The Nungua Stool has issued a strongly worded condemnation of what it describes as an unlawful and violent invasion of its ancestral lands at Nmai Djor, accusing Trasacco and the Okpelor Sowah Din Family of Teshie of forcefully occupying the area in defiance of court orders and established judicial decisions.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, the Nkpor Mantse of Nungua, Nii Borteyfio Borteykwei Afadi Nsuro, speaking on behalf of the Nungua Stool, warned that the traditional authority would not hesitate to pursue “the full rigours of the law,” including criminal prosecution for fraud and contempt of court, to protect its lands.
The statement follows a shooting incident that occurred on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Nmai Djor, an episode the Stool described as reckless, dangerous, and unacceptable in a constitutional democracy governed by the rule of law.
According to the Nungua Stool, the shooting incident endangered lives and heightened tensions in the area, reinforcing fears that the land dispute could escalate into wider conflict if urgent intervention is not undertaken by the state.
The Stool expressed deep concern over what it termed “credible reports” suggesting that certain political actors may be shielding or emboldening the alleged perpetrators, thereby encouraging open defiance of ongoing court processes.
It stressed that the situation at Nmai Djor remains volatile and warned that continued lawlessness could undermine public confidence in the justice system and national security architecture.
Central to the Nungua Stool’s position is the existence of a pending stay of execution and appeal arising from the landmark In re Ashalley Botwe case (Suit No. L/2970/1993), as well as several other suits instituted by grantees of the Stool against the Okpelor Sowah Din Family.
The Stool emphasized that while these matters remain before the courts, any entry upon, sale, development, or interference with the land constitutes contempt of court, an offence for which Ghanaian law prescribes serious sanctions.
Despite this, the statement alleges that Trasacco and the Okpelor Sowah Din Family have continued activities on the land with full knowledge of the pending proceedings, an action the Stool describes as a deliberate attempt to overreach the courts.
The Nungua Stool explained that it was compelled to address the public due to persistent false claims, encroachments, and alleged illegal sales of land parcels at Nmai Djor by the Okpelor Sowah Din Family, who trace their purported title to the Nuumo Nmashie Family of Teshie.
To counter these claims, the Stool referenced a series of binding and conclusive judgments of the Supreme Court of Ghana, which it says have firmly settled ownership and boundary issues relating to the area.
One of the most significant is the Supreme Court decision in Empire Builders Ltd v. Topkins Enterprises Ltd & Others (Civil Appeal No. 14/10/2019), delivered on December 16, 2020.
In that case, the apex court conclusively determined ownership of a vast tract of land, including a 456-acre area and the larger Nmai Djor enclave, affirming that the land belongs to the Nungua Stool and not to any Teshie family.
The judgment upheld findings of the lower courts that the Nungua Stool is the allodial owner of the land, a ruling the Stool says directly repudiates claims by Teshie families, including the Nuumo Nmashie Family.
Further reinforcing this position is the Supreme Court’s decision in Nii Daniel Marley Nai v. Katamanso Stool & the Lands Commission (Civil Appeal No. J4/13/2023), delivered on June 14, 2023.
That judgment reaffirmed the ancient and historical boundaries of the Nungua Stool lands as established during the colonial era, relying heavily on an 1892 ruling by Chief Justice Hutchinson of the Gold Coast Supreme Court.
According to the Stool, the 1892 judgment definitively entrenched centuries-old ownership of the Nungua Stool over its territories, leaving no ambiguity regarding the extent of its lands.
On the specific boundary between Nungua and Teshie, the Stool cited decisions in Yehans International Ltd v. Martey Tsuru Family & Another (J4/34/2018) and Benjamin Mensa Otinkorang v. Afotey Adjin (Suit No. IRL 218/10).
These cases, it noted, established as a finding of fact that Teshie lands end around the Baatsonaa area near the Accra–Tema railway line, with the Sango Lagoon (Sangonaa) recognized as the historic dividing line between Teshie and Nungua.
The Stool argued that Nmai Djor lies far beyond this boundary, deep within Nungua territory, making any claim by Teshie families geographically and judicially untenable.
