Tsopoli elders raise alarm over alleged encroachment on ancestral lands around Saglemi Housing project

The Head of Family and elders of the Tsopoli Traditional Council of the Ningo-Prampram District of the Greater Accra Region have raised concerns over alleged attempts by an individual identified as Nii Tackie to take control of portions of their ancestral lands around the Saglemi Housing project.

At a press conference held in Tsopoli on Sunday, November 1, the traditional leaders accused Nii Tackie of persistently encroaching on lands they insist belong to the people of Tsopoli and their ancestors.

The elders alleged that Nii Tackie recently entered the disputed area accompanied by armed police officers and began erecting boundary pillars on portions of the land.

According to them, he reportedly justified the exercise by claiming that the Lands Commission had allocated the land to him.

The press conference brought together several traditional and family leaders, who expressed a united position against what they described as an infringement on their ancestral heritage.

Those present included Alhaji Ibrahim Ayiku, Head of the Sausisi Family; Chief Imam Abdulai Agbo, Chief of Someh; and Numo Ofori Kumordzi Sodjah, Head of Sodja Wem.

Others were family elders Akuteye Joseph Nathan and Tetteh Kumordzi, as well as Tawiah Sodjah, Chairman of the Sausisi Family. Akuteye Joseph Nathan was also recognised as a representative of the Sagremi Simpi.

The elders described the alleged activities as provocative and unlawful, accusing Nii Tackie of disregarding the authority and customs of the Tsopoli Traditional Council.

Speaking on behalf of the Council, the Family Head said the community had endured repeated intimidation and would no longer remain silent over activities they believe threaten their ancestral inheritance.

He called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and other relevant state authorities to investigate the alleged involvement of police personnel in intimidating residents and farmers in the area.

The traditional leaders also raised questions about references allegedly made by Nii Tackie to a powerful individual he reportedly describes as being “above”, whom they claim he invokes whenever his activities are challenged.

“Who is this ‘above’? Is the ‘above’ bigger than the laws of Ghana? Is the ‘above’ bigger than our ancestors?” the elders asked, demanding that the appropriate authorities establish the identity of the person being referenced.

While reaffirming that Tsopoli is a peace-loving traditional area, the Council cautioned that the community's patience was being stretched, although it had no intention of taking the law into its own hands.

The elders appealed to President John Dramani Mahama, the IGP, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and the Lands Commission to intervene urgently to prevent the dispute from escalating.

They also demanded clarification from the government over the circumstances under which land associated with the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project, which they claim has historical connections to their ancestors and state interests, could allegedly have been allocated to a private individual.

“The government must answer us. Who gave the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project land to an individual called Nii Tackie, and who is this ‘above’ person allegedly backing him?” they queried.

The traditional leaders further alleged that the dispute had resulted in the intimidation of farmers and threats to farmlands, warning that the situation required swift intervention to safeguard residents and maintain peace.

The Tsopoli elders maintained their resolve to defend what they regard as their ancestral lands, while urging all parties to respect the law and the authority of traditional institutions.

They warned that failure by the relevant authorities to address their concerns could heighten tensions in the area, insisting that their appeal for intervention must be treated with urgency.