OASL moves to confiscate gov’t lands from developers

The Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL) has cautioned investors and estate developers in Brong-Ahafo against the purchase of government vested lands.

The OASL said very soon it would begin an exercise to ascertain and confiscate all government lands sold out to the general public.

Mr Geoffrey Osafo-Osei, Brong-Ahafo Regional Stool Lands Officer, who issued the warning, noted with regret that some syndicates, including traditional rulers in the region, were extensively selling out government vested lands.

Mr Osafo-Osei was speaking at the inauguration of the Wenchi Customary Land Secretariat (CLS) was is expected to help in the collection and upkeep of records on land administration matters within the Municipality.

Apart from that, the Wenchi Ahwenekorkor CLS would help avert land disputes that usually arose among family members, chiefs as well as individuals and their land owners.

Mr Osafo-Osei said the OASL would resort to all legal means to seize government lands sold out to individuals and groups and urged prospective land buyers to cross-check from the Secretariat before purchasing land.

He said the situation was prevalent in Wenchi, Berekum,Drobo, Duayaw-Nkwanta and Techiman, adding that CLSs had been established in all those areas and prospective land buyers or estate developers could check from the offices.

Miss Mabel Helen Yemidi, Brong-Ahafo Regional Co-ordinator of the Land Administration Project (LAP), said the land sector was bedeviled with numerous problems resulting in the loss of lives, livelihoods and investment.

She said the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources had initiated the LAP for a period of 15-25 years, as a mechanism to address problems identified in the National Land Policy,which was launched by the Government in 1999 as a long-term land administration reform process.

Ms Yemidi recalled that during the implementation of LAP One, which ended in 2010, a total of 37 CLSs were established nationwide to assist traditional authorities and other land owners in the administration of land at the local level.

Alhaji Hakibu Dauda, Wenchi Municipal Chief Executive, expressed concern about multiple land sales in the Municipality, noting that if left unattended, the practice could affect development in the area.

He said the establishment of the Secretariat was a step in the right direction and pledged the Assembly's maximum support to ensure effective service delivery.

Nana Krabire Kwakwakwa Yentitu,Adontenhene and Acting President of the Wenchi Traditional Council,commended the OASL for establishing the secretariat and expressed optimism that it would help control disputes arising from multiple land sales in the area.