Formalising Customary Land Rights in Ghana: Can Participatory Customary Land Administration Improve The Contemporary Situation?
Abstract
The shift of the discourse on customary land tenure systems and
administration towards the statutory recognition of customary land rights
and the strengthening of the capacity of customary land administration at
the turn of the millennium has accelerated the development and
implementation of neoliberal land policies across many countries in Africa.
Studies show that implementing neoliberal land policies has sustained
colonial distortions in African customary land administration in post
colonial era. In Ghana, the perpetuation of the falsifications in the colonial
customary land administration in post-colonial period has resulted in the
non-recognition of traditional council members, queen mothers, and
citizens in legal frameworks as key actors in customary land governance.
The realities of formalisation of customary land rights manifest in peri
urban areas when land values escalate due to peri-urbanisation. Traditional
leaders redefine the existing customs and evict the indigenes from the
customary lands without the state’s interference.
administration towards the statutory recognition of customary land rights
and the strengthening of the capacity of customary land administration at
the turn of the millennium has accelerated the development and
implementation of neoliberal land policies across many countries in Africa.
Studies show that implementing neoliberal land policies has sustained
colonial distortions in African customary land administration in post
colonial era. In Ghana, the perpetuation of the falsifications in the colonial
customary land administration in post-colonial period has resulted in the
non-recognition of traditional council members, queen mothers, and
citizens in legal frameworks as key actors in customary land governance.
The realities of formalisation of customary land rights manifest in peri
urban areas when land values escalate due to peri-urbanisation. Traditional
leaders redefine the existing customs and evict the indigenes from the
customary lands without the state’s interference.
Date Issued
2023
Publication Type
Conference Item
Language(s)
en
Additional Credits
Title of Event
Access(Rights)
open.access