Ohempon Dr Yeboah Asiamah with some dignitaries after the inauguration
In a landmark move aimed at strengthening land governance in support of peaceful and sustainable development, the Paramount Chief of Atebubu Traditional Area, Ohempon Dr Yeboah Asiamah, with the support of Nananom, has officially inaugurated the Atebubu Stool Land Secretariat (ASLS), marking a new chapter in the management of customary lands in the town.
The event was in accordance with Section 14(1) of the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036), which mandates the establishment of Customary Land Secretariats by allodial land title holders for lawful and effective land administration.
Present at the event were Nananom of the Atebubu Traditional Area, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Atebubu-Amantin, Masu’d Ayaaba Thomas, Bono and Bono East Director of the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands, Georgina Rockson, Bono East Regional Lands Surveyor, Bernard Kofi Boateng, as well as religious and opinion leaders.
Addressing the gathering, Ohempon Dr Yeboah Asiamah declared that the newly launched ASLS seeks to address and prevent the recurrence of longstanding challenges in land management, such as unauthorised land transfers, undocumented transactions, boundary conflicts, and limited access to land records.
He emphasised that the secretariat serves both as the authorised entity for administering land transactions in Atebubu and as a repository of accurate land records in the area.
“This is more than a technical facility: it is a bridge between tradition and national law, a tool for justice, peace, and responsible tenure in support of equitable development,” Ohempon Dr Yeboah Asiamah disclosed.
Ohempon expressed his gratitude to land law consultants who supported the establishment of ASLS, namely Lawyers David Akubila and Kweku Mireku Obeng, and to Dr Kennedy Bomfeh, his Chief of Staff, for coordinating engagements leading to the establishment of the secretariat.
He called on other traditional leaders who are custodians of land to view the creation of Customary Land Secretariats not as a burden, but as an opportunity to modernise governance while preserving heritage.
“In Atebubu, we are building not just a system, but a legacy for our people and for generations to come. The Atebubu Stool Land Secretariat is open to all for lawful, orderly, and transparent land administration,” Ohempon remarked.
Georgina Rockson, the Bono and Bono East Director of the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands, applauded Ohempon and his council for the establishment of ASLS, citing that the act is grounded in law and encouraged Atebubuman to ensure that all land interests are channelled through ASLS in compliance with the law.
The MCE, Masu’d Ayaaba Thomas, pledged his support for the smooth running of ASLS and reminded all present that after following lawful acquisition of land through the secretariat, appropriate permits are to be sought from the Municipal Assembly regarding the proper use of the land in alignment with appropriate planning schemes.
On his part, the General Manager of the secretariat, Michael Osei, assured all present that the ASLS is committed to guiding all stakeholders through the proper procedures for land acquisition and to protecting all lawfully acquired land interests in Atebubu.