State housing agency partners Private Firm AYNOK to evict squatters, reclaim billions in encroached state property
By Philip Antoh
The State Housing Company (SHC) has enlisted a private asset recovery firm to spearhead a nationwide operation to evict illegal occupants and reclaim encroached state lands and properties, in a move that pits the state housing agency against powerful land-grabbing syndicates and thousands of illegal settlers.
The partnership with AYNOK Holdings Company Limited, announced at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, marks a dramatic escalation in SHC’s long-running battle against encroachment. The agency says it has exhausted its patience after years of lenient measures were routinely ignored.
Deputy Managing Director Samuel Atukwei Quaye did not mince words as he laid out the scale of the problem.
“Over the years, a considerable number of these lands and properties have fallen into the hands of people with no right to them,” Quaye said. “Some have encroached on our lands. Some occupy our properties without any authority. Some hold leases that expired long ago and have never been renewed. Some have developed on our lands without approval, and some have sold, sublet, or transferred property that was never theirs to give.”
According to Quaye, SHC offered a 15 per cent discount in 2025 to clients in arrears to help them regularise their obligations. Some took advantage. Many did not.
On February 16, 2026, SHC issued a final warning to encroachers and illegal occupants to regularise their status or vacate. That call, too, went largely unheeded.
On September 24, 2026, the company published a final notice in the national dailies, serving a 21-day ultimatum that expired on October 15, 2026.
“We have been patient. But patience cannot be unlimited when the public interest is being eroded each day,” Quaye warned. “This notice is in the public domain, it is clear, it is final, and it will elapse on October 15, 2026. In lieu of all the above, the company will be embarking on a land audit and recovery exercise.”
Quaye was quick to frame the operation as a legal necessity rather than a war on ordinary Ghanaians.
“We are not on a mission against citizens,” he emphasised. “We are asking that people do the right thing and give to the State what belongs to the State.”
He issued a blunt advisory to the public: “Do not buy, lease, develop, or deal in any SHC land without first verifying its status directly with the company. Do not rely on middlemen, informal land agents, or anyone who claims to act for us without written authority. And let me be emphatic: no payment should be made to any person in connection with this exercise except through official SHC payment channels.”
AYNOK Holdings, described by SHC as its “asset recovery partner,” will support field operations and recovery efforts. Quaye stressed that AYNOK operates strictly under SHC’s authority and direction.
“Responsibility for every decision rests with this company, and every action will be carried out within the law and with respect for the rights and dignity of all persons,” he assured.
AYNOK’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Clemence Djato, thanked the SHC Board and Management for the confidence reposed in his firm, promising to execute the task to the admiration of all Ghanaians.
Dr. Djato said AYNOK is a privately owned Ghanaian asset recovery company legally registered in Ghana, with practical experience supporting public institutions in the lawful recovery of encroached state lands since 2012.
“Working under the direction and authority of SHC, our role includes: supporting the audit and mapping of SHC lands and properties; providing field and logistical support to the exercise; and supporting recovery action, where required, strictly in accordance with the law and the instructions of SHC,” Dr. Djato stated.
He clarified that AYNOK does not own, allocate, or sell SHC land, and has no authority to do so. Decisions on the status of any property, he said, rest solely with SHC.
Reiterating the commitment to human rights and the rule of law, Dr. Djato assured the public that his company would act strictly within the laws of Ghana.
“There will be no unlawful demolition, eviction, or use of force during our operations,” he said.
The SHC recovery exercise is one of the most significant state land reclamation efforts in recent Ghanaian history. State lands across the country have been systematically encroached upon, sold illegally, and developed without authorisation, often with the connivance of corrupt officials and powerful middlemen.
The partnership with AYNOK, however, is likely to raise eyebrows. Private asset recovery firms operating on behalf of state agencies have a chequered history in Ghana, with allegations of heavy-handed tactics, opaque payment structures, and questionable legal authority.
For now, SHC insists the operation will be lawful, transparent, and respectful of due process.
But with thousands of illegal occupants facing eviction and powerful interests standing to lose millions, the road ahead is anything but smooth.