By Felix Cofie
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has implored members of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs to embrace the New Lands Act, 2020 (Act 1036), for effective and efficient administration of land in the country. He said the new law which revises, harmonises, and consolidates existing laws relating to land, have several innovative provisions that will promote sustainable land administration and management, and effective and efficient land tenure.
The Minister was speaking at a meeting of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs in Kumasi where he engaged the members of the House on the new Lands Act. The engagement was at the invitation of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs to educate them on the provisions of the Act and to discuss matters pertaining to the lands and natural resources of our country. He reminded the Chiefs that they hold lands in trust for their subjects, and are therefore fiduciaries, accountable to their people. Under the Land Act, a breach of this fiduciary duty constitutes a criminal offence.
The Minister highlighted the requirement for all stools, skins, families and clans that own land to establish a Customary Land Secretariat, and assured the Chiefs, that the Lands Commission and the Administrator of Stool Lands, will work with them to ensure that the Secretariats are established.
He also emphasised the provisions of the law that require all allodial title holders to survey and demarcate their lands before disposing them. This is necessary to prevent land and boundary disputes, and to ensure that the development of such lands are in accordance with the development plans of the community.
The Chiefs raised other issues involving the management of our forest reserves and our mineral resources which the Minister took time to explain Government’s policies in these areas to them. The Minister assured the Chiefs that the Ministry will work closely with them to ensure the efficient management of the country’s lands and natural resources.
The President of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who presided over the meeting, thanked the Minister for taking time to engage the House on such an important matter of great concern to the Chiefs. He lauded the Minister for his exemplary leadership and work at the Ministry. The Asantehene noted that since assumption of office, Mr Abu Jinapor has discharged his duties with diligence, humility and integrity”, he called on him to continue on that
path.