Stool and skin lands form the backbone of Ghana’s customary land tenure system. Unlike private ownership, stool and skin lands are communal assets held in trust for the people. The management of these lands, therefore, carries constitutional, statutory, fiduciary, and customary obligations. Chiefs and traditional authorities are not absolute owners. They function as trustees and fiduciaries whose powers are strictly regulated by law.
This article examines the constitutional foundation, statutory framework, customary principles, and judicial authorities governing the management of stool and skin property in Ghana, with particular emphasis on consent requirements, fiduciary accountability, litigation authority, revenue administration, and protection of communal interests.