PDB Limited, a Ghanaian Land Administration Company, has come on board to partner the Lands Commission on its total transformational drive.

According to Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Benito Owusu-Bio, the initiative directed by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, is based on calls for improved service delivery and the recent UN report on corruption in the Commission.

Speaking during a working visit to the Clients Service Access Unit of the Commission, he among other things, inspected the company’s level of operations since the recent reformation processes began.

The Deputy Minister addressing the media, disclosed that processes on documentation of the partnership are far advanced with all due processes strictly being carried out including procurement processes, Ministry of Finance approval, among others.

The company when given the nod, Mr Owusu-Bio noted, will be partnering the Commission on this reformation drive for the next 5-years with an investment of some $85 million, as government’s funds will not be able to foot such a budget to embark on the total reformation intended.

Furthermore, Mr Owusu-Bio revealed that proper auditing will be done with government consultants engaged to ensure that the Lands Commission is not shortchanged in the entire partnership agreement.

As part of his inspection visit, the deputy lands minister took a tour of the Client Service Access Unit (CSAU) to get a firsthand experience of the process clients go through on various services available at the office.

Following this, Mr Owusu-Bio requested for a demonstration of services rendered to different clients who visit the Commission for collection of land documents, bulk stamping, title registration, enquiries among others.

He equally engaged some clients on their thoughts on the new service delivery.

New system of operation at CSAU

Having taken a tour of the facility, Mr Owusu-Bio commended the new system of operation at the CSAU and hoped that these reforms will help erode the negative impression Ghanaians have about the Lands Commission and its activities.

Subsequently, the Deputy Lands Minister made an appearance at the 2-Day National Lands Commission Board Meeting being held in Accra from 19th-20th September 2023.

Elaborating on the details of the partnership, Mr. Benjamin Arthur, the New Ag. Executive Secretary of the Commission indicated that the company is not only partnering some part of the transformation, but the total transformation of the Lands Commission which will span for a period of 5-years.

He further noted that the drive will help improve on key areas of the Lands Commission including mapping of the entire country, human reform, training, retraining and capacity building of staff, digital reformation, structural reformation, administrative reformation, among others.

Moreover, Mr Arthur explained that this new mapping will be made available in a format that can be readily accessible to all national agencies who will have need for it.

He further expressed optimism that all these reformations taking place at the Commission, will not only help keep better records of the country’s lands but also drastically improve on the service delivery of the entire Commission.