Ghana opens customary land secretariats in Sunyani and Kwahu Obomeng
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Two Customary Land Secretariats have been inaugurated in Sunyani in the Bono Region and Kwahu Obomeng in the Eastern Region to strengthen land documentation, with the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands noting that about 80 per cent of Ghana's land is held under customary ownership.
Two Customary Land Secretariats have been inaugurated in Sunyani in the Bono Region and Kwahu Obomeng in the Eastern Region as part of efforts to promote effective, transparent and accountable land administration at the customary level. The initiative is being supported by the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL) as government seeks to strengthen land documentation and collaboration between traditional authorities and state institutions.
Speaking at the inaugurations, the Administrator of Stool Lands, Gad Asorwoe Akwensivie, commended the traditional authorities of Sunyani and Kwahu Obomeng for establishing the secretariats, saying the move demonstrated a commitment to improving land administration while ensuring that customary practices work alongside modern systems. He said about 80 per cent of land in Ghana is held under customary ownership, placing significant responsibility on traditional authorities to manage the resource for present and future generations.
According to the OASL, the new secretariats will serve as repositories for land records, document land rights and record transactions within their respective areas. They are also expected to provide accurate and accessible land information to the public, including prospective investors. Mr Akwensivie said the system could help reduce land disputes, improve tenure security and promote orderly planning and development.
The Administrator disclosed that there are currently about 100 Customary Land Secretariats operating in different parts of the country, helping to strengthen collaboration between customary authorities and state institutions including the OASL, the Lands Commission, the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority and the National Development Planning Authority. He urged staff and members of the Land Management Committees to uphold integrity, professionalism and accountability, saying the trust of the people should be earned and maintained.
Mr Akwensivie also challenged the Land Management Committees of both secretariats to work towards making them models for other stools, skins, clans and family land-owning communities that are yet to establish similar structures. He assured that government remained committed to supporting such initiatives, adding that the OASL and the Lands Commission would continue to provide technical assistance to ensure the secretariats fulfil their intended purpose under the Land Act, 2020.