The Continued Operation of the Road Appropriation (Ashanti Administration) Ordinance, 1902 in Ghana: Practice and Implications

The Road Appropriation (Ashanti Administration) Ordinance 1902 remains operational in Ghana despite the consolidation of land legislation under the Land Act 2020 (Act 1036). This paper examines the technical challenges arising from the Ordinance’s continued application in the Ashanti, Ahafo, Bono, and Bono East Regions. Analysis of current practice reveals four key issues affecting the land administration system: 1) dual disposition of land by stools and the Lands Commission within the 300-foot appropriation stretch; 2) dual payment of ground rent to the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands and the Lands Commission; 3) elevated transaction and documentation costs for lessees; and 4) ambiguity in identifying affected parcels due to undocumented road diversions and limited institutional memory. The paper argues that these challenges undermine tenure security, increase transaction costs, and create inconsistencies in cadastral mapping and registration. It recommends a formal policy review of the Ordinance’s relevance, improved public access to historical appropriation records, and targeted education for lessees, surveying and land administration practitioners. The findings are relevant to policymakers, lessees, surveyors, planners, and land administrators working in regions affected by legacy colonial legislation.