The Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL) and the Lands Commission have inaugurated the Sempe Customary Land Secretariat in Accra, describing it as a strategic intervention to bring transparency and order to customary land administration.

The ceremony was performed on Tuesday, September 30, 2026, in the presence of His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the Ga Mantse, the Sempe Mantse, Nii Adotei Akotia Oworsika II, traditional leaders, officials from the Lands Commission, Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA), members of the Regional Lands Commission and residents.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr Gad Asorwoe Akensivie, the administrator  of the OASL and Lands Commission said the Sempe secretariat brings to about 120 the number of customary land secretariats established across the country. 

He disclosed that, last Friday, the Okropeman Customary Land Secretariat was commissioned at Akropong followed by the Katamanso Customary Land Secretariat on Monday with earlier inaugurations in Sunyani and Kwahu Obomeng.

"Today marks a significant milestone, not only for the good people of this community, but for us, government and traditional leaders, as we seek effective, transparent, and accountable land administration," he stated.

The speaker clarified that the establishment of the secretariat is not meant to take away ownership from existing land users.

"Rather, it is to record and preserve land information for the benefit of the present and future generations," he stressed.

He urged residents of Larterbiokorshie, Mamprobi, Korle Gonno, Chorkor, Odorkor, Dansoman, Ablekuma, Anyaa, Sakaman and surrounding communities who have misplaced their documents or have no title to their lands to take advantage of the secretariat to regularize and secure their documents.

Describing land as one of Ghana's most critical national assets, he commended the Sempe Mantse, Nii Adotei Otinkor ll, and his Council of Elders for their foresight and commitment, noting that it demonstrates that customary land administration can co-exist with modern systems.

"Land is not just a natural resource. It is our heritage, identity, and the fabric for socio-economic development," he said, adding that for some communities land is sacred and links the past to the present.

He also noted that Ghana's unique tenure system places about 80% of lands under customary ownership, placing huge responsibility on traditional authorities. 

This has historically led to challenges including indeterminate boundaries between allodial owners, multiple sale of the same land, inadequate documentation and protracted litigation which have undermined public confidence and slowed development.

According to him, the Sempe Customary Land Secretariat, established under Part 2, Chapter 1 of the Land Act 2020 (Act 1036), is a pillar of government's Land Administration Framework and will “serve as a reliable repository of land records. Help document land rights and record transactions. Provide accurate and accessible information to landowners, investors and the public. 

“Reduce land ownership and boundary disputes. Enhance tenant security and promote orderly land use planning. Help resolve disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), reducing cases in court. Strengthen collaboration between the traditional authority and state institutions including the Lands Commission, LUSPA and OASL to boost investor confidence.”

He cautioned that the success of the secretariat will depend on how it is managed, urging staff and the Land Management Committee to uphold integrity, professionalism and accountability.

"To the good people of Sempe, this secretariat belongs to you. I encourage you to make use of the services, to record your interest here, and to support its operations because a well-functioning customary land secretariat is a shared responsibility," he said.

He assured that government, through OASL and the Lands Commission, will continue to provide technical support in capacity building and policy direction.

He expressed hope that like the Otumfuo's secretariat at Manhyia, the Gbawe and other model secretariats, the Sempe Secretariat will serve as a model for other land-owning communities across the country.