By Daniel Bampoe
A legitimate land recovery operation carried out in Djornman in the Adentan Municipality has been mischaracterized on social media, with attempts being made to falsely link the family of the former Second Lady of Ghana, Samira Bawumia to the incident.
Contrary to these misleading claims, the land repossession was executed under a Writ of Possession following a clear and enforceable judgment by the Circuit Court in Adenta.
The court process was initiated by Hajia Aisha Ahmed, who filed a suit in 2021 against George Oti Bonsu and Winchester Empire Company Ltd. for unlawful occupation of two parcels of land.
After a full trial, the court found in her favour and ruled that she is the legal and beneficial owner of both properties.
The total size of the disputed lands spans approximately 1.53 acres, divided into two plots measuring 0.65 and 0.88 acres respectively.
Court Confirms Ownership and Issues Injunction
In its final ruling delivered on November 28, 2023, the court, presided over by Sedinam Awo Balokah, declared Hajia Aisha Ahmed as the rightful owner of the lands and issued a Perpetual Injunction against the defendants.
The injunction restrains George Oti Bonsu, Winchester Empire Company Ltd., and anyone acting on their behalf from accessing, developing, selling, or dealing in any way with the properties.
The court further authorized the plaintiff to take full possession of the lands and issued a Writ of Possession, which enabled court bailiffs to act with the assistance of the Ghana Police Service in reclaiming the property for Hajia Aisha Ahmed.
Police Involvement Was Court-Directed
Ahead of the possession exercise, the Judicial Secretary, through a letter dated March 12, 2024, formally requested the Ghana Police Service to assign armed officers to support court officials in executing the Writ.
This preventive step was necessary to maintain public order and avoid any potential resistance or confrontation during the lawful recovery of the land.
The Property Fraud Unit of the Ghana Police Headquarters was specifically directed to assist, further underlining the legal and procedural nature of the operation.
Damages and Penalties
In addition to granting ownership and possession, the court imposed a combined GHS 215,000 in penalties on the defendants.
These included:
GHS 150,000 in general damages for unlawful interference with the plaintiff’s property,
GHS 50,000 in exemplary damages for ignoring police directives,
and GHS 15,000 in legal costs.
The judgment sent a strong signal about the legal consequences of land encroachment and disrespect for lawful authority.
Social Media Misreporting
Despite the clarity of the court orders, a video has been circulated online suggesting the Second Lady’s family is behind the land takeover.
However, official court documents and legal filings make no mention whatsoever of the Second Lady, her relatives, or any public figure.
Legal observers warn that such misrepresentations are not only dangerous but also undermine public confidence in the judicial system.
