The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has inaugurated the Eastern Regional Lands Commission.
This Commission, it says, forms part of plans to decentralize land administration and other related matters.
At an event held in the Eastern Regional capital of Koforidua, the deputy minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Honorable Benito Owusu-Bio unveiled the 39-member commission.
The deputy minister in his address at the gathering told the commission members that they have a task ahead and stressed that there is a significant role of lands in the economic development of the country.
“The role of land in the economy of our nation is of great significance. Without sound tenure security and appropriate land management principles,;there can be no sustainable development as there will be little or no willingness by both local and foreign investors to make long term investments.”
Benito Owusu-Bio
Honorable Benito Owusu-Bio also averred that he is aware of the challenges in the land administration but;however challenged the members of the commission to rise above the challenges and execute their duties diligently.
Protect public lands
Honorable Benito Owusu-Bio then reminded the commission of their mandate to protect public lands,;ensure smooth handling of land issues and also help in the fight against illegal mining also known as galamsey.
While commending the outgoing commission for their diligent service to the nation,; he posited that he is convinced the new members will steer the commission in the right direction.
“I must say that in dealing with these issues,;diplomacy and firmness ought to be the key qualities that must be exhibited by this new Lands Commission. I’m sure that with the mix in professional backgrounds that you have, you can tackle these problems head-on.
“I therefore charge you to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to further push the fight against activities like ‘Galamsey’ and chain saw operations that have destroyed our environment and many major river bodies and forest reserves and to take stern action against encroachment on public lands to ensure uninterrupted execution of public projects.”
Benito Owusu-Bio
Honorable Benito added that it is important for the Commission to devise an effective communication strategy to educate the public on the new Lands Act 2020 (Act 1036).
He then gave the assurance that the Ministry will provide the commission with all the resources and tools needed to achieve their objectives.
Gov’t to tackle land administration challenges
Also speaking at the event, the Eastern Regional Minister, Honorable Seth Kwame Acheampong revealed that some interventions have been undertaken by the Akufo-Addo government to tackle some challenges in land administration.
He further said the land administration regime in the country is bedeviled with a lot of challenges and it is the desire of Government to support the Lands Commission to deal with these bottlenecks to make land transactions easy to deal with.
“In this direction, Mr. Chairman, the NPP led Government is keen on ameliorating the challenges confronting the land sector, by speeding up land services and enhance the accuracy of land certificates and records by investing in turning the Lands Commission into a true digital organization.
“This will also ensure high standard of land data security and committed to ensuring that turnaround time for land registration is reduced to acceptable time frame.”
Seth Acheampong
