Stories from Sebastian R. Freiku
A fully equipped office has been commissioned at the Kumawu Palace as the Customary Lands Secretariat (CLS), to assist the Kumawu Traditional Council (KTC) in the administration and documentation of land transactions.
The Secretariat has been facil
itated by a New York University and the KTC with support from the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL) and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
The Kumawu Lands Secretariat brings to nine the number of CLSs in the region, since the establishment the three phase World Bank Land Administration Project (LAP), following the development of a National Land Policy Document in 1999 to ensure good land management systems in Ghana.
The newly-established CLS at Kumawu, like others, will undertake the keeping and maintaining of up to date records of land transactions, provide availability of land to prospective developers and investors, provide land ownership information to the public, and owners rights and use, and serve as a link between land owning stools and public land sector agencies, including OASL, Lands Commission, Town and Country Planning Department and district assemblies, and collaborate with the OASL in stool land revenue management, among others.
It is expected that the CLSs will promote peaceful development of local communities, minimise land related disputes and conflicts, and clarify ownership and land use rights, as well as provide accurate land records and attract investors.
The Regional Stool Lands Officer, Surveyor Ebenezer Arthur, appealed to the Sekyere Kumawu District Assembly to support the newly-established CLS at Kumawu, and the OASL to provide more revenue.
He said, until Phase 1 of LAP started in 2003, only three CLS – the Asantehene’s Lands Secretariat, Okyenman Lands Secretariat and the Gbawe Quartei CLS – existed in Ghana.
The Stool Lands Officer said between 2003 and 2011, for LAP 1, 34 new CLS were established, including seven in the Ashanti Region at Manhyia, Bekwai, Ejisu, Nkawie Kuma, Toase, Agogo and Mampong.
He said out of the 35 traditional councils in the Ashanti Region, LAP has assisted nananom in establishing CLSs in 16 traditional areas.
Mr. Arthur urged all stakeholders to be honest and transparent in land dealings, and assured that the OASL will continue to provide technical support to the Kumawu CLS.
He commended the Omanhene of Kumawu Traditional Area, Barima Sarfo Tweneboa Kodua, the KTC, and stool elders for going through the various selection processes for its establishment.
Barima Sarfo Tweneboa Kodua noted that several acres of Kumawu Stool lands had been encroached upon due to the long absence of a chief in the area, and appealed to those who lay claim to portions of such lands to regularise title deeds to such lands. He said the KTC would take steps to retrieve all such lands from the encroachers.
Meanwhile, a five-member lands management committee has been formed by the KTC to run the CLS, to be managed by a Co-ordinator and a Secretary.
They are Nana Yaw Nyarko Abronoma, Kumawu Boafohene; Nana Yaw Amoah Kwarteng, Dumakwaihene, Mr. Thomas Osei Bonsu, a stool attendant and caretaker of Stool Lands, Nana Owusu Bempah Koduah, Okyeame, and Mr. Emmanuel Obeng, District Lands Officer.
Mr. Walter Dachaga and Felicia Akosah are Co-ordinator and Secretary respectively at the CLS.
In another development, a nine-member Education Committee of the KTC has announced that it would disburse GH¢25,000 to 45 SHS students under its scholarship scheme by the close of December.
Deadline for receipt of application forms from deserving students is December 14.
The Kumawuhene appealed to natives and corporate bodies to support the education fund.
The post Kumawu Customary Land Secretariat opens appeared first on The Chronicle - Ghana News.