The Nii Odai Ntow family has strongly refuted claims that they are not the legitimate owners of the Kwabenya/Ashongman lands.

This follows media reports alleging that a court had ordered the Lands Commission to delete all entries and titles related to the Odai Ntow family from public records.

The media reports suggested that the Accra High Court ordered the Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission to cancel and delete all Nii Odai family entries due to alleged fraudulent and illegal boundary extensions.

At a press conference held on Tuesday, 6 August 2024, at Kwabenya in Accra, the Odai Ntow family dispelled these misconceptions and reassured the public and lawful occupants of their lands.

Seth Asante Wiafe, Legal Manager of the Nii Odai Ntow family customary land secretariat, clarified that the Odai Ntow family comprises four major families established by a judicial decision in 1980.

"Per the judgement of 1980, each of these families has a head, and indeed in line with the Heads of Families Act of Ghana, they are the managers and owners of the Odai Ntow family lands. So anytime you want to purchase or get land for yourself and somebody tells you Nii Odai Ntow family, I’m the only head or the sole signatory, it’s a lie, because that has been pronounced judicially but we’re all one unit under the Odai Ntow family."

Lawyer Asante Wiafe further highlighted that the family’s ownership is backed by a judgment dating back to 1904.

"The Odai Ntow family are the adjudged owners in possession of lands situate, lying, and being at Kwabenya, Ashongman, Agbogba, Dome, Haatso, Katapor, and others as per the judgment of His Honour Sir Brandford Griffith Knight, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Gold Coast in 1904 in a suit entitled A. Bosumpim and Others vs. Martei and Others."

He also mentioned the family's contribution to national projects, stating that in 1973, the Odai Ntow family released the land on which the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) is situated to the government.

 "In 1975, the Odai Ntow family was adjudged winners for claims of government of Ghana compensation for the acquisition of the Atomic Energy Project at Kwabenya," Lawyer Asante Wiafe indicated.

The compensation was paid to the family through their lawyer, E.D. Kom, who disbursed the funds on behalf of the family.

The Legal Manager of the Nii Odai Ntow family customary land secretariat reiterated that subsequent judgments have consistently recognised the Odai Ntow family’s ownership of these lands.

"Any land or any grant in the Odai Ntow land that was not made jointly by these four heads, the courts have declared such lands as null and void," he said, referencing judgments from 2011 and beyond.

Lawyer Asante Wiafe cited various legal affirmations of the family’s ownership, including the "Declarations on Kwabenya Affairs" dated May 14, 1989, and numerous High Court judgments, the latest being from April 26, 2024, by His Lordship Justice Anthony Oppong (JA).

In light of these legal validations, the family called on media outlets to retract and apologize for any misleading reports that suggested their land registrations were fraudulent.

They assured grantees and residents of their continued support and legitimacy.

"The Odai Ntow family are the legitimate owners of the land in those places as confirmed by the various judicial decisions from the Circuit Court to the Supreme Court, and as a result, they should not fear what any reportage puts out as the family are strongly behind them," Lawyer Asante Wiafe added.