The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has rejected portions of the Lands Act, 2020, which empowers citizens to drag traditional leaders to court to account for proceeds from land sales.
He claims that the Lands Act 2020, which is being introduced to address issues concerning the sale of lands by traditional leaders, cannot be fully applicable in the Ashanti Region.
Section 13 of the Lands Act creates a fiduciary relationship between the chief and the people over use of land.
It demands accountability and makes it a punishable offence for one to breach it.
Section 13(2) of the lands Act 2020 states “(2) A chief, tendana, clan head, family head or any other authority in charge of the management of stool or skin, or clan or family land, is a fiduciary charged with the obligation to discharge the management function for the benefit of the stool or skin, or clan or family concerned and is accountable as a fiduciary.”
Section 13(4) states that ”A fiduciary under this section who contravenes subsection (2) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than five thousand penalty units and not more than ten thousand penalty units or a term of imprisonment of not less than five years and not more than ten years or to both.”
But the traditional leader says the Lands Act does not apply to the region and has therefore asked the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and other relevant stakeholders to review portions of the Act.
“Even though the laws are made for everyone, here in the Asante kingdom, we also have our laws. Chiefs cannot be forced to account to anybody.”
“If they do, it belittles our chieftaincy,” the Asantehene said.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, led a team from the Ministry to explain the new Lands Act to the Ashanti Region House of Chiefs in their last meeting of the year in the region.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
