Imminent land-led crisis looms at Apenkwa -Chief

The royal coronation of Nii Adjetey Obourbour II as Overlord Chief of Gbe Owo Omli Apenkwa was held with cultural grandeur and communal pride on Sunday, April 13, 2025.

However, the celebrations were accompanied by a passionate call for state intervention in a long-standing land dispute affecting the Apenkwa community.

In a strongly worded press statement delivered during the coronation ceremony, the chiefs and elders of Apenkwa Village petitioned President John Dramani Mahama and Inspector General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohonu, to immediately intervene in escalating land disputes in the area.

Nii Adjetey Obourbour II, who was officially installed as the traditional leader of the community, highlighted the historical significance of Apenkwa, stating that the people of the area are descendants of Teshie and have peacefully settled in the region since 1624.

He accused external traditional authorities, particularly individuals from the Katamanso Traditional Area, allegedly backed by some elders from Nungua, of forcefully encroaching on Apenkwa lands.

“We have confronted them on several occasions to halt these acts but to no avail,” Nii Obourbour stated and added that, “Sometimes our youth want to face them aggressively, but as a leader, I try to calm them down and seek peaceful resolution.”

The statement also alleged collusion between land encroachers and officials from the Lands Commission, accusing the latter of issuing dubious land titles to estate developers without the knowledge or consent of the Apenkwa leadership.

Furthermore, the chiefs expressed dissatisfaction with the judicial system, claiming that many of their legitimate cases are either delayed or ruled in favour of financially powerful entities.

Another key concern raised was the presence of land guards – young men allegedly terrorising residents and depriving them of their properties.

“Our community has been taken over by land guards. They are terrorising people and disrupting the peace in Apenkwa,” the chief lamented.

The elders also criticised attempts to create new villages and install sub-chiefs within their jurisdiction, describing such actions as deliberate provocations intended to fuel confusion and illegitimacy in traditional leadership.

The community noted that their grievances date back as far as the Rawlings administration and have been presented to successive governments, including those of Presidents Kufuor, Mills, and Akufo-Addo, without resolution.

Nii Obourbour II called on President Mahama, under his new mandate, to consider their plea as part of his nation-resetting agenda and to restore peace and lawful governance in the area.

The event was attended by dignitaries, chiefs, elders from various traditional councils, the media, and residents, who voiced solidarity with the chief’s concerns.

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