The Wasipe Traditional Council in the North Gonja district of the Savannah Region has submitted an "urgent" petition to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Armah Kofi Buah, alleging improper land demarcation and fraudulent paramouncy claims by a group identifying itself as the 'Tampulma Traditional Council'.

Tandawura Alhaji Mohammed Amin, speaking on behalf of Jantonwura Peter Awusi Yakubu, Secretary of the Wasipe Traditional Council, addressed a press conference at the forecourt of the Wasipewura's palace on Tuesday, 30th September 2025, and announced that "approximately 1,079,170 acres of land within the Wasipe Traditional Area had been unlawfully surveyed and mapped without the necessary authorization from the Wasipewura and Yagbonwura, the recognised land custodians".

According to Tandawura Alhaji Mohammed Amin, the Wasipe Traditional Council intercepted a cadastral map survey allegedly approved by Surveyor Abdulai Fuseini on September 16, 2025, which shows a vast parcel falsely registered under the name of "Tampulma Traditional Council."

The petition alleged that on December 21, 2023, the Tampulma group submitted a request to the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi for recognition as a paramountcy, which, according to the Wasipe Traditional Council, lacks foundation in history, custom, or law.

"The disputed land stretches from the Tachali River to Belle and Kandia on the western bank of the White Volta," he said.

"This is a flagrant violation of Ghana’s land governance laws and customary land tenure systems," the petition stated.

The Wasipe Traditional Council argued that the Tampulmas were historically an acephalous group assimilated under the authority of the Gonja Kingdom centuries ago by Ndewura Jakpa, and have never held allodial title or customary authority over Wasipe lands.

The Wasipe Traditional Council stressed that customary land ownership in the area was vested in the Wasipewura and ultimately the Yagbonwura, King and Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom.

They pointed out that the so-called 'Tampulma Traditional Council' was not recognised by either the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs or the National House of Chiefs.

In a five-point demand, the Wasipe Traditional Council petitioned the minister for lands and natural resources to:

1. Immediately halt any land registration or demarcation processes involving the disputed acreage

2. Launch a formal investigation into the issuance of the cadastral map and the role of officials involved

3. Instruct the Savannah Regional Lands Commission to work exclusively with established traditional authorities

4. Refer potential breaches of professional conduct to appropriate legal bodies

5. Take swift action to prevent escalation of tensions

While reaffirming their dedication to peace and legality, the Wasipe Traditional Council noted they reserved the right to pursue legal recourse through Ghana's courts and petition relevant constitutional authorities if the matter remained unaddressed. 

"As Ghana strives for peaceful coexistence and proper land governance, we urge your leadership to intervene promptly and decisively to avert any potential escalation of tensions," the Wasipe Traditional Council concluded. 

Meanwhile, the ministry of lands and natural resources has yet to issue a public response to the petition.