Ghana Case Law

ABUSUAPANYIN OSAFO MANU (SUING FOR HIMSELF AND ON BEHALF OF THE ASSONA FAMILY OF ASSIN BOMSOMADWE) VRS KWEKU

ABUSUAPANYIN OSAFO MANU (SUING FOR HIMSELF AND ON BEHALF OF THE ASSONA FAMILY OF ASSIN BOMSOMADWE) VRS KWEKU [2025] GHADC 83 (16 September 2025)

Court

District Court

The court dismissed a family land claim over Assin Bosomadwe land, holding the plaintiff failed to prove a valid grant back from the Kona Nifa family.

• Declaration of title
• Recovery of possession
• Injunction
• Damages for trespass
• Family land
• Customary transfer of land

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Manu and Another v Gyapong and Another (E1//HCKO/184/2023)

Manu and Another v Gyapong and Another (E1//HCKO/184/2023) [2025] GHACC 44 (16 September 2025)

Court

Circuit Court

Case number

E1//HCKO/184/2023

The Circuit Court dismissed a family land claim after finding the plaintiff failed to prove that the disputed land had been granted back to his family or the chief.

• Family land
• Title to land
• Possession
• Injunction
• Trespass
• Customary transfer of land

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Aryeequaye v Aryeequaye and Another (A9/095/24)

Aryeequaye v Aryeequaye and Another (A9/095/24) [2025] GHADC 129 (21 August 2025)

Court

District Court

Case number

A9/095/24

District Court decision on an alleged customary gift of family property and intestate distribution. The plaintiff failed to prove the gift, and his claims were dismissed.

• Intestate succession
• Customary gifts
• Distribution of estate
• Letters of administration
• Recovery of possession
• Customary-gift

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Boadi and Another and Another v Addo (J4/52/2020)

Boadi and Another and Another v Addo (J4/52/2020) [2025] GHASC 42 (11 June 2025)

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

J4/52/2020

The Supreme Court held that the Kadehene and his elders, as a customary arbitral panel, lacked jurisdiction to apply PNDC Law 111 to redistribute the estate of Opanin Kwaku Boadi, who died intestate in 1962. The estate had already vested in the family under customary law, and the application of statutory law by the panel was ultra vires and void. The purported redistribution was contrary to established customary law and thus invalid.

Source excerpt

• Intestate succession
• Customary arbitration
• Jurisdiction
• Matrilineal inheritance
• Application of statutory law in customary proceedings

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Naaba Kulga I and Another v Ouedraogo II (CR/HCKO/E12/064/25)

Naaba Kulga I and Another v Ouedraogo II (CR/HCKO/E12/064/25) [2025] GHAHC 153 (4 June 2025)

Court

High Court

Case number

CR/HCKO/E12/064/25

The position of Moshie Chief in the Awutu Traditional Area does not meet the statutory or constitutional definition of a chief, as it is not hereditary, not tied to a particular family or lineage, and is not recorded in the National Register of Chiefs. Therefore, the dispute does not constitute a cause or matter affecting chieftaincy, and the High Court has jurisdiction to hear the case.

Source excerpt

• Jurisdiction
• Chieftaincy disputes
• Definition of chief
• Abuse of process

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OFOSU AND ANOTHER VRS. LARBI AND ANOTHER (C1/03/2023)

OFOSU AND ANOTHER VRS. LARBI AND ANOTHER (C1/03/2023) [2025] GHAHC 69 (6 May 2025)

Court

High Court

Case number

C1/03/2023

High Court land dispute over boundary encroachment, with the plaintiffs succeeding on declaration of title, injunction, and removal of a manhole.

• Declaration of title
• Injunction
• Trespass
• Boundary dispute
• Customary sale
• Site plan requirements

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Afriyie v Osei (J4/15/2023)

Afriyie v Osei (J4/15/2023) [2025] GHASC 29 (16 April 2025)

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

J4/15/2023

Supreme Court dismissed a civil appeal over disputed family land, holding that the challenged lease was supported by a principal family member and that acquiescence barred late challenge.

• Family property
• Alienation of family land
• Customary succession
• Estoppel
• Burden of proof
• Family-property

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DUUN VRS DOK & 3 OTHERS (UE/BG/DC/A1/4/2021)

DUUN VRS DOK & 3 OTHERS (UE/BG/DC/A1/4/2021) [2025] GHACA 2 (7 April 2025)

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

UE/BG/DC/A1/4/2021

The court dismissed the plaintiff’s land claim, accepted the defendants’ traditional history and possession evidence, and granted the counterclaim.

• Declaration of title
• Counterclaim
• Burden of proof
• Traditional evidence
• Possession
• Boundary dispute

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Amoah v Akonnor and Another (A1/31/23)

Amoah v Akonnor and Another (A1/31/23) [2025] GHACC 50 (4 April 2025)

Court

Circuit Court

Case number

A1/31/23

The court held that a family member lacked capacity to lease family land without the head’s consent, granting declarations and expungement but refusing trespass and possession claims.

• Family land alienation
• Capacity to alienate family property
• Declaratory relief
• Void transactions
• Burden of proof
• Default judgment

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Amoah v Akonnor and Others (A1/31/23)

Amoah v Akonnor and Others (A1/31/23) [2025] GHACC 54 (4 April 2025)

Court

Circuit Court

Case number

A1/31/23

Ghana Circuit Court held that a family member lacked capacity to lease family land without the head’s consent, voiding the lease and ordering expungement.

• Family land alienation
• Capacity to alienate land
• Declaratory relief
• Void transactions
• Burden of proof
• Land-law

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