Absence of LI hindering administration of stool lands

The Administrator of stool lands, Christie Esi Bobobee says the absence of a Legislative Instrument, LI, for her office is a major impediment to the administration of stool lands. 

Speaking at the Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday, she said the absence of an LI make the timely release of funds from the Ministry of Finance and tracking of disbursement difficult. 

She said all efforts to get the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to facilitate the enactment of the LI have always come to not.

Also appearing before the PAC were officials of the Obuasi, Tarkwa-Nsauem and Preste-Huni Valley Assemblies to explain findings of the Auditor General on the utilization of the Mining Development Fund, MDF. 

The PAC was not enthused by what it saw as gross misuse of the fund. 

According to the report of the Auditor General, the Executive Fiat that established the MDF also requires beneficiary MMDAs to use MDF allocated to them to mitigate the effects of mining on the environment and the people within the catchment area. 

It however discovered that between 2006 and 2009, the three MMDAs used the MDF to fund projects other than those that will mitigate the harmful effects of mining. 

The Auditor General therefore recommended that the MMDAs develop strategies and plans for implementation based on the risk assessment to mitigate the harmful effects of mining in their areas. 

GBC