The Inauguration Of The Western North Regional Office Of The Administrator Of Stool Lands
The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Lands and Forestry, Hon. Benito Owusu Bio inaugurated the Western North Regional office of the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL).
In a short ceremony held at the forecourt of the Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Council, the Chairman for the occasion who is also the Paramount Chief for the Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Council, Katakyie Kwasi Bumagama II in his short acceptance speech expressed his joy and gratitude to the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Ministry for such honor given him with the inauguration of another office in his Region.
Mr. Percy Ayamgah who delivered the welcome address on behalf of the Regional Minister, Hon. Richard Ebbah Obbeng extended the Regional Minister’s heartfelt felicitation to the people most especially the Chiefs and the Hon. Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resource, Hon Benito Owusu Bio and his entourage from Accra.
He said that, “We are confident of realizing the task to enhance Stool Land revenue mobilization and disbursement to facilitate sustainable development and efficient management of Stool Land funds for the benefit of present future generation in our region”.
Also, he called on the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands to continue to coordinate with the relevant stakeholders and consult with the stool and traditional authorities on matters relating to the administration and development of stool lands.
Furthermore, he pledged his support to ensure the effective operation of the office to live up to their establishment and expectation.
In her short address, the Administrator of Stool Lands, Surveyor Mrs. Maame Ama Edumadze- Acquah said upon the expansion of the region from ten to sixteen her office decided to also expand their areas of operations to create more offices in line with the expansion drive. “Last year, we were able to inaugurate our Ahafo Regional Office and today, by the grace of God, we are here to inaugurate our Western North Regional Office”.
Again, she added that, the Western North Regional office becomes the 9th Regional Office out of the sixteen regional offices scheduled to be commissioned in the coming months aimed to bring their services to the doorstep of the citizenry. Additionally, she said they believe in no uncertain terms that the creation of OASL Western North Regional Office with district offices in Sefwi Wiawso Municipal, Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwei Municipal, Aowin Municipal, Juaboso, Bia West and Suaman will help deepen their operation in the region.
Madam Maame Ama Edumadze – Acquah disclosed that, OASL is currently in collaboration with GIZ in digitalizing its operations throughout the country which entails spatial identification of property owners / lessees to facilitate the payment of ground rent. “This is aimed at addressing the fundamental challenges in revenue mobilization to help achieve the Ghana Beyond Aid Agenda”.
Furthermore, she stated that, the passage of Legislative Instrument (L.I 2377) for the office of the Administrator of Stool Lands Act 1994, Act 481, has also empowered the office to monitor and ensure the judicious use of stool lands revenue by the various district Assemblies to bring about development.
Also she seized the opportunity to call for closer collaboration from all stakeholders especially the Traditional authorities for the preparation of policy frame work of the rational and productive development and management of stool lands at all levels as enriched in Article 267(7) and (8) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana..
To the general public, “we call for the timely provision of information on land transactions to updates our records for rent mobilization purposes”.
To the various Assemblies, we want to ask for provision of office space, relevant planning scheme, public education and judicious utilization of stool revenue.
Additionally, he called on sister agencies to fight against illegal logging and illegal mining (galamsey) must be aggressively sustained especially in the Western North Region to ensure that the benefit from these exhaustible natural resources will accrue to all but not few and to Nananom she asked them to continue to supply the office with all the allocation notes including site plans issued to at their various localities for data recording and ground rent purposes.
She urged all to put shoulders to the wheel and make the Western North Region a formidable force to reckon with when it comes to stool lands administration in the country. “Together we will build a great country not just for ourselves but also for future generations” she concluded with.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Benito Owusu Bio in his inaugural address made an appeal to all gathered to work together with Government and the work Ministry to bring down the threat of galamsey which he noted is currently affecting revenue mobilization on land throughout the country.
