Judge rules against use of soldiers in private land dispute

The Land Division of the Accra High Court has barred retired Chief of Air Staff, Frank Hanson, and some serving military officers from accessing a disputed parcel of land at Tse Addo, bringing a decisive end to a protracted legal battle over ownership.

In a judgment dated February 26, 2026, Justice Abena Oppong, sitting as an additional High Court judge, issued a perpetual injunction restraining the former Air Vice Marshal, his agents, and any persons acting on his behalf from entering or interfering with the land in any manner.

The court ruled that Air Vice Marshal Hanson failed to provide credible evidence to support his claim that the plaintiff’s grantors lacked the legal capacity to transfer ownership of the disputed land.

“It is clear from the evidence that the defendant interfered with the disputed land. He has since failed to justify his intentions on the plaintiff’s land,” the judge held, emphasising the weakness of the defence presented before the court.

In addition to the injunction, the court awarded GH¢10,000 in damages against Hanson for acts of trespass and for deploying serving military personnel to the land, an action the court found to have resulted in harassment and intimidation of the plaintiff even after the dispute had been brought before the court.

The court further directed the defendant to remove a container placed on the land, which was said to contain offensive materials, and restore the property at his own cost.

The ruling followed a suit filed by Adolf Tetteh Adjei, Managing Director of Sapholda Ventures Limited, who sought legal redress over what he described as unlawful encroachment on his legally acquired property.

Mr. Adjei had prayed the court to grant a perpetual injunction against the defendants, compel the removal of all structures from the land, award general damages for trespass, and grant recovery of possession, along with legal costs including lawyer’s fees.

The court upheld his claims, declaring him the rightful owner of the land and granting him full possession, effectively dismissing any competing interest by the defendants.

Legal observers say the judgment reinforces the authority of the courts in resolving land disputes and sends a strong signal against the use of force or influence—particularly involving security personnel—in civil matters.

The decision is also expected to deter similar acts of encroachment, especially in high-value areas such as Tse Addo, where land ownership disputes have become increasingly common.

With the ruling now in force, any attempt by the defendants or their associates to re-enter or interfere with the land could amount to contempt of court, carrying further legal consequences.

Jacqueline Nana Tutua