'Customary Land Secretariat Under Lap2 Is Demand-Driven'

From Umar Farouq Musah, Kumbungu-N/R
 
THE ACTING Northern Regional Stool Lands Officer of the Office of Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL), Mr. Franklin Oppong-Obiri has said that the establishment of Customary Land Secretariats (CLS) under the Phase II of the Land Administration Project is demand-driven.

He said the project does not support the imposition of secretariats on Traditional Authorities in LAP-2 but that it should be requested for and owned by the local people so as to facilitate development at the local level.

Mr. Oppong-Obiri made these observations at a day's sensitization workshop in Kumbungu in the Northern Region to educate the local people, heads of decentralized departments, assembly men and queen mothers on the importance of Customary Land Secretariats (CLS), Customary Boundary Demarcation (CBD) and the mandate of OASL under LAP-2.

He said the importance of both the CLS and CBD could not be overemphasized as these would ensure proper documentation of land transactions, eliminate conflicts between one traditional area and another, and improve security of tenure as well as ensure registration of lands on lease-hold.

He called on the Chiefs and people of the area to embrace the concept in order to have sanity in land issues and also partner government in its development agenda by alleviating poverty and ensuring social stability in the nation.

On the expectation of LAP-2, the Northern Regional Communication and Public Outreach Officer, Mr. Saaka Ahmed Mustapha said the Second Phase of the project aims at deepening and consolidating the gains made in LAP-1which witnessed the laying of foundation by reviewing the statutes on land.

He said LAP-2 seeks to create the enabling environment for the Land Sector Agencies (LSA) to be more responsive to clients, cutting down the cost and time of business to reflect the objective of an efficient and transparent service delivery.

The Paramount Chief of the Kumbungu Traditionnal Area, Nyaaba Kumbunaa Alhaji Iddrisu Abu Yiri II who is also a member of the National Project Steering Committee (LAP-2) was grateful that his people benefitted from the sensitization on the activities of LAP and importance of CLS and CBD in a bid to get them understand the dynamics in development as far as land issues are concerned.

He said his Traditional Area was ready for the establishment of a Customary Land Secretariat since it would not only ensure proper record keeping on land transactions and avoid multiple sale of the same piece of land but also stop conflicts on land as well as reduce poverty.

Alhaji Iddrisu Abu Yiri assured that chiefs and elders in the area will support the implementing agencies of the project to carry out their activities effectively as their contribution towards moving the nation forward.