The Tamale High Court has delivered a landmark ruling in the 14-year boundary dispute between the Wasipe Traditional Area and the Tolon Traditional Area, affirming Wasipewura Anyame Kabasagya II and Savana Plantation Limited as the rightful owners of a 300-acre tract of land along the White Volta at Daboya in the Savannah Region.
Presiding Justice Eric Ansah Ankomah ordered the defendants — Tolon-Naa Major (Rtd) Abubakari Sulemana and five others — to pay:
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GH¢30,000 in general damages for trespass, and
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GH¢20,000 in legal costs.
Key Findings
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Historical Title: The court traced Wasipe’s allodial ownership to Gonja Kingdom charters of 1932 and 1948.
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Site Inspection (19 June 2025): GPS coordinates and boundary pillars confirmed the disputed land lies 2.8 km east of Tolon’s officially recognized limits.
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Inconsistent Testimony: The defendants were unable to provide any gazetted instrument extending Tolon’s boundary to the White Volta.
Case Timeline
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2011: The Tolon regent (now Tolon-Naa) first asserted ownership.
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2018: Residents of Kpendua encroached on the Savana Plantation lease area.
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2021: Case filed under Suit No. E12/78/2021.
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4 November 2025: Final judgment delivered in open court.
Reactions
Counsel for the Plaintiffs, Iana Adaewine:
“This is a textbook victory for due process. Let every land purchaser hire a lawyer and a surveyor before signing.”
Wasipewura’s Secretary, Jantonwura Peter Awusi Yakubu:
“We shall now enskin sub-chiefs in the reclaimed villages and register every acre with the Lands Commission.”
The Tolon Palace has not issued an official statement, though sources indicate that an appeal is being considered.
Broader Implications
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Establishes a precedent for joint judicial site inspections in traditional land disputes.
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Reinforces Savana Plantation’s 25-year agroforestry lease (expiring in 2041).
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Demonstrates the judiciary’s readiness to impose punitive costs on paramount chiefs who bypass mediation or traditional dispute resolution mechanisms.
The court’s 38-page judgment is expected to be released to the parties on 10 November 2025.
