Beyin (W/R), June 21, GNA- Mr Andrew Adjei Yeboah, Deputy Minister for Lands, Forestry and Mines has said that, one major principle underlying the establishment of Customary Land Secretariats (CLS) in the country is to facilitate proper documentation of land rights and transactions. He said it would also help keep accurate and up-to-date records that could be accessed by all interested persons. Mr Yeboah said these in an address read on his behalf during the inauguration of the Western Nzema traditional area CLS at Beyin in the Jomoro district on Thursday. He said the ability of the various traditional councils and other land owners to maximize socio-economic benefits from the growing demand for land and the protection of the rights and interests of the people would largely depend on the successful operation of these secretariats.

It is the second CLS to be opened in the Western Region after that of Wassa Amenfi, which was inaugurated recently. So far 17 CLS of the Land Administration Project (LAP) had been established in the country to streamline land administration, which began in 2003. Thirty CLS are expected to be opened by the end of August this year to constitute the set of pilots under the first phase of the LAP. Mr Adjei Yeboah said the discovery of oil has added a new dimension to the challenges in land administration, particularly in the Western Nzema traditional area and called for cooperation from all stakeholders to enable the Secretariat to set the required standards for other areas in the region to replicate. Among others, the Secretariat would develop conflict resolution mechanisms to ensure quick decisions on land disputes of all kinds to avoid litigation, he said. Boundaries of the different traditional areas would be clearly demarcated and measures put in place to seek the interest of vulnerable people in the society.

The Deputy Minister stressed the need for principles of equity, fairness, love for one another and good neighbourliness, which the project seeks to provide and that the intervention was not aimed at changing customary practices or ownership rights of land owners. Awulae Annor Adjaye III, Omanhene of Western Nzema denied allegations that land owners in the area were selling land indiscriminately to local and foreign investors in anticipation of the area becoming a commercial centre, due to the discovery of oil. "We are not going to mortgage the future wellbeing of our people by selling our lands for short term gains", he said. Awulae Adjaye said all lands in the traditional area are vested in the Traditional Council, adding that, the acquisition of land for any purpose either by the government or individuals must pass through the Council. He urged the government to provide all traditional councils with the map of mineral resource deposits to enable them to plan ahead for their economic growth.

Awulae Adjaye also spoke about alleged leakage in land revenue for the government and called for measures to "plug the leakages". He said the traditional council would forge close cooperation with the LAP to ensure that the Secretariat operated successfully for the benefit of the people of the area and appealed to the Jomoro district assembly to support the Secretariat by paying the salaries of the initial two members of staff. Mr Kwasi Blay, Deputy Western Regional Minister said the Government was adopting pragmatic measures to put the country on track for accelerated development. He said the land sector had been identified as one of the key areas for attention, hence the introduction of the LAP. A 19-member land management committee headed by Prof. Ivan Addae-Mensah for the traditional area was inducted into office. The Secretariat, which would operate at the Beyin palace, had been well furnished and provided with a computer and other equipment.