A technical review conducted by a land researcher and the Municipal Officer for the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands in the Berekum East Municipal of the Bono Region, Dr. Benjamin Kwakye has found that, a 1902 road appropriation law, which is still applied in parts of Ghana, is causing confusion over land ownership, rent payments and registration, despite modern reforms under the Land Act, 2020.
Dr. Kwakye, speaking to Onua TV reporter Richard Manu in an exclusive interview explained that, the report focuses on the Road Appropriation (Ashanti Administration) Ordinance, 1902, which is colonial-era law that compulsorily acquired land stretching 300 feet on each sides of certain roads in some regions of Ghana including the Ashanti, Ahafo, Bono and Bono East regions are still in operation creating ownership problems.
He added that, more than a century later, the law appears to remain in force even though Ghana’s Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036), repealed many older land statutes in an effort to simplify and modernize the legal framework on our land use yet that law still exists.
A landowner, Yaw Gyamfi who has become a victim of this land ownership matters explained that, a land acquired in the Bono Region from this 300 feet buffer zone land is creating chaos over which government agency owns the land and have the capacity to claim the entitlement of rent or registration.
According to him, The Lands Commission and Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands are claiming ownership of the said parcel of land he operates making him to pay double fees on the land.
Dr Kwakye further appealed to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Roads and Highways and the National House of Chiefs to ensure that, compulsorily acquired corridor of land stretching 300 feet on each sides of the road from Ashanti Ahafo, Bono and Bono East towns from Kumasi to Offinso, Konongo, Juaso, Ejiusu, Obuasi, Bechem, Techiman, Kintampo, Mampong, Sunyani, Berekum, Goaso and other corridors within this regions must be repealed.
By Richard Manu