It also referenced the Supreme Court’s ruling in Boi Stool & Others v. Daniel Addoquaye & Others (Civil Appeal No. 34/13/2020), delivered on March 22, 2023, which set aside a Court of Appeal decision previously relied upon by the Nuumo Nmashie Family.
That apex court judgment nullified the basis upon which the Nuumo Nmashie Family had claimed ownership of tens of thousands of acres across multiple villages, a development the Nungua Stool says fatally undermines any derivative claims by the Okpelor Sowah Din Family.
The Stool maintained that, taken collectively, these judgments leave no legal or factual basis for the Okpelor Sowah Din Family to claim, sell, or allocate land at Nmai Djor.
It described such claims as spurious, historically inaccurate, and judicially repudiated, warning that continued defiance of the courts would attract severe legal consequences.
Addressing the general public and prospective land buyers, the Nungua Stool urged extreme caution, warning that any documents originating from the Okpelor Sowah Din Family in respect of Nmai Djor lands are worthless.
It cautioned that unsuspecting buyers risk costly litigation and loss of investment, insisting that the only valid title to land in the area emanates from the Nungua Stool.
The Stool also issued a direct cease-and-desist warning to the Okpelor Sowah Din Family, stating that it will pursue the full rigours of the law, including criminal prosecution for fraud and contempt of court, if unlawful activities persist.
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.
It stressed that land disputes must be resolved through lawful adjudication rather than force, intimidation, or political influence, warning that failure to act could endanger lives.
The Nungua Stool reaffirmed its commitment to peace, lawful development, and the supremacy of the rule of law, stating that it will continue to rely on the courts and all appropriate legal remedies to protect its lands and the safety of its people.
Below is the full statement:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ILLEGAL INVASION OF NMAI DJOR LANDS: NUNGUA STOOL CONDEMNS UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF FIRE ARMS, ENCROACHMENT, SHOOTING INCIDENT, AND DEFIANCE OF COURT PROCESS
1. The Nungua Stool has taken serious note of the unlawful invasion and forceful occupation of its ancestral lands at Nmai Djor by Trasacco and the Okpelor Sowah Din Family of Teshie, who are presently deploying armed land guards and National Security personnel to illegally develop the land.
2. This reckless conduct resulted in a violent shooting incident on Saturday the 10th day of January 2026, which endangered lives and severely threatened public peace and security in the area.
The Nungua Stool condemns this incident in the strongest terms and expresses deep concern over credible reports suggesting the involvement and protection of certain political actors, who appear to be emboldening these unlawful acts in open defiance of existing court processes.
3. The situation is volatile, dangerous, and wholly unacceptable in a constitutional democracy governed by the rule of law.
4. The Nungua Stool hereby reiterates,for the avoidance of doubt that,there is a pending stay of execution and appeal against the parties in the In re Ashalley Botwe case(suit no:L/2970/1993) and other multiple legal suits by grantees of the Nungua stool against the Okpelor Sowah Din family.
The stool wants it known to state agencies and political actors to allow legalities to take it course.
5. Any entry upon, development of, sale of, or interference with the land while this matter is before the court is a clear affront to judicial authority and constitute CONTEMPT OF COURT, for which the law prescribes serious sanctions.
6. The continued activities of Trasacco and the Okpelor Sowah Din Family on the land, despite full knowledge of the pending proceedings, represent a deliberate attempt to overreach the court and undermine the administration of justice.
7. This press release is necessitated by the persistent false claims, encroachments, and illegal sales of parcels of land within the territory of the Nungua Stool by the Okpelor Sowah Din Family of Teshie, who trace their root of title to the Nuumo Nmashie Family of Teshie.
The Nungua Stool is compelled to set the record straight by referencing conclusive and binding judgments of the Supreme Court of Ghana.
8. SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT: EMPIRE BUILDERS LTD VS. TOPKINS ENTERPRISES LTD & OTHERS (2020)
* Case: Civil Appeal No. 14/10/2019, Judgment delivered on 16th December 2020.
* Significance: This landmark judgment directly determined the ownership of a vast tract of land, including the 456-acre subject of that suit and the larger Nmai Djor area.
