Towards the use of stool land revenue for community development in Ghana: Evidence from the Wassa Fiase traditional area

Abstract

Land generates a lot of revenue which could be used for development. Stool land revenue in the Wassa Fiase traditional area in particular, provides such an opportunity. In the Wassa Fiase area the dynamic land management practices serve as a prospect to mobilise more revenue from various sources. In a case study, and using semi-structured interviews and questionnaires in addition to a multi-stage sampling technique, the use of stool land revenue for the development of communities was investigated. It was revealed that the Wassa Fiase area generate a substantial amount of revenue but members of the community seem not to know exactly what the revenue was being used for. Although they agreed that such revenues could help propel the development of the area. The District Assemblies reported of various projects that are funded with stool land revenue which is laudable. Significantly, members of the community must be consulted in deciding projects stool land revenue is used for. The Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands is now empowered to ensure that stool land revenue is used to benefit communities with a new regulation. The Ghana Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative must continue their advocacy to ensure transparency and accountability of revenue from the extractive sector. The Mineral Development Fund must implement the Mining Community Development Scheme so that more development is carried out throughout the country.