BLOOD BATH LOOMS AT BOI AS RESIDENTS HAVE UNTIL THE 21-08-2025 TO REMOVE THEIR BUILDINGS FOR DEMOLITION EXERCISE

BOI, Ga East Municipality – The usually calm hilltop communities of Boi West Hills, Boi New Town, and Boi GBC are living under the shadow of fear. An August 21 deadline hangs over them like a guillotine. On that date, if the warnings of Enock Pappoe and his associates are to be believed, residents will be forced to remove their properties and vacate the land they have called home for years—despite a Supreme Court ruling that they say places the land firmly in their hands.

 From Quiet Hills to Legal Battlefield

 The current turmoil has deep historical roots. The conflict over ownership of the Boi lands dates back decades, revolving around two traditional stools: the Boi Stool and the Akpor Stool. Both claimed jurisdiction over a swathe of fertile and strategically valuable land in the Ga East Municipality, land that has since attracted developers, home buyers, and investors.

 The Boi Stool, backed by historical maps, oral tradition, and colonial-era records, argued that these lands had been under its uninterrupted control for generations. The Akpor Stool countered with its own historical narrative, insisting it had rightful ownership over certain portions.

This simmering dispute became increasingly complex as each stool allocated lands to third parties, some of whom began building homes and businesses. The overlap in allocations inevitably led to conflicts among buyers, demolitions, and, in some cases, physical confrontations.

The Landmark Ruling: A Turning Point 

The matter eventually reached the Supreme Court of Ghana, culminating in what has come to be known locally as the Lanark Ruling. After years of legal back-and-forth, the court ruled decisively in favour of the Boi Stool.

 The judgment was based on extensive evidence: colonial survey plans, testimony from elders, and documented proof of Boi’s long-standing occupation and management of the land. The court concluded that the Akpor Stool had no legal claim to the lands in question and therefore lacked the authority to sell, lease, or allocate them.

 The ruling effectively voided all land transactions made by the Akpor Stool within the disputed territory. In legal terms, it was final and binding—there was no higher court to appeal to, no loophole to exploit.

 A Legal Victory and Years of Peace

 Following the ruling in 2023, the Boi communities settled into what many hoped would be a new era of peace. Residents who had acquired land from the Boi Stool saw their rights validated. Construction resumed, businesses flourished, and a sense of stability returned.

 The hospitals, schools, churches, and numerous family homes all stood on land recognized under Ghanaian customary law as belonging to the Boi Stool. Local governance structures resumed without the constant cloud of litigation.

 For nearly two years, it seemed the dispute had been put to rest.

The Return of Conflict: Enter Enock Pappoe

 That peace began to unravel when Enock Pappoe, a figure reportedly connected to transactions with the Akpor Stool, re-entered the scene. Despite the Supreme Court ruling, Pappoe began laying claim to large swathes of land within Boi West Hills, Boi New Town, and Boi GBC.

 Residents accuse him of arriving with groups of armed men—known locally as landguards—and issuing threats. In early August 2025, his team delivered an ultimatum: by August 21, all property must be removed from the land, or it would be forcibly taken down.

 What alarms residents most is that Pappoe has no contractual engagement with the Boi Stool, the recognized allodial owner. His alleged agreements are with the Akpor Stool, which lost the Lanark case and has no legal authority over the land.

Police Helplessness and Rising Fear

 Multiple residents claim that the police have done little to protect them. While officers have been seen in the area during some confrontations, locals say they have not intervened to stop the harassment.

 “It’s like the police are spectators,” one resident told this reporter, requesting anonymity for fear of reprisal. “We have the Supreme Court ruling, but what use is it if people can just ignore it and threaten us with violence?”

 The Ghana Police Service has not issued an official statement on the matter, but sources suggest that without a fresh court order directing enforcement, their hands are tied—highlighting a gap between legal victory and practical enforcement.

 The Law on the Residents’ Side

 From a legal perspective, the residents’ position is strong. Under Ghanaian law, nemo dat quod non habet—no one can transfer a better title than they possess. Since the Akpor Stool had no valid title to the Boi lands, it could not pass such a title to Pappoe or any other party.

 Furthermore, the Supreme Court’s decision is final and binding under Article 129 of the 1992 Constitution. Any contrary claim is effectively void unless a lawful amendment or overturning of the judgment occurs, which in this case is nearly impossible.

Community Calls for Intervention

 As the August 21, 2025 deadline approaches, anxiety is mounting. Community leaders, elders, and civil society groups are calling for urgent government action to prevent violence.

“We don’t want another bloodbath in Ghana over land,” says a spokesperson for the Boi West Hills Residents Association. “We are law-abiding citizens, and the highest court in the country has confirmed our right to be here. If the state cannot protect us, what message does that send?”

 The Stakes: More than Just Land

 Beyond the individual homes and businesses, the outcome of this confrontation could set a dangerous precedent. If Supreme Court rulings can be flouted without consequence, confidence in the legal system will erode. Investors, developers, and ordinary citizens alike will question whether a land title is worth more than the paper it’s printed on.

 What Happens Next?

 For now, the hills of Boi are tense but quiet. Residents are reinforcing their homes, some moving valuable belongings out of fear of attacks. Others remain defiant, insisting they will not be driven off land that is rightfully theirs.

 The August 21 deadline could pass without incident—or it could ignite a confrontation that will test not only the resolve of the residents but also the authority of the Ghanaian state to uphold its own laws.

 One thing is certain: all eyes are on Boi, waiting to see if the rule of law will prevail over intimidation.