Ga-Dangme Land Administration (GDLA) in Accra has commissioned an alternative
dispute resolution to help curtail land
litigations and chieftaincy problems that have bedeviled the people in the Greater Accra Region.
The alternative arbitration court refers to mechanisms used to settle disputes in a non-confrontational ways and, it operates outside the courtrooms.
It was noted that 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, Emiratus who
doubles as archbishop said that traditional disputes resolution focuses on communities resolving conflict among disputants.
Adding, he explained that this application was lived before the advent of colonialism, and techniques applied varied from
community to community; importantly
both mechanisms have been used
to manage conflicts since they are
effective and close to the people.
He threwlight on the fact that GDLA is the founder of the Ga-Dangme Traditional Area together with its 3 siblings viz, the Nungua Clan, the Asere Clan and the Nai Wulomo.
King Nii Ayi Tumaa II, hinted that although several initiatives and advocacy efforts were made to address land related conflicts in the country, there are still challenges prohibiting amicable settlements to these land desputes, he stressed.
The founder and President of the Ga-
Dangme Lands Administration (GDLA) who
has been elevated to a Doctor status, KING
NII AYI TUNMA 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 tenure system.
This land dispute 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 Tunmaa II said more than 55%of
land cases and Chieftaincy problems in
court have never progressed beyond
the mention stage and the average
duration of these cases is over 5 and
10 years. These have not yet impacted
positively on our land cases owing to
the few number of Judges.
In addition to prolong delays in courts case, there are ever increasing legal, loss of witnesses through natural attrition and devalued land parcel restricted by these
prolonged disputes .
King Nii edged the regional house of chiefs
since they aren’t ready to collaborate
with the GDLA to bring a longstanding
chieftaincy brouhaha and land
litigation to an end for peace to prevail in the entire Ga-Dangme traditional area; adding he implored that they stay away from matters concerning GDLA and concentrate on their mandate.