Background

The intervention of the State in stool lands administration dates back to the immediate post-colonial era, when the then government thought it wise to administer stool lands to ensure that the wealth from stools lands are distributed in such a manner that it will be beneficial to every member of the land-owning community. Hitherto, it was the leadership of the community (chiefs) who were collecting and using the stool land revenues for the development of their communities and for their personal upkeep. This arrangement was relevant, considering the fact that, chiefs in the pre-colonial era had administrative, judicial and legislative roles within the jurisdiction of their chiefdom. However, there were no controls on the mode of collection and use of these revenues, and everything was at the discretion of the chiefs. Where a chief had no disposition towards development, the community suffered.    

After Independence, when the State assumed a greater responsibility in local government administration (thus reducing the burden of responsibility on chiefs), laws were made for the State to administer stool land revenue. The first legislation that sought to administer stool lands was the Administration of Lands Act, 1962 (Act 123), where the Minister responsible for Lands was mandated to collect and disburse stool land revenues in a prescribe manner. This function of the Minister was performed by the then Lands Department.  

The 1979 Constitution of Ghana then provided for the establishment of the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands. Its establishment did not see the light of day. However, the function of collection and disbursement of stool land revenues were done by the Lands Department. Again, with the promulgation of the present Constitution in 1992, a provision was made for the establishment of the Office. The Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands Act, 1994 (Act 481) was passed to actualize the establishment of the Office. Subsequently, in 1996 the first Administrator of Stool Lands was appointed and the Office began operation. 

The Office currently has ten (10) Regional Offices taking care of all the sixteen (16) Regions of the Country and over one hundred (100) District Offices. 

Geographical Distribution

Organisational Structure

The Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands has its headquarters in Accra. The Office is headed by the Administrator of Stool Lands, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the organization and reports directly to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. 

Besides the Administrator there are five  functional Directorates

Policy Planning Directorate

Land Administration Directorate

Research, Statistics & Information Management Directorate

General Administration & HR Directorate  

Finance Directorate