Ghana operates a dual land governance system. There is the state system and there is the customary system. Historically, the customary land sector has been operated under management of Customary Land Authorities who are appointed and installed in accordance with the customs and traditions of various land-owning groups and constituted into customary institutions. Land transactions under the customary land sector in Ghana are handled by the Customary Land Authorities who are guided by the existing customary laws and practices. With the overall transformation in the land market across the country, Customary Land Authorities have witnessed a significant change in the scale and scope of land transactions. This calls for changes in the way customary lands are managed. Beginning in 2004, there was a renewed focus on strengthening the customary land sector to respond to the changes. Under the World Bank funded Land Administration Project, the concept of Customary Land Secretariats (CLS) was piloted in selected areas while a few that were already in existence were strengthened. 20 years on, so many lessons have been learned on the CLS concept and its benefit to strengthening Customary Land Administration in Ghana. the new Land Act, 2020 ACT 1036 has given legal recognition to the CLS and so they have now become part of the overall institutional framework for land governance in Ghana. 

With support from the Rights and Resource Initiative (RRI), COLANDEF is working in partnership with the Land Sector Multi-Stakeholder Platform (LSMSP) in Ghana,  to collaboratively work with stakeholders to discuss and offer recommendations for standard operational guidelines for all Customary Land Secretariats in Ghana. 

Last week, one of several consultative workshops to come, was held to bring stakeholder together to consider proposals for standards for CLS operations. .

Stay tuned for more updates and insights on the progress of this project.