A women’s group in the Ashanti Region has officially petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to intervene in a dispute involving the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak Mohammed, whom they accuse of unlawfully seizing their land for construction.
The Ashanti Muslim Women Association held a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, to voice their grievances over a parcel of land they own at Buoban in the Asawasi Constituency. The group’s leaders, Zainab Abubakar Owusu and Habibatu Iddris, claimed that the Minister has forcefully occupied the property and commenced development without following due process or providing any legal documentation for the takeover.
A 20-Year-Old Asset
In their petition, titled “Petition for Presidential Intervention in the Unlawful Construction and Occupation of Land Lawfully Owned by Our Organisation at Buoban, Asawasi,” the association stated that the land has been under their lawful ownership and management for over two decades. They maintain the land was acquired in good faith with the specific aim of developing educational and vocational projects to empower young women in the community.
The group recounted that in 2015, there were preliminary discussions regarding the potential voluntary release of a portion of the land to the government for the establishment of a Nursing and Physician Assistant Training College. According to the association, these talks were based on goodwill and consent, not compulsion.
However, the proposal was ultimately rejected by one of the parties involved, and the group claims they respected that decision without any dispute at the time.
Allegations of Unlawful Occupation and Threatening Remarks
The association now alleges that construction has recently begun on the same land without their knowledge or approval, despite the previous proposal falling through. They are questioning the legal basis for the project, asserting that no Executive Instrument (E.I.) or documentation related to a compulsory acquisition has been presented to them.
The women’s group argued that any compulsory acquisition must strictly follow the Constitution, which requires lawful authority, a clear public purpose, proper publication, and fair processes—none of which, they claim, have been demonstrated in this instance.
The situation escalated when members of the association visited the site to raise concerns. They allege that the Interior Minister publicly declared that he had taken the land and would not return it. The group warned that such remarks, if accurate, severely undermine public confidence in the rule of law and the protection of property rights.
“The land is not idle or abandoned,” the group stated, emphasizing they are not opposed to development but are opposed to a disregard for the law. “We have structured plans focused on empowering young women. Public office does not override ownership.”
Demands for Presidential Action
The Ashanti Muslim Women Association is formally requesting the following from President Mahama:
- An immediate halt to all construction activities on the disputed land.
- An independent and transparent review of the land’s ownership and the legal status of its alleged acquisition.
- The upholding of constitutional safeguards to protect private property rights.
The group expressed confidence that the President will ensure justice prevails and that his administration will adhere to constitutional governance. They reiterated that development must not come at the expense of lawful rights.
