The Land Act Working Group met with the National House of Chiefs yesterday, September 4 ,2024, to provide an update on the progress made in developing the Legislative Instruments (LIs) for the Land Act.
The meeting, held at the conference room of the National House of Chiefs at Manhyia was aimed at briefing the traditional leaders on the efforts of the Working Group in reviewing and updating the LIs to ensure the effective implementation of the Land Act.
The session was chaired by the Vice President of the National House of Chiefs, Naa Puowele Karbo III, Chief of the Lawra Traditional Area. In his opening remarks, he welcomed the team and commended them for engaging the House, emphasizing the importance of this step.
Surv. Peter Osei Owusu, the Ashanti Regional Lands Officer, introduced the team and handed it over to Surv. Maxwell Adu-Nsafoah, Acting Deputy Executive Secretary in charge of Operations.
Surv. Adu -Nsafoah presented an overview of the progress made, highlighting key areas such as the management of customary lands, interest in land, dispute resolution, and community engagement.
The President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi Il, paramount chief of Sefwi Anhwiaso traditional area who later joined the meeting praised the team for their efforts and stressed the significance of involving traditional leaders in the legislative process. He noted that chiefs are custodians of about 80% of the land in Ghana and have been managing their lands for decades. He urged the Working Group to give due consideration to the chiefs’ input and ensure that their comments are reflected in the final LIs.
“The Land Act has the potential to transform land management in Ghana, and we are committed to supporting its implementation,” Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi said.
Prior to the meeting, the Working Group had sent draft LIs to the House for review. Most of the concerns raised by the chiefs focused on the following key issues:
– The establishment of Customary Land Secretariats and the role of government6 agencies in providing technical support for effective land management and administration.
– The processes involved in the acquisition of large tracts of land.
– The Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process.
– The management of Customary Land Secretariats.
– Allodial titles and other related issues.
Surv. Adu-Nsafoah assured the House that their feedback would be incorporated into the final LIs.
Two consultants, Lawyer Kofi Owusu-Poku and Lawyer Henry Tackie, also took turns to clarify certain issues, particularly regarding the acquisition of large land parcels and other areas requiring further explanation.
The Land Act Working Group has engaged various stakeholders, including traditional leaders, civil society organizations, and government agencies, to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive approach to implementing the Land Act. The meeting allowed the chiefs to provide valuable insights and feedback, which will be considered in the final LIs.
The engagement concluded with a resolution to address the concerns raised by the House, with plans for further deliberation once the revisions are made.
Some members of the delegation included Acting Director of PVLMD, Surv. Mrs. Cynthia Odametey; Surv. Timothy Anyidoho, Acting Greater Accra Regional Lands Officer; and Surv. Dr. Benjamin Quaye, Head of Special Projects.
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