Traditional leaders remain central to land governance in Ghana – Expert engages Yamorasa Chiefs

Central Regional Coordinator of the Licensed Surveyors Association of Ghana, Engr. Dr. Dr. E. A. Gyamera

The Central Regional Coordinator of the Licensed Surveyors Association of Ghana, Engr. Dr. Dr. E. A. Gyamera, has reiterated the critical role of traditional leaders in land governance during a land education engagement with chiefs and opinion leaders at Yamorasa in the Central Region.

The meeting, held as part of ongoing efforts to deepen land administration awareness, brought together traditional authorities to discuss their responsibilities and the evolving challenges within Ghana’s land sector.

According to a policy brief by Engr. Dr. Gyamera, nearly 70 to 80 percent of land in Ghana is under customary ownership. This places chiefs, family heads, and other traditional authorities at the centre of land administration, influencing how land is accessed, managed, and even contested.

Addressing the gathering, Engr. Dr. Gyamera emphasized that traditional leaders serve as custodians of land, holding it in trust for their people, including future generations, rather than owning it personally. He noted that their role in allocating land to individuals, families, and investors remains fundamental to Ghana’s dual land tenure system, where customary and statutory systems coexist.

He further highlighted that traditional authorities play a key role in land allocation and documentation, particularly in rural and peri-urban communities. Their involvement in land transactions, negotiations with developers, and issuance of customary land documents continues to shape local land governance. The establishment of Customary Land Secretariats, he added, has improved documentation and record keeping in many communities.

Engr. Dr. Gyamera also pointed out that chiefs often serve as the first point of contact in resolving land disputes. Through the application of customary law and local knowledge, they mediate conflicts in ways that are accessible, cost effective, and culturally accepted, although he noted the need for stronger alignment with the formal judicial system.

On enforcement, he stressed that traditional leaders play an essential role in maintaining order by preventing unauthorized land sales, sanctioning misuse, and protecting communal resources such as forests and sacred lands. These efforts contribute significantly to sustainable land use and environmental protection.

The engagement also highlighted the growing role of traditional authorities in facilitating development. Chiefs act as gatekeepers in releasing land for infrastructure projects and negotiating compensation with government and private developers. Their involvement remains crucial for urban expansion, agriculture, and real estate development.

However, Engr. Dr. Gyamera acknowledged persistent challenges within the system, including multiple land sales, boundary disputes, inadequate documentation, political interference, and increasing commercialization of land. He also cited environmental threats such as illegal mining, known as galamsey, and rapid urbanization as pressures on traditional land governance.

He called for strengthened collaboration between traditional authorities and state institutions such as the Lands Commission and the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands. He further advocated for reforms including digitization of land records, capacity building for traditional leaders, and enhanced transparency in land transactions.

Engr. Dr. Gyamera concluded that while traditional leaders remain indispensable to land governance in Ghana, improved integration with formal systems and sustained education will be critical to achieving efficient, transparent, and equitable land management.

The Yamorasa engagement forms part of a broader initiative to empower traditional leaders with knowledge and tools to navigate the complexities of modern land administration while preserving customary values.