Iyke: Gov’t injects US$72 m to support land management and records of all land allocations

15-08-13

In a bid to ensure efficiency in the management and records keeping of all land allocations and transaction within traditional areas, government under the Land Administration Project (LAP II) is injecting a whopping US$72 million to support the project. The move is to consolidate the gains made under LAP–I by deepening reforms, and enabling the land sector agencies to be more responsive to clients among other interventions. Moreover the project which is being supported by the World Bank and CIDA will help address key policy actions recommended in the Ghana National Land Policy of 1999 and also address critical issues militating against effective land administration in the country. The Regional LAP Coordinator, Mr Abu Seidu, who gave the hint at a sensitization workshop in Bawku said the formulation of the LAP which is geared at promoting the establishment of more Customary Land Secretariats (CLSs) will go a long way to deepen customary land administration at the traditional Authority levels. Its effective implementation he assured will contribute significantly in the reduction of rampant land conflicts particularly Bawku where land dispute has resulted in loss of lives and property. The workshop attended by the various divisional and sub-divisional chiefs in the Kusaug Traditional Area was organised to brief land owners on the criteria set by the LAP-II for the establishment of CLSs. It was also organised in conjunction with the Office of the Administration of Stool/Skin Land (OASL) with the aim to building the capacity of chiefs and landowners on settling land disputes at their localities through appropriate Alternative Dispute Resolution and Mediation. As part of decentralisation of service delivery process, LAP-II will ensure the demarcation of more customary land boundaries including the ascertainment and Codification of Customary Laws (ACLs) on land and family. The Communication and Public Outreach Officer at the Regional Office of Lands Commission, Mercy Mbamana Sapak said the Phase 2 of the LAP which is the latest of the long term 15-25 years in the land sector, will tackle weak land administration systems and above all address issues of insecurity of land tenure and poor records management for the purpose of transparency in land processes. She advised land owners to take advantage of the existing Customary Land Secretariats since its existence will help minimize land related disputes and conflicts as well as promote good governance in local land administration. Giving an overview of ADR mechanisms in Ghana, the Assistant Stool Lands Officer, John Kwame Laari, said for peace and development to thrive, it was imperative for all to use negotiation and mediation as alternatives in resolving land disputes rather than resorting to litigations at the law courts. Mr Laari used the occasion to sensitize the Bawku Traditional Council members on the establishment of CLS in Bawku. At an open forum, issues of land compensation and leases became topical as some chiefs demanded answers on leases granted to prospective developers for public projects. The CLS Coordinator for Bawku, Edward Abugrago said his outfit will ensure the up to date records of all land transaction, emphasizing that measures will be practically put in place to ensure the sustainability of the establishment and mentioned mass land registration as one of the priority areas. Mr Abugrago called for the cooperation of chiefs and land owners to enable his outfit realise its set objective. Similar stakeholders meetings are on-going and will cover five districts of Kusaug Traditional Area.

GBC END IA/