Customary Land Secretariat inaugurated for “Tsie-We”

Mr. Kwesi Dautey, Chief Officer of Stool Lands of the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands, has called on community heads to establish Customary Land Secretariats (CLSs) for effective, efficient and transparent management of lands.

He said the CLSs will also assist in preventing disputes and long litigations about lands in the country.

Mr. Kwesi Dautey gave the advice at the inauguration of the “Tsie-We” Customary Land Secretariat organized by the Greater Accra Regional Office of the Administrator of Stool at Teshie in Accra on Friday.

He said government has attached a great importance to land management in the country; thereby, resulting in the establishment of CLSs and urged families and traditional heads to take advantage of the opportunity.

He said 37 CLSs have been established under the Land Administration Project Phase One (LAP I) after families and community heads were taken through some sensitization programmes; thus, 20 had also been put in place under the LAP II.

Mr. Kwesi Dautey called on the people to apply to the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands for any assistance after they have been provided the necessary structures.

Mr. Isaac Oppong-Yeboah, Senior Officer of Stool Lands of the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands, said land is a central element in development and therefore its transactions should not be treated lightly.

He urged community leaders to manage the CLSs well and transact all land issues at the secretariat.

Nii Nortey Dua, former Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku, speaking on behalf of Nii Nortei Sedua, Head of Tsie We Family, appealed to the government to return some of the lands it acquired and has not been put to use to the indigenous rightful owners.

He said this would prevent dishonest people from encroaching on them while calling on land management authorities to minimize the difficulties in processing land documents.

He added that the Secretariat has come at the right time to put good things in place for proper management of lands for the benefit of all the people rather than only few.

Nii Nortey Dua concluded that “the Secretariat will help mobilize money to support the youth, the poor, widows, the aged and the orphans, as well as the establishment of an educational fund.”