The Office of the Administration of Stool Lands (OASL) and the Kong Traditional Area in collaboration with Jaksally Development has on 27th May, 2021, commissioned an office of the Customary Lands Secretariat at Gindabo in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District for the people of the Kong Traditional Area.
Speaking at a durbar to officially open the office, the Director for Jaksally Development Organization Mr Seidu Jeremiah said land litigation in the kong tradition area has become rampant as a result of poor land management system and hence the need to setup such an office.
The experienced personality on land management system urged the youth of the Kong Traditional Area to take advantage of the office to acquire land for the purposes of future investments.
He said the vision of Jaksally is to support all the traditional areas in the Gonja kingdom to establish their own CLS.
The Registrar for Gonja Traditional Council, Mr Abutu Kapori who was also present at the durbar,said the paradigm shift in land management system in Gonjaland is a welcoming news.
He expressed satisfaction about the development stating that it will aid resolve the usual land litigation issues in the various traditional areas within the kingdom.
Mr Atsu Norgbedzi, the Regional Stools Lands Officer also added that land has its physical and spiritual issues and if not managed properly has dire consequences.
He said government is battling with a lot of land issue citing land guards as a serious menace.
He charged the people in the traditional area to take advantage of the office to implement proper land management systems.
He said Government is losing a lot of revenue as a result of poor land systems in most traditional areas and said with this office, government will realize the full benefit of resources for national development.
Mr Norgbedzi, said with stools officer in Bole currently, he is optimistic of maximum benefits of land resources for the development of the people.
Speaking to the media, Kongwura Adamu Seidu Jinkurge I said as result poor land management system, chiefs have become caretakers instead of being chiefs.
Kongwura said one can own a vast land of Cashew without registering the land or paying royalties. He said this situation has resulted in scarcity of land for other crops for human survival.
He however described the situation as worrying stating that with the new dawn of CSL all landed properties including old and new will be registered else one will lose ownership of the land as the office is a constitutional creation and without compliance you will face the full rigours of the law.
He was grateful to OASL and Jaksally for their assistance in the establishment of the CLS for his traditional area.
A committee and technical advisors were duly inaugurated to man the affairs of the office.
Source: yagbonradioonline
