Negative perception about land administration worrying – Vice President
Vice President John Mahama has said that negative public perception about land administration and land-related services tended to create unfriendly environment for land transaction between individuals and investors.
He said the widely held view by many people was that land administration was slow, disjointed, frustrating and bred corruption.
The Vice President said these in an address read for him at the launch of the $72 million-phase two of the Land Administration Project (LAP), in Kumasi on Wednesday.
He said some people believed that it was not possible for the land agencies in the country to rely on common records and information as the various offices were not electronically networked.
Vice President Mahama said it was to address these setbacks and streamline land business procedures and reduce time of delivering services that the government was supporting the LAP.
He said negotiations were far advanced for the construction of a building to house the Lands Commission and automation of offices and proper records management.
Vice President Mahama expressed satisfaction that progress was made under phase one of the LAP, launched in 2003, citing the streamlining of land administration institutions by the passage of the Lands Commission Act 2008 (Act 767), decentralization of the Deeds Registry to all the regional capitals and establishment of 36 Customary Land Secretariats.
He also mentioned reduction in the backlog of land related court cases by supporting automation in selected Land Courts, piloting demarcation of customary lands and the process to take inventory of state acquired/occupied lands.
Dr Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister, noted that land acquisition for investment and other purposes in the country had for a long time been fraught with uncertainties because of land disputes.
He said the situation resulted in the recruitment of land guards, who terrorized developers, leading to clashes, injuries and loss of property and lives in Accra and other economically active areas.
Dr Agyemang-Mensah said the LAP would ensure fair, transparent, efficient, cost effective land transactions and guarantee security of land tenure.
Mr Charles Annor-Frempong, Task Team Leader, World Bank, said the project has four interrelated components.
He mentioned, strengthening the policy, legal and regulatory framework for the land administration, decentralization and improving business and service delivery process, improving maps and spatial data for the land administration and human resource development and project management.
Daasebre Osei Bonsu II Paramount Chief of Asante-Mampong, pledged the support of traditional leaders for the project.
The World Bank is providing $50 million and the Canadian International Development Agency was contributing $15 million and the Government of Ghana releasing $7 million for the project.
This phase would consolidate and complete land administration reforms, including the Land Bill and Land Use Planning Bill.
It would among other things support the Judiciary to improve adjudication of land cases, improve transparency and reduce the time and cost involved in delivery of services such as Deed and Title Registration.
Source: GNA