<<Print>>

A lands administrator has appealed to stakeholders in land administration in Dormaa Municipality to employ the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to settle any grey spots that might arise during transactions on land. Mr. Francis Manu Appau, Municipal Stool Lands Administrator, urged the stakeholders to explain to prospective developers all laid-down terms of lease at the time of purchase to avoid conflicts. He said this when he presented a paper on the functions and achievements of Dormaa Customary Land Secretariat at a one-day workshop for some stakeholders in land administration at Dormaa-Ahenkro. Participants comprised plot allocation committees, traditional authorities, area councils, staff and volunteers at the Municipal Customary Land Secretariat. Jointly organised by the Customary Land Secretariat and the Rural Initiators and Motivators Development Association (RIMDA), an NGO, the workshop exposed the participants to basic demands and functions of the secretariat and steps required to ensure peace in land administration. Mr. Appau said since its inception in May 2006, the Dormaa Customary Land Secretariat had used the ADR to settle some land disputes amicably. He said the secretariat had also begun sensitization for communities to promote understanding among stakeholders and developers. Mr. George Baryeh, Executive Director of RIMDA, called for prudent control and accountability measures to build public confidence in the processes. He said regular monitoring and evaluation of transactions to maintain continuity and adjustment to the land administration programmes would help achieved this. Mr. Baryeh said the Dormaa Customary Land Secretariat, one of 10 pilot offices set up in the 10 regions to promote efficiency in land administration, could work effectively if it allowed inputs from all stakeholders into its plans and strategies.