Issah Abdul Latif/RadioMak
The High Court in Wa, presided over by Justice Osei Wusu Antwi, has permitted the Sokpare family and the Wa Municipal Assembly to try out-of-court settlement of the dispute surrounding the repurposing of the Tendamba Primary School land for the government’s flagship 24hr Economy Market project.
In Court on Monday, May 4, 2026, to move motion for interlocutory injunction against any activities on the land pending the determination of the case, Counsel Sylvester Jebuni, representing the Sokpare family – the applicants, informed the court that the Overlord of Wa, Wa Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV, had requested the plaintiffs, through a letter, to withdraw the case for him to help resolve. He, therefore, sought permission from the court to allow his clients try settlement with the Wa Naa as a mediator.
Counsel Jebuni, however, stated that while his clients were willing to try settlement at the Wa Naa’s palace, they would not withdraw the case entirely. He said it was the position of his clients that should the mediation talks fail, they would return to the court for final determination of the matter.
The Wa Municipal Assembly, represented by Principal State Attorney, Saeed Abdul Shakur, did not object to the attempt for a mediated settlement outside the courtroom, stating that it was open to resolving the dispute under the guidance of the Overlord of Wa.
While the Sokpare family requested for two days to try the mediation process, the Assembly said that was not enough and proposed a week for the mediation.
Following these arguments, the presiding judge, Justice Osei Wusu granted the parties two weeks to reach an agreement. He said if resolution is not reached by May 20, 2026, legal proceedings will resume for the court to pronounce verdict on the matter.
The case has, therefore, been adjourned to Wednesday, May 20, 2026.
It would be recalled that, the Sokpare family, led by heads of Yirkpong, Yirkore, and Dangoli gates and a principal elder of the Sokpayiri family, filed a legal suit last week at the High Court challenging the decision of the Wa Municipal Assembly to relocate the Tendamba Primary School to pave way for the 24-hr Economy Market in Wa.
In the suit, the applicants want the court to declare them (Sokpare family) as the rightful allodial owners of the land containing the school, and that without their consent and approval, the purpose for which the land was granted to government in the 1950s cannot be changed by the Assembly.
The latest development is expected to allow traditional leaders to play a key role in resolving the dispute in order to maintain peace and unity within the community.
