Queen mothers in the country have been urged to support the enforcement of the new Land Act to promote effective land administration.
Chairperson of the Greater Accra Regional Lands Commission, Yvonne Sowah, who made the call stated that queen mothers, as traditional authorities and custodians of land, play a critical role in the country’s land administration.
She was speaking at a meeting organised by the Lands Commission to sensitise the Queen Mothers on the Act in Accra last Friday.
She said women had in the past championed proper ways of administering lands, hence the need to keep queen mothers abreast with the new Land Act to help govern land administration.
“The role of women essentially as the principal supporters of our chiefs and family heads, makes it inevitable that your understanding of the provisions of the Act will prepare and equip each one of us gathered here with all that is required to better the lot of our subjects and kinsmen through an improved customary land administration regime,” she said.
Madam Sowah stated that the Land Act 2020, (Act 1036) which was passed after extensive consultation provided a unique opportunity to positively transform land administration in Ghana.
“The innovative provision on the creation of customary land secretariats (CLS) which has now been provided for in sections 13-18 in Act 1036.
“This will ensure there is avenue for accountability and transparency that is required in management of the land resources available to our various traditional areas,” she stated.
She cautioned the queen mothers to be mindful of the fiduciary duty they hold managing the land resources on behalf of the people, and thus the benefits should be channelled to improving their respective communities.
“The ground rent from leases granted to various persons must become a great source of revenue but this can only be achieved through a well-established CLS with up to date and accurate records,” she said.
She pleaded with them to also advise other mothers to take up professional courses such as surveying, land administration courses, legal courses and the likes that will enrich the traditional areas with the requisite human resources which will help in the full realisation of the CLSs.
James Dadson, Acting Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, indicated that the meeting formed part of continuous efforts of the Commission to ensure that all key stakeholders were well informed about their roles and responsibilities under the Land Act.
He further donated 40 copies of the Land Act to the Queen Mothers Platform Association and urged them to continuously abreast themselves with dictates of the law.
Receiving the donation, president of the Association, Nana Amponsah Dokuah III, expressed her profound gratitude to the commission for the kind gesture extended to them and pledged to educate other traditional rulers.
BY CLAUDE NYARKO ADAMS
