The paramount chief of Nandom and president of the Nandom Traditional Council, Naa Prof. Edmund Nminyem Delle Chiir VIII, has taken steps to defuse a legal dispute over land serving St. Theresa’s Hospital, the municipal hospital for Nandom, by pressing for an out‑of‑court settlement.
In a working visit on Saturday June 13, 2026, the Nandom Naa inspected portions of land that is currently the subject of litigation between the hospital and private landowners.
The cases were referred to him by the Circuit Court at his own request so they could be settled through dialogue and mediation, his office said in a press release.
Commending his predecessor
During the visit the Naa praised a previous land grant by his predecessor, Naa Dr. Puobe Puo‑ire, describing it as “laudable and visionary.” He said the grant positioned St. Theresa’s Hospital to grow and stressed that such expansion will require adequate land for future infrastructure.
At the same time, Naa Prof. Delle Chiir voiced concern that some landowners were not fully involved when the original grant was made. He urged that sustainable development must respect both community interests and traditional land rights while allowing essential institutions to expand.
The press release said the Naa toured ongoing development projects in the municipality and also visited a contested site near the hospital canteen that is the subject of separate litigation between a party identified as Mafuz and Nandom Parish. That site is among matters before a Mediation Committee the Naa has constituted to pursue amicable resolutions, consistent with the Circuit Court’s directive.
“We are committed to ensuring that all land disputes are resolved fairly, peacefully, and in a manner that preserves unity and promotes development in Nandom,” the Naa told those present. He called on all parties to cooperate fully with the Mediation Committee as it works toward lasting solutions.
Community ties and school visit
The paramount chief of Nandom also returned to his roots during the visit, inspecting Naa Polkuu Primary School, his alma mater established in 1943, which he attended in 1949. He appealed to former students to unite and support the school’s development, noting that the school land was a gift from his father, Delle.
The Nandom Naa’s intervention signals a preference for negotiated settlements rather than prolonged court battles for disputes affecting critical public infrastructure.
The Mediation Committee will now engage the parties in the cases referred by the Circuit Court, with the Naa’s office emphasising a desire to preserve social harmony while enabling the hospital’s planned growth.
