www.padfm.com.gh / Savannah region, Ghana.
Ghana’s Lands and Natural Resources minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor has called on the chiefs and people of the Savannah region to assist the members of the Savannah Regional Lands Commission committee to realize the importance of the vast land in the area, because failure to do so can trigger conflicts.
Abu Jinapor said this at the Inaugration of the Savannah Regional Lands Commission at Damongo, the regional capital on 26th July, 2021.
Abu Jinapor said “land as we all know, is a very important natural resource. It is the catalyst for socio-economic development in every nation. But if not well managed, it can lead to conflicts and disasters. It is for this reason that the constitution established the Lands Commission and the Regional Lands Commissions to see to the efficient management and utilization of land in our country”.
The Damongo lawmaker said Savannah region is blessed with a large tract of this natural resource, making it the largest of the 16 regions in Ghana in terms of land size. “We have a great opportunity to leverage on this resource to accelerate socio-economic development in the region. How we do this, however, depends largely on the Regional Lands Commission, who are mandated by article 260(1) of our national constitution, to perform the functions of the Lands Commission in this region”, he added.
The Savannah Regional Lands Commission has a 14 member committee that will steer affairs of the commission for the next 4 years.
The committee is chaired by Dr. Alhaji Adams Sulemana Achanso, a lecturer at the University for Development Studies.
Below is the full membership of the committee.
Dr. Alhaji Adams Sulemana Achanso, Chairperson of the committee
Noel Tuotir, the Regional Lands Director.
Takora Saaka from the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority, