The Danso Family and the Dansoman Divisional Stool of the Ngleshie Alata (James Town) Paramount Stool have warned residents of Dansoman, particularly those in the Dansoman Estates, against what they describe as misleading land notices being circulated by a purported Sempe Customary Land Secretariat.

In a press statement dated 13th October, 2026 and issued by Nii Kojo Danso II through his authorised representatives and legal advisers, the family and stool said they are reliably informed that the Sempe Stool has established a Secretariat at the Exhibition Roundabout—Dansoman Last Stop Road near Dansoman Senior High School.

According to the statement, the Secretariat is circulating letters to residents under the heading "Invitation to Update, Produce and/or Correct Sempe Land Documents," inviting persons described as lessees or occupants of Sempe land to present their indentures and other land documents for updating, correction, digitisation and data collection, and announcing its intention to commence issuing ground-rent demand notices from 1st November, 2026.

The Danso Family and the Dansoman Divisional Stool said they regard these activities as "deeply concerning, misleading and prejudicial to the established position of the legitimate land-owning authorities in Dansoman”.

The statement said the question of land ownership in the Dansoman area cannot be determined by unilateral declarations or issuance of ground-rent demands but must be considered in accordance with law and binding judicial decisions.

It cited the High Court proceedings in Suit No. BL.261/04 where in a ruling dated 31st July, 2014, the court expressly recorded that judgment had been entered in favour of the plaintiffs on 13th April, 2005 and that the judgment had not been set aside as at the date of the ruling.

The same ruling, the statement noted, dismissed an application by Nii Adote Din Barima I to join the proceedings, observing that the applicant had failed to demonstrate an interest in the area acquired by government and referring to a schedule which described the acquired Dansoman land as lying to the north of Gbegbe and Mpuase villages.

The family and stool also relied on the judgment of the High Court dated 15th April, 2025, in Suit No. FAL/111/2015 which reproduced what the Supreme Court stated about Jonkobli in the case of James Town [Alata] Stool and another vrs. Sempe Stool and another [1989-90] 2 GLR 393 as "the Co-Plaintiff has satisfied me that the village of Jonkobli and its surrounding lands are exclusively under Alata Stool by the settlements which were made by the permission of the Alata Stool."

"Thus the 4th Plaintiff's (NII KOJO DANSO II) predecessors having acquired a valid grant of Dansoman lands from the said Alata Stool are deemed to be the owners and custodians of Dansoman."

The statement said these judgments addressed competing claims over the relevant lands and recognised the limits of the Sempe Stool's claim in the vicinity of Dansoman, particularly in relation to Sakaman and Dama.

"No customary land secretariat can, merely by its establishment or by circulating administrative notices, enlarge the territorial extent of a stool's lawful interest or displace rights determined by a competent court," it said.

The Danso Family and the Dansoman Divisional Stool advised residents to exercise caution and not to treat the letter as proof that their properties are situated on Sempe Stool land nor regard the proposed updating exercise as establishing Sempe Stool's ownership.

"Residents are urged not to treat the letter as proof that their properties are situated on Sempe Stool land, nor should they regard the proposed updating exercise or the threatened ground-rent demands as establishing the Sempe Stool's ownership of their respective plots.”

They also cautioned residents against presenting original indentures, signing acknowledgements, paying ground rent or making declarations that could be construed as accepting the Sempe Stool as lawful grantor without independently verifying the legal basis.

"We urge residents to preserve the letters they have received, together with their indentures, receipts, site plans and other relevant records, and to seek independent legal advice where necessary.”

The family and stool called on the Sempe Stool, its chief, officers and agents to desist from conduct that unlawfully interferes with the rights of legitimate land-owning authorities.

They specifically demanded that the Sempe Stool cease circulating notices that represent that properties within Dansoman Estates are Sempe Stool lands, refrain from issuing ground-rent demands over properties it has no entitlement toand desist from acts of trespass, unlawful entry and misrepresentation of boundaries.

They also warned that any conduct that violates existing court orders may attract civil and other lawful proceedings.

The statement expressed concern that the activities are taking place despite previous contempt proceedings involving the Sempe Stool's chief who was convicted for contempt and required to enter into a bond to be of good behaviour.

The Danso Family and Dansoman Divisional Stool also called on the Lands Commission, the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands, the Attorney-General and other state institutions to examine the legal basis upon which the Secretariat claims authority and intends to issue ground-rent demands.

"The relevant institutions must ensure that land administration processes do not become a means of legitimising disputed claims or creating confusion among residents.”

They further stressed that "a customary land secretariat cannot create ownership where none exists" and that administrative activities like digitisation and assignment of land account numbers cannot be used to manufacture a claim to land.

"Our message is simple and unequivocal: Dansoman's land rights must be determined by law and valid title, not by unilateral declarations, administrative notices or attempts to create facts on the ground," the statement concluded.