acre tract and the wider Nmai Djor area, belongs to the Nungua Stool as allodial owner, and not to any Teshie family.
• Nii Daniel Marley Nai v. Katamanso Stool & the Lands Commission (2023)
(Civil Appeal No. J4/13/2023, judgment delivered on June 14, 2023)
This ruling reaffirmed the ancient and historical boundaries of Nungua Stool lands, relying on an 1892 judgment of the Gold Coast Supreme Court, which firmly established Nungua’s territorial ownership.

Boundary Between Nungua and Teshie

The Stool also referenced decisions in Yehans International Ltd v. Martey Tsuru Family & Another (2018) and Benjamin Mensa Otinkorang v. Afotey Adjin (2014), which held that Teshie lands end around the Baatsonaa area near the Accra–Tema railway line, with the Sango Lagoon (Sangonaa) recognized as the historical boundary between Teshie and Nungua.

“Nmai Djor is significantly distant from this boundary and lies deep within Nungua territory,” the statement noted.

Derivative Claims Declared Invalid

In addition, the Nungua Stool cited Boi Stool & Others v. Daniel Addoquaye & Others (2023), in which the Supreme Court set aside a Court of Appeal decision previously relied upon by the Nuumo Nmashie Family to claim vast territories.

Since the Okpelor Sowah Din Family derives its alleged title from the Nuumo Nmashie Family, the Stool argued that any such derivative claims to lands at Nmai Djor are legally untenable.

Warning to the Public and Call to Security Agencies

The Nungua Stool warned prospective land buyers to exercise extreme caution, stating that any documents issued by the Okpelor Sowah Din Family in respect of Nmai Djor lands are “worthless” and likely to result in costly litigation and loss of investment.

The Stool further issued a final notice to the Okpelor Sowah Din Family to cease and desist all activities on Nungua Stool lands, warning that it would pursue all available legal remedies, including criminal prosecution for fraud and contempt of court.

In light of the shooting incident, the presence of armed land guards, and rising tension, the Stool called on the Ghana Police Service, National Security, and the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to intervene immediately to restore law and order at Nmai Djor.

Commitment to Peace and Rule of Law

“Land disputes must be resolved through lawful adjudication, not through force, intimidation, or political influence,” the statement stressed.

The Nungua Stool reaffirmed its commitment to peace, lawful development, and the supremacy of the rule of law, pledging to pursue all appropriate legal remedies to protect its lands and ensure the safety of its people.