* The Supreme Court’s Finding: The Court conclusively affirmed that the land in dispute belongs to the Nungua Stool and not to any Teshie family. The Court upheld the findings of the lower courts that the Nungua Stool is the allodial owner.
* This judgment is a direct repudiation of claims by Teshie families, including the Nuumo Nmashie Family (the root of the Okpelor Sowah Din Family), to land in this geographical area. It establishes the Nungua Stool’s paramount title over the area.
9. SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT: NII DANIEL MARLEY NAI VS. KATAMANSO STOOL & THE LANDS COMMISSION (2023)
* Case: Civil Appeal No. J4/13/2023, Judgment delivered on 14th June 2023.
* Significance: This judgment reaffirmed the ancient and historical boundaries of the Nungua Stool Lands as established in the colonial era.
* The Court expressly affirmed and relied on the 1892 judgment of Chief Justice Hutchinson of the Gold Coast Supreme Court. That 1892 ruling definitively reinforces the centuries-old ownership of the Nungua Stool over its territories, leaving no room for doubt.
10. THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN NUNGUA AND TESHIE:
* Yehans International Ltd vs. Martey Tsuru Family & Another (J4/34/2018) [2018] GHASC and in the case of Benjamin Mensa Otinkorang vs. Afotey Adjin (Suit No. IRL 218/10, 31st March 2014), made a crucial finding of fact.
The Court’s Finding: The judgment indicates that Teshie lands are known to end around the Baatsonaa area near the Accra-Tema railway line.
Also, the court held that the Sango Lagoon(Sangonaa) is the clear and historically recognized dividing line between Teshie and Nungua. Nmai dzor is significantly distant from this point, further corroborating geographical and judicial demarcation, Nmai Dzor cannot and does not fall within the ancestral lands of Teshie It is deep within Nungua territory.
11. FINAL JUDICIAL REBUKE OF THE NUUMO NMASHIE FAMILY’S EXPANSIVE CLAIMS
* Case: Boi Stool & Others vs. Daniel Addoquaye & Others (Civil Appeal No. 34/13/2020, Judgment on 22nd March 2023).
* This Supreme Court judgment specifically addressed and set aside a previous Court of Appeal ruling that the Nuumo Nmashie Family of Teshie had used to claim ownership of up to 72,000 ac70 villages.
* Direct Link: The Okpelor Sowah Din Family derives its alleged title from the Nuumo Nmashie Family. The Supreme Court’s nullification of the foundational judgment used by the Nuumo Nmashie Family to claim vast territories severely undermines and invalidates any derivative claim by the Okpelor Sowah Din Family to lands deep within Nungua, such as Nmai Dzor.
12. CONCLUSION AND FINAL WARNING:
The collective weight of these Supreme Court and High Court judgments leaves no legal or factual basis for the Okpelor Sowah Din Family of Teshie to claim, sell, or allocate any land Nmai Dzor Their claims are spurious, historically inaccurate, and judicially repudiated.
13. To the General Public and Prospective Land Buyers: Exercise extreme caution. Any document purporting to originate from the Okpelor Sowah Din Family in respect of Nmai Dzor lands is worthless and will lead to costly litigation and loss of your investment. The only valid title emanates from the Nungua Stool.
14. To the Okpelor Sowah Din Family: This press release serves as a final notice to cease and desist all unlawful activities on Nungua Stool lands. The Nungua Stool will not hesitate to pursue the full rigours of the law, including criminal prosecution for fraud and contempt of court, to protect its property.
15. In view of the shooting incident, the presence of armed land guards, and the rising tension in the area, the Nungua Stool calls on all security agencies, particularly the Ghana Police Service, National Security, and REGSEC, to immediately intervene to restore law and order at Nmai Djor and maintain peace until the matter is finally determined by the courts.
16. Land disputes must be resolved through lawful adjudication not through force, intimidation, or political influence.
17. The Nungua Stool remains committed to peace, lawful development, and the supremacy of the rule of law and will pursue all appropriate legal remedies to protect its lands and the safety of its people.
Signed,
THE NUNGUA STOOL
January 13, 2026
