Traditional authorities demand immediate halt to unauthorized demarcation of over 1 million acres
The Wasipe Traditional Council has filed an urgent petition with the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Armah Kofi Buah, alleging illegal land demarcation and fraudulent paramountcy claims by a group identifying itself as the “Tampulma Traditional Council.”
In a press conference held at the palace of the Wasipewura, a petition signed by Jantonwura Peter Awusi Yakubu, Secretary of the Wasipe Traditional Council, was read where the Wasipe Traditional Council said approximately 1,079,170 acres of land within the Wasipe Traditional Area have been unlawfully surveyed and mapped without authorization from legitimate land custodians which is the Wasipewura and Yagbonwura.
The Wasipe Traditional Council has claimed to have intercepted a cadastral map survey allegedly approved by one Surveyor Abdulai Fuseini on September 16, 2025, showing the vast parcel falsely registered under the name of “Tampulma Traditional Council.”
The disputed land stretches from the Tachali River to Belle and Kandia on the western bank of the White Volta.” This is a flagrant violation of Ghana’s land governance laws and customary land tenure systems,” the petition states.
The petition further reveals that on December 21, 2023, the same Tampulma group submitted a request to the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi seeking recognition as a paramountcy—a claim the Wasipe Traditional Council describes as lacking historical, customary, or legal foundation.
The Wasipe Traditional Council argue that the Tampulmas were historically an acephalous group assimilated under the authority of the Gonja Kingdom centuries ago by Ndewura Jakpa, and have never held allodial title or customary authority over Wasipe lands.
The Wasipe Traditional Council emphasizes that customary land ownership in the area is vested in the Wasipewura and ultimately the Yagbonwura, King and Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom. They note that the so-called “Tampulma Traditional Council” is not recognized by either the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs or the National House of Chiefs.
Five-Point Demand; The Wasipe Traditional Council calls on the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to:
1. Immediately halt any land registration or demarcation processes involving the disputed acreage
2. Launch a formal investigation into the issuance of the cadastral map and the role of officials involved
3. Instruct the Savannah Regional Lands Commission to work exclusively with established traditional authorities
4. Refer potential breaches of professional conduct to appropriate legal bodies
5. Take swift action to prevent escalation of tensions
While emphasizing their commitment to peace and legality, the Wasipe Traditional Council has reserved the right to pursue legal redress through Ghana’s courts and petition relevant constitutional authorities if the matter is not addressed. “As Ghana strives for peaceful coexistence and proper land governance, we urge your leadership to intervene promptly and decisively to avert any potential escalation of tensions,” the Wasipe Traditional Council concludes.
The petition was co-signed by Yazoriwura and Tandawura, Alhaji Mohammed Amin, on behalf of the Wasipewura and the broader Wasipe Traditional Area.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has not yet issued a public response to the petition.
