Tamale High Court slams Tolon-Naa, 5 others with GH¢50K damages in disputed 300-acre land case

The Tamale High Court has ruled in favour of the Wasipe Traditional Area and Savana Plantation in a long-running land dispute with the Tolon Traditional Area over a 300-acre parcel near the White Volta River at Daboya in the Savannah Region.

The court, presided over by Justice Eric Ansah Ankomah, declared the Wasipewura and Savana Plantation as the rightful owners of the disputed land.

The defendants, including Tolon-Naa and five others, were ordered to pay GH¢30,000 in damages for trespassing and GH¢20,000 as cost.

Justice Ankomah said evidence presented in court, including cross-examinations and a joint visit to the site, exposed inconsistencies in the defendants’ claims. The full judgment is yet to be released to the parties involved.

Counsel for the plaintiffs, Iana Dawine, described the ruling as a victory for the justice system.

“This decision shows that the courts remain active, neutral, and fair. People should not take the law into their own hands,” he said.

He urged land buyers to engage qualified lawyers or technical experts when acquiring property to avoid conflicts.

Secretary to the Wasipewura, Jantonwura Peter Awusi Yakubu, said the ruling was a relief for the Wasipe Traditional Area and the entire Gonja kingdom.

“With this outcome, the Wasipewura will enskin chiefs in the remaining villages to protect our lands for future generations,” he added.

He encouraged other chiefs across Gonja land to take similar steps to safeguard their territories.

The dispute dates back to 2011 when the then regent, now Tolon-Naa Major Sulemana, claimed that the Tolon boundary extended to the White Volta near Daboya.

Tensions escalated, leading to a lawsuit in 2018 after some residents of Kpendua allegedly trespassed on land leased by the Wasipewura to Savana Plantation.

Both traditional authorities later joined the suit, each asserting ownership rights over the land extending to the White Volta River.

The court, after hearing all submissions, conducted a joint site inspection on June 19, 2025, which formed part of the evidence leading to the judgment.

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