Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, responsible for Lands and Forestry, Benito Owusu-Bio, has inaugurated the Steering Committee for the Lands Sector Multi-Stakeholder Platform (LSMSP).

According to him, this is an implementation of the recommendations deduced from the National Lands Conference held in December, last year.

Explaining the purpose of the platform, Mr Owusu-Bio revealed that the Platform will bring together all key stakeholders in the land and natural resource sector, both state and non-state actors, to use participatory and inclusive processes to monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the Conference.

Additionally, he noted that the move is to ensure coordination in the planning, management, and use of land and natural resources.

Furthermore, Mr Owusu-Bio stated that the framework of the LSMSP includes a Steering Committee, Technical Working Groups, a Secretariat housed in the Ministry and a Coordinating Team that will be responsible for handling all the technical arrangements and organizational work involved in setting up and operationalizing the LSMSP in Ghana.

Also, Mr Owusu-Bio outlined four outcomes expected from the Committee.

“Firstly, we envision a well-informed and capacitated citizenry that can actively participate in land governance and management. Secondly, we aim to improve land tenure systems, ensuring that citizens have secure and predictable access to and use of land.”
Benito Owusu-Bio

Moreover, he indicated that the ministry intends to promote effective coordination among key stakeholders to ensure that land and natural resources are managed sustainably and equitably. He further indicated that it is also meant to provide feedback to duty bearers to improve land governance, management, and administration in the country.

Achieving outcomes of steering committee platform

To achieve these outcomes, the deputy lands minister disclosed that thirty two stakeholder institutions have been identified as members of the LSMSP. These institutions, he stated, include State Agencies, Traditional Authorities, Private Sector Actors, Civil Society Organizations, Development Partners, Media, Academia, Professional Bodies, and Community-Based Organizations.

He explained that representatives from these institutions will meet periodically to review progress made in the performance of the platform’s tasks, particularly in the implementation of the recommendations of the National Land Conference 2022, the implementation of the Land Act, 2020, other natural resources management laws, and spatial planning laws in the country.

Mr Owusu-Bio outlined the Committee’s terms of reference, saying “the Steering Committee will among other issues be responsible for provide policy directions for the LSMSP and high level advocacy for the work of the LSMSP”.

He equally highlighted that it will provide a platform for resolving disputes that may arise in the work of the LSMSP and receive and approve annual reports on the activities of the LSMSP

Furthermore, Mr Owusu-Bio revealed that the committee will receive and approve reports of the thematic working groups, approve annual work plans and budget of the LSMSP and any other function that will enhance the work of the LSMSP.

Mr Owusu-Bio, further acknowledged the enormousness of the task given to the Steering Committee. However, he noted that with the calibre of people assembled, he is confident that the work will be done efficiently.

On his part, the Chairman of the Coordinating Committee and Technical Director for Lands at the Ministry, Mr. Maxwell Adu-Nsarfoa, expressed his gratitude to the members for accepting to be part of committee. He however emphasized the huge nature of the task ahead of them and encouraged that they do all in their power to ensure the smooth discharge of their duties.

Also, he appealed to the Steering Committee to provide the Coordinating Committee, with the needed direction to ensure that the implementation of the Communique from the National Lands Conference is done in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity.