The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has charged the reconstituted 22-member Western Regional Lands Commission Board to work to reduce the land registration processes to just 30 working days and take steps to decentralise the registration processes to encourage and attract more people to seek the appropriate registration of lands.
The Minister, who made the call when he inaugurated a 22-member Western Regional Lands Commission Board in Sekondi, said he does not see why everyone must travel to the regional office just to complete the land registration process, and therefore urged the members to use their expertise to improve the processes.
“Reduce land registration turnaround time to 30 working days. Lower the cost of land services by making them accessible at the district level. Prevent the unlawful conversion of stool lands to family lands where it contradicts customary law. Combat encroachment on public lands, including open spaces, nature reserves, wetlands, and coastal areas. Ensure strict supervision of Lands Commission staff to uphold professionalism and high service standards“, he charged.
The Lands Minister, while commending the Board Members for their selection, urged them not to lose sight of the activities of galamseyers and land encroachers, but commit to work to discourage such misconduct.
“We cannot also lose sight of the galamsey menace. Alarmingly, many farmers and landowners are coerced into ceding their land for illegal mining. This has resulted in the wanton destruction of arable land and forest resources, as well as the pollution of major rivers like the Tano, Pra, and Ankobra. Such activities threaten human security and will not be tolerated.
“Given the Region’s vast resources, I am informed that the operations of unlicensed surveyors and estate agents are increasing. Additionally, encroachment on public lands-sometimes with the complicity of customary land claimants-creates tension between Government agencies and traditional authorities.
“There are also reports of unscrupulous sales of large agricultural tracts and coastal beachfronts for speculative purposes. These practices hinder progress and must cease. The Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036) introduces stringent punitive measures to address such misconduct.
” Considering these challenges, the Western Regional Lands Commission has an enormous task ahead. You must collaborate with all relevant Government agencies and landowners to implement practical solutions.“, he noted.
By Article 258 of the 1992 Constitution and the Lands Commission Act, 2008 (Act 767), Emmmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah urged the Western Regional Lands Commission Board members to work to fulfil their mandate.
The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, while acknowledging the many land litigations as a concern in the region, urged the members to work as a team to help address all land issues for he region to benefit from its land resources. Joseph Nelson also advised land administrators and stools to prioritise lands for investment to encourage investment in the Western Region.
The Western Regional Director of the Lands Commission, Dr. Pius Asumadu, who emphasised the importance of the inauguration of the Board, said several land documents have been waiting for validation for the past four months by the board, hence their inauguration is timely.
He, however, appealed to the members to commit to their responsibilities to help the commission fulfil its mandate.
The reconstituted 22-member Western Regional Lands Council Board is composed of 22 members with different backgrounds, including lands administrators, academia, House of Chiefs, among others is chaired by Prof. Frederick Boakye-Yiadom from Takoradi Technical University.
