Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has mounted a strong campaign for the release of stool lands which were taken by the government some 66 years ago but have remained unused, in accordance with the law.
His Majesty for the umpteenth time made the call when the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor visited him on June 9, 2024, at the Manhyia Palace to propose a national dialogue on Land Administration in the country.
The release of such lands, Otumfuo noted, is part of the Land Administration system which must not be ignored as he nodded to the proposal.
“Stool lands that were taken for government projects which have remained unused must be returned. It is part of the conversations about land administration.”
Article 267(1) of the constitution says that, “All stool lands shall vest in the appropriate stool on behalf of and in trust for the subjects of the stool in accordance with customary law and usage.”
The Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036) in section 268(1) also states that, “On the coming into force of the 1992 Constitution, it is unlawful to vest stool or skin land in the state.”
Section 270 (1) of Act 1036 gives the President right upon recommendations of the Lands Commission to authorise the devesting of any land which prior to the coming into force of the Constitution was vested in the President by any law.
The Asante stool lands were taken over by the Nkrumah government in 1958 after the President at the time passed the Stool Lands Act, which gave the central government control over the management of stool lands.
Source: Manhyia Palace
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