Customary Lands Secretariat Inaugurated

Nkawie (Ash), May 29, GNA- Two Customary Land Secretariats have been inaugurated at separate ceremonies at Nkawie and Toase in the Atwima-Nwabiagya District. Mr. Andrews Adjei-Yeboah, Deputy Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines who performed the inaugural ceremonies, said, a major component of the Land Administration Reform being pursued by the government under the Land Administration Project (LAP), is strengthening of Customary Land Administration Units owned by land owning communities. He said between October 2004 and June 2007, government's support to customary authorities for establishment and strengthening of their land secretariats was based on a supply-led approach where public land agencies selected areas for support without adequate consultation with the land owners.

Mr. Adjei-Yeboah regretted that, this approach resulted in lack of ownership and commitment, suspicion, high expectation from government for funding activities of the established secretariat and that slowed down the project.

He said currently, assistance for the project is only available to Stools, families and other land owners who requested for such support. Mr Osei Assibey Antwi, Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister expressed appreciation to the two Stool Land Secretariats for their contributions in making the offices available.

In a welcoming address, Mr. Thomas Ofori Donkor, Atwima-Nwabiagya District Chief Executive thanked the Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines for the honour done to the district for choosing it as one of the key pilot sites and eventually inaugurating them to become operational under LAP. Nana Asiamah Poku Afrifa II, Toasehene and Nana Kofi Darko III, Krontihene of Nkawie Kuma, who chaired the respective ceremonies pledged to cooperate fully with the Ministry to achieve greater heights. 29 May 08