Owabi Encroachment: Asantehene Warns Nananom over Indiscriminate Land Sale
The Monarch of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has warned traditional authorities to exercise caution in the sale of lands.
Otumfuo highlighted the consequences of allowing people to settle around the Owabi River, which supplies water to the Ashanti Region.
The Asantehene noted that the action threatens the very existence of residents.
“Nananom, we must be careful about this issue. If we allow people to stay near these rivers, we will experience water shortages in the next five to 10 years. We must be very careful.”
This was in response to a petition from the Lands Commission to the King over the illegal sale of lands in the said area and a planned demolition exercise.
His Majesty observes that the Ghana Water Company Limited, Town and Country Planning, Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Lands Commission have a hand in the disturbing development.
“Nananom are not the only ones to be blamed. Ghana Water is complicit, Town Planning, Lands Commission and Nananom,” Otumfuo said at a meeting of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs on December 19, 2025.
“The law has established a radius, prohibiting the development of settlements. Who permitted the facility that was built? Who connected the water to those houses? Which chief sold the land for the building? Who connected the light to that house?”
Story by Hajara Fuseini
Click to read more: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/
