80% of lands without proper documentation

Asebu,(C/R) June 19, GNA - Mr. Franklin Obri, Focal Person on Lands and Administration of stool lands, on Thursday observed that 80 per cent of lands in Ghana have no proper documentation, which has resulted to the numerous land disputes.

He said it was to address this anomaly that government had set up Customary Lands Secretariats (CLSs), at the community level to facilitate greater awareness of land rights and responsibilities, and asked chiefs in particular to register stool lands to help promote economic development.

Mr. Obri, made the observation, when he addressed a land sensitization forum, organised by the Ministry of Forestry, Lands and Mines, to explain the benefits of the CLS under the Land Administration Project (LAP), to the chiefs and people of the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District.

He explained that in addition to providing the requisite documentation on lands, the CLSs will help to ensure greater accountability in the use of land revenues to land owners, to promote peaceful development of communities.

Mr. George Nti, Thematic Facilitator of the LAP, called on the chiefs and land owners in the area, to endeavour to register their lands with the CLS to help build a proper database of documents relating to ownership of lands to avoid land related disputes.

He said anyone who had a land without proper receipt and documentation of ownership, limited his or her ownership right and urged them to take advantage of the three land secretariats in the Central Region, to have their land properly registered to ensure smooth transfer from generation to generation.

Mrs. Ruth Paintsil, Head of Stool Lands in the region, said the CLSs would ensure that those who acquire lands from chiefs for projects paid the requisite rents.

She urged the participants to educate their fellow land owners about the benefits of the LAP and the role of the CLSs in the payment of rents to forestall any misunderstanding.

The Gyasehene of the Asebu Traditional Area, Nana Obrempong Yimbi Bron IV, expressed gratitude to the government for the LAP and urged all land owners to properly, document their lands to avoid future disputes.