Ministry sees Land Administration Project reducing poverty
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources considers the Land Administration Project as its flagship Projects aimed at supporting the government to reduce poverty, Dr. Isaac Bonsu Karikari, the National Project Coordinator of the Second Ghana Land Administration Project (LAP-2), has said.
He said land and land related issues remained fundamental in the socio-economic development of all developing countries including Ghana and urged staff of the land sector to be conscious of the responsibilities placed on them in handing land issues.
Dr Bonsu was presenting an overview of the Project to staff of land sector agencies and implementing institutions in the Ashanti Region at a workshop.
Dr Bonsu told the participants that the World Bank and the Canadian International Development Agency were supporting the government in funding LAP-2 and urged the staff of the implementing agencies, especially those in the Regions, to work hard to attain the development objectives of the Project.
The participants were drawn from the Lands Commission, its divisions including the Land Title Division, Survey and Mapping, Land Valuation, Town and Country Planning Department, the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands, the Judiciary and the Land Resource Management Centre, an NGO as the Media.
Mrs. Sarah Antwi-Boasiako, the Social Development and Gender Specialist of LAP-2, said it was important for women, who constitute over 51 percent of the population, to be encouraged to own title to land to enhance their economic and cultural values.
She said even though there were more women into agriculture in Ghana, most of them are denied and do not have easy access to land due to cultural and other negative practices.
These, she said, ought to be curbed or discouraged and that the government and the World Bank are desirous to put an end to these hindrances.
Mr. Kofi Abakah Blankson, Senior Officer in charge of Planning and Administration of LAP-2 said the Project has so far chalked modest success in its overall goal in ensuring a sound, dispute free and sustainable land tenure system for the country.
Source: GNA