Court grants substituted service order on encroachers on Asona Royal Family lands at Berekuso Akuapem

The High Court in Koforidua has granted an ex-parte motion for a substituted service to be served on encroachers and squatters from trespassing on the land owned by the Mankrado Stool Lands for the Asona Royal Family of Berekuso Akuapem in the Eastern Region.

This follows an application for injunction against developers on the land owned by the Mankrado Stool Lands for the Asona Royal Family of Berekuso Akuapem in the Eastern Region.

The land, which had a portion allocated to the Ghana Association of Phonographic Industry (GAPI)  for the development of a Cultural Village, was originally leased to the Ministry of Works and Housing in 2001 by the Mankrado Stool Lands for the Asona Royal Family of Berekuso Akuapem headed by Abusuapanyin Kwaku Gyan.

The Ministry had planned to use the 2,000 acre land for infrastructure and residential housing, then referred to as the Affordable Housing Project.

This, according to the agreement was contingent upon the payment of 40 per cent of the land price. 

Consequently, various individuals and companies encroached the land.

According to the agreement between the Asona Royal Family and the Ministry, the family is mandated to protect the land from encroachers until the final acquisition process is completed.

Unauthorized third parties have since reportedly entered the land and started development projects according to Kwaku Gyan, the Abusuapaying of the Mankrado Stool Lands.

This is why the Asona Royal Family (Plaintiff) has filed a case at the High Court in Koforidua seeking to  recover possession of the land, a perpetual injunction to restrain the defendants, their assigns, agents, workmen, and any other individuals from trespassing, as well as claims for damages, including legal fees.

The court on May 28, 2025 granted an order for substituted service after considering a motion ex-parte for substituted service filed by the family. 

The plaintiff is to serve the Writ of Summons, Statement of Claim, and Motion for interlocutory injunction on the Defendant. 

Meanwhile, the Asona family and the Mankrado Stool of Brekuso, led by Abusuapanyin Kwaku Gyan, have petitioned the Ministry of Works and Housing to verify the legitimacy or otherwise of the encroachers' claims to the land, seeking steps to safeguard the land and prevent any potential chaos.