Land Disputes In Accra Will Soon Be A Things Of The Past---As GDLA Commissions Alternative Root To Resolve The Matters

THE NUMEROUS land disputes and litigations, due to improper documentation of lands in the Ga State of the Greater Accra Region will soon be a thing of the past.

The good news follows the movement  of the leadership of Ga-Dangme Lands Administration (GDL) was on Sunday March 31, 2024 commissioned an alternative arbitration court to help curb land litigations and chieftaincy disputes which had bedeviled the people in the Ga State.

The alternative arbitration court refers to mechanisms or techniques used to settle  disputes in a confrontational ways and it operates outside the courtrooms.

This approach ranges from negotiations between the affected parties, multiparty negotiations, mediation, consensus building to arbitration and adjudication .

The Diaspora representative for the Tunma Royal Dynasty, Emeritus who doubles as Archbishop said that the traditional disputes resolution focuses on communities resolving conflict among disputants.

He added that this application was live before the advent of colonialism and techniques applied varied from community to another , importantly both mechanisms have been used to manage conflicts since they are effective and closure to the people.

He said GDLA is the founder of the Ga-Dangme traditional area together with it three siblings namely Nungua Clan, Asere Clan and The Nai Wolormo 

He said although several initiatives and advocacy efforts have been made to address land related conflicts in the country, there are still challenges prohibiting amicable solutions to the problems in the land sector.

The Founder and the President of the GDLA who has been elevated to a Dr status, King Ayi Tunmaa II, said it important to note that lands dispute related to access,use and control of natural are common in all part of Ghana regardless of the land land tenure system in Ghana.

According to him, the ending land disputes have far reaching negative effect and their resolutions in the most affected and efficient way is a critical requirement for a sustainable land management and hence economic growth as well as enhancing national unity .

King Ayi Tunma said more than 55%of land cases and. Chieftancy problems in court have never progressed beyond the mention stage and the everage duration of these cases is over 5 and 10 years.

 These had not yet impacted positively on our land cases owning to the few number of Judges.

In addition to prolong delays there are ever increasing legal, loss of witnesses through natural attrition and devalued land parcel restricted by these prolonged disputes.

He expressed disappoinment in the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs for not 
ready to collaborate with GDLA to bring a longstanding chieftaincy and land litigations to an end for peace to prevail in the entire Ga-dangme traditional area.

In this regard, the prominent Ga traditional rulers warned the House to stay away from matters concerning GDLA and concentrate on it mandate.

According to King Ayi Tunmaa Ii, he will make sure the people of Ga state enjoy the needed recognition due them from the government.

"The chiefs and people of the Ga State deserved respect from government institutions and only unity can help pursue what belongs to us," he said.

"The Ga constitution clearly states that the reins of power are in the hands of kings and that the supreme will rest with the people.

"GDLA is here to streamline so many things our people have taken for granted, and help gain out lost. With the advent of Ga-Dangme Lands Administration, dispute concerning land will soon be over," he assured.