The National House of Chiefs has strongly opposed recommendations by the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) seeking to merge the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL) with the Lands Commission.
According to the House, the OASL should remain an independent constitutional body under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, arguing that its establishment under the 1992 Constitution was intentional and necessary for the effective management of stool land revenue.
The House explained in a statement that chiefs who served on the Consultative Assembly before the promulgation of the 1992 Constitution pushed for the creation of the OASL due to concerns over the poor management of stool land revenue by the then Lands Commission.
It stated that the OASL was created to ensure efficient management of stool land revenues generated through rents, royalties and concessions, while also promoting transparency, accountability and equitable distribution of funds.
The chiefs further noted that the office plays a critical role in protecting stool and skin lands, supporting traditional authorities in land administration and separating the management of stool land revenue from land ownership under customary law.
Citing Article 267(2) of the 1992 Constitution, the House maintained that the proposed merger would undermine the chieftaincy institution and defeat the purpose for which the OASL was established.
According to the House, the OASL has performed creditably since its establishment and has remained focused on assisting stools and skins in land administration and revenue management.
It warned that integrating the office into the Lands Commission would push stool and skin land matters into the background and increase bureaucratic delays in the release of funds to beneficiaries.
The chiefs also expressed concern over ongoing litigation and garnishee orders affecting the Lands Commission, arguing that merging the two institutions could expose stool land revenue to unnecessary risks.
The House stressed that existing laws, including the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036) and the Lands Commission Act, 2008 (Act 767), already provide for collaboration between the two institutions, making the proposed merger unnecessary.
The statement further criticised the performance of the Lands Commission in managing public and vested lands, noting that controversies surrounding state land administration continue to persist.
According to the House, the 2008 merger of four land sector agencies under the Lands Commission Act did not achieve the expected improvements in land administration, registration and surveying services.
The chiefs observed that some district offices that previously brought land valuation services closer to the public had since been closed following the restructuring.
The House also recalled that during deliberations leading to the 1992 Constitution, members of the Consultative Assembly believed the then Lands Commission had too many responsibilities, including fisheries, forestry, mining and stool lands administration, which negatively affected efficiency.
It added that concerns were also raised at the time over delays, lack of transparency and alleged mismanagement of stool land revenue by the then Lands Commission.
The National House of Chiefs has, therefore, called on government to strengthen and resource the OASL rather than merge it with the Lands Commission.
According to the House, the customary sector controls the largest landmass in Ghana and requires a dedicated institution capable of effectively managing stool and customary lands for the benefit of traditional authorities and local development.
The House maintained that the current arrangement should remain unchanged, insisting that there is no justification for altering a system that continues to serve its intended purpose effectively.
For more news, join The Chronicle Newspaper channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBSs55E50UqNPvSOm2z
