Nsawam High Court stops Osenase Homecoming over security risks

The Nsawam High Court has issued a formal order prohibiting the Osenase Homecoming event, which was scheduled to take place from October 12 to 18, 2026. Presiding judge Justice Paul Oduro delivered the ruling following an urgent application by the Ghana Police Service, citing a substantial risk of a breach of the peace. The court determined that the planned festivities could exacerbate tensions stemming from a volatile and ongoing chieftaincy dispute within the Osenase community.

In his judgment, Justice Oduro highlighted the organizers' failure to adhere to the legal requirements of the Public Order Act. The court found that the planners had neither notified the police nor secured a formal exemption from the notice requirement mandated by law. Although the organizers argued that the homecoming was primarily a charitable endeavor, Justice Oduro observed that the event’s details pointed toward a traditional celebration. He noted that such gatherings naturally attract large crowds, which, in the current atmospheric tension of Osenase, posed an unacceptable risk of violence between rival factions.

The legal action taken by the Ghana Police Service was driven by concerns over public safety and limited security resources. Police representatives informed the court that the security agencies would struggle to contain any significant unrest should the event serve as a flashpoint for conflict. This security assessment aligned with previous measures taken by the local Municipal Security Committee, which had already imposed a ban on social activities in the area as a precautionary step against escalating the local chieftaincy crisis.

This ruling serves as a significant reminder of the judicial system's role in maintaining order in communities divided by traditional leadership conflicts. By prioritizing public safety over the planned social gathering, the court has reinforced the necessity for strict compliance with the Public Order Act. For the people of Osenase, the cancellation of the week-long event signifies the continued social and developmental cost of the unresolved chieftaincy dispute that continues to loom over the town's public life.