Atebubumanhene Inaugurates Customary Land Secretariat to Streamline Land Governance

ATEBUBU, Ghana — In a landmark move aimed at strengthening land governance in support of peaceful and sustainable development, the Paramount Chief of Atebubu Traditional Area, Ohempon Dr Yeboah Asiamah, with the support of Nananom, officially inaugurated the Atebubu Stool Land Secretariat (ASLS), marking a new chapter in the management of customary lands in the town.

The event was in accordance with Section 14(1) of the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036), which mandates the establishment of Customary Land Secretariats by allodial land title holders for lawful and effective land administration. Present at the event were Nananom of the Traditional Area, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Atebubu-Amantin (Hon. Masu’d Ayaaba Thomas), Bono and Bono East Director of the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (Mrs. Georgina Rockson), Bono East Regional Lands Surveyor (Mr. Bernard Kofi Boateng), as well as religious and opinion leaders.

Addressing the gathering, Ohempon declared that the newly launched ASLS seeks to address and prevent the recurrence of longstanding challenges in land management such as unauthorized land transfers, undocumented transactions, boundary conflicts, and limited access to land records. He emphasized that the secretariat serves both as the authorized entity for administering land transactions in Atebubu and as a repository of accurate land records in the area.

“This is more than a technical facility: it is a bridge between tradition and national law—a tool for justice, peace, and responsible tenure in support of equitable development,” said Ohempon Dr Yeboah Asiamah.

The Bono and Bono East Director of the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands applauded Ohempon and his council for the establishment of ASLS, citing that the act is grounded in law. She encouraged Atebubuman to ensure that all land interests are channelled through ASLS in compliance with law. On his part, the Regional Lands Surveyor, Mr. Boateng, emphasized the generational benefits of following ASLS to register all land interests.

Speaking on behalf of the religious fraternity, Mr. Dufailu Moro Osman (Sariki Zongo) and Rev. Boakye Danquah (Superintendent Minister of the Methodist Church, Atebubu) urged all with interest in Atebubu lands to seek guidance from ASLS and encouraged the secretariat to offer good customer service to all and sundry.

The MCE, Hon. Ayaaba Thomas, pledged his support for the smooth running of ASLS and reminded all present that after following lawful acquisition of land through the secretariat, appropriate permits are to be sought from the Municipal Assembly regarding the proper use of the land in alignment with appropriate planning schemes.

The General Manager of the secretariat, Mr. Michael Osei, assured all present that the ASLS is committed to guiding all stakeholders through the proper procedures for land acquisition, and to protecting all lawfully acquired land interests in Atebubu.

Ohempon expressed his gratitude to land law consultants who supported the establishment of ASLS, namely Lawyers David Akubila and Kweku Mireku Obeng, and to Dr Kennedy Bomfeh, his Chief of Staff, for coordinating engagements leading to the establishment of the secretariat. He called on other traditional leaders who are custodians of land to view the creation of Customary Land Secretariats not as a burden, but as an opportunity to modernize governance while preserving heritage. “In Atebubu, we are building not just a system, but a legacy for our people and for generations to come. The Atebubu Stool Land Secretariat is open to all for lawful, orderly, and transparent land administration,”
Ohempon remarked.

Monikstvonline.com