The Tamale High Court has delivered a judgment in favor of the Wasipe Traditional Area and Savana Plantation in a protracted land dispute with the Tolon Traditional Area. The dispute concerned a 300-acre parcel of land near the White Volta River at Daboya in the Savannah Region.
Presided over by Justice Eric Ansah Ankomah, the court declared Wasipewura and Savana Plantation as the rightful owners of the disputed land. The defendants, including Tolon-Naa and five others, have been ordered to pay GH¢30,000 in damages for trespassing and GH¢20,000 in legal costs.
Justice Ankomah stated that the evidence presented in court, including cross-examinations and a joint site inspection, revealed inconsistencies in the defendants’ claims. The full judgment is expected to be released to the parties involved in due course.
Iana Adaewine, counsel for the plaintiffs, hailed the ruling as a victory for the justice system. “This decision underscores the continued impartiality and effectiveness of the courts. It serves as a reminder that individuals should not resort to self-help but rather seek legal recourse,” Adaewine stated. He further advised prospective land buyers to engage qualified legal or technical experts when acquiring property to mitigate the risk of future conflicts.
Jantonwura Peter Awusi Yakubu, Secretary to the Wasipewura, expressed relief on behalf of the Wasipe Traditional Area and the broader Gonja kingdom. “This outcome will enable the Wasipewura to enskin chiefs in the remaining villages to protect our lands for future generations,” Yakubu noted. He also encouraged other chiefs across Gonja land to adopt similar measures to safeguard their territories.
The dispute originated in 2011 when the then-regent, now Tolon-Naa Major Sulemana, asserted that the Tolon boundary extended to the White Volta near Daboya. Tensions escalated, leading to a formal lawsuit in 2018 after residents of Kpendua allegedly trespassed on land leased by the Wasipewura to Savana Plantation. Both traditional authorities subsequently joined the suit, each asserting ownership rights over the land extending to the White Volta River.
The court conducted a joint site inspection on June 19, 2025, which was considered as part of the evidence leading to the judgment.
