The workshop was called to validate data findings by the Ascertainment and Codification of Customary Law Project (ACLP) on customary law on land and family emanating from the Ejisu Traditional Area.

The Ejisu Traditional Area is one of eight traditional areas in the country ascertained under the Land Administration Project phase II.

According to the National Research Coordinator of ACLP, Mr Thomas Tagoe, the workshop was a follow-up to data collected from the Ejisu Traditional Council methodology developed by the ACLP.

He noted that land transactions in Ghana were beset with conflicts between customary practices, rules and norms on the one hand and formal and statutory processes on the other.

He stressed that customary lands which included lands owned by stools, skins, clans, families and others formed a significant percentage of all lands in the country.

“This state of affairs calls for ascertaining and codifying rules under customary law applicable to particular communities in the country,” he said.

He said the National House of Chiefs and the Law Reform Commission therefore established a Joint Research Project to ascertain and codify customary law rules and practices on land and family in Ghana with the view to consolidating and strengthening land administration and management systems.

The Technical Coordinator for the ACLP, Mrs Minkah-Premo, took nananom through the methodology processes in collecting data from the Ejisu Traditional Area.

She said the ACLP undertook an appraisal of the communities and collected preliminary information that guided it in selecting respondents for the data collection process.

She added that respondents were categorised as: married women, married men, people with disability, female traditional leaders, male traditional leaders and a special group that comprised widows, divorcees and separated couples.

Mrs Minkah-Premo said after nananom had validated the document, it would be passed on to the National House of Chiefs for a review of the report for endorsement and further action taken in accordance with the provisions of the Chieftaincy Act (Act. 759).

The Mamponghene, Daasebere Osei Bonsu II, who is the Vice-President of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs, chaired the occasion.

He was of the view that significant impact would be made when the project was replicated in all traditional areas as it would help minimise land disputes and promote unity and peace.

He commended the research team for a good work done and urged all traditional councils in Ashanti to embrace efforts being made by the NHC and other collaborators in land administration.