
Justice Paul Oduro of the Nsawam High Court has issued an order halting the Osenase Homecoming event, which was scheduled to take place from October 12 to October 18, 2026. The ruling follows an application from the Ghana Police Service, which raised concerns that the gathering could trigger violence due to a volatile, long-standing chieftaincy dispute within the community. The court determined that there was a substantial risk of a breach of the peace if the event were allowed to proceed as planned.
In delivering the judgment, Justice Oduro noted that the organisers failed to comply with the Public Order Act, which requires formal notification to the police before holding such an assembly. Although the organisers characterized the homecoming as a charitable initiative, the court found that the nature of the activities suggested a traditional festival. Justice Oduro emphasized that such an event would likely attract large crowds, creating a dangerous situation given the active tensions between rival factions in the township.
The Ghana Police Service argued that proceeding with the homecoming would jeopardize public safety, stating they had limited resources to manage potential unrest if clashes erupted. This judicial intervention supports a prior directive from the local Municipal Security Committee, which had already placed a ban on social activities in Osenase to prevent an escalation of hostilities. The court's decision effectively reinforces those security measures to maintain order and protect residents from potential violence.