Two customary land secretariats opened in Ghana
Two customary land secretariats have been opened in the cities of Sunyani in the Bono Region and Kwahu-Obomeng in Ghana’s Eastern Region. They are intended to make land management at the level of traditional communities more transparent and accountable, as well as improve land record-keeping.
The initiative is supported by Ghana’s Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL). As MyJoyOnline reports, the government seeks to strengthen the documentation of land rights and interaction between traditional authorities and state institutions.
Records of rights and land transactions
The new secretariats will maintain land records, document land rights and register transactions in the relevant areas. They are also expected to provide accurate and accessible land information to the public, including potential investors.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Administrator of Stool Lands Gad Asorwe Akwensivie said that proper land management is important for national development, while poor management can cause conflicts. According to him, around 80% of land in Ghana is held under customary ownership, meaning traditional authorities have significant responsibility for managing it in the interests of current and future generations.
Interaction with institutions
According to OASL, around 100 customary land secretariats are already operating in different parts of Ghana. They help strengthen interaction between traditional authorities and institutions involved in land administration, including OASL, the Lands Commission, the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority, the National Development Planning Commission and non-governmental organizations in the land sector.
Akwensivie called on staff and members of land management committees to adhere to integrity, professionalism and accountability. According to him, OASL and the Lands Commission will continue to provide technical support so that the secretariats perform their functions in accordance with the Land Act of 2020.
