The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah has charged the reconstituted 23-member Western Regional Lands Commission Board to work to reduce the land registration processes to 30 working days.
He also charged them to take steps to decentralise the registration processes to encourage and attract more people to seek the appropriate registration of lands.
The Minister, speaking at the inauguration of the 23-member Western Regional Lands Commission Board in Sekondi on May 12, emphasized the need to streamline land registration processes.
He questioned the necessity for everyone to travel to the regional office for registration, urging the board members to leverage their expertise to enhance efficiency.
He charged the newly inaugurated Board to remain vigilant against illegal mining (galamsey) and land encroachment.
Citing Article 258 of the 1992 Constitution and the Lands Commission Act (Act 767) of 2008, he outlined their mandate, which includes: reducing land registration processing time to 30 working days, making land services more accessible and affordable at the district level, preventing unlawful conversion of stool lands, combating encroachment on public lands, and ensuring professionalism among staff.
“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.
Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson acknowledged the prevalence of land litigation in the region and encouraged the Lands Commission Board to collaborate effectively to address these issues, enabling the region to harness its land resources.
He also urged lands administrators and traditional authorities to identify and prioritize land for investment, promoting development in the Western Region.
“As land litigation remains a challenge in the Western Region and a common challenge across the country. As a region, I expect that the commission takes the needed steps to resolve land litigations within the working space and aid our courts, resolve those in courts.”
“There are many instances where staff of the Commission may be required to provide vital information to enable judges determine cases in court, and where professionalism is not exercised, we may have protracted cases, some spanning several years hence impeding investment and development,” he said.
The reconstituted 23-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.
