Four landlord gates in the Wa Municipality have reaffirmed their decision to release land occupied by Tendamba Primary School for the construction of a proposed 24-hour economy market.
The announcement was made at a press conference in the Upper West Region on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, where leaders of the landlords addressed controversies over land ownership and objections raised by some members of the Sokoyiri family.
Reading a statement on behalf of the landlords, also known as the Balume Clan, spokesperson Abdul-Wahab Tendana Osman described an earlier press conference on February 7 as misleading, insisting it did not reflect the position of the recognized custodians of the land.
“They maintained that the group behind the opposing statement lacked the customary and traditional authority to speak on land matters on behalf of the Wa landlords,” the statement said.
The Balume Clan comprises four gates — Suuriyiri, Kpaguri, Sokpayiri, and Puohunyiri — each holding distinct allodial land rights. According to the landlords, the parcel on which Tendamba Primary School stands falls under the Puohunyiri gate and was designated by the government in the 1960s for school construction.
They added that the Sokpayiri community does not have ownership rights over the land, and that elders familiar with the history and boundaries of the site are aware of these custodianship arrangements.
The landlords said consultations were held with the Wa Naa and his sub-chiefs, the municipal assembly, and the rightful landowning family, after which elders of the four gates unanimously agreed to release the land for the project.
Arrangements are reportedly underway to relocate the school to a new site to make way for the market, while a modern classroom block with ancillary facilities will be constructed simultaneously.
The landlords emphasised that recognized representatives of the Sokoyiri family participated in the consultations and supported the decision, describing the agreement as a demonstration of respect for traditional authority and a shared commitment to development in Wa.
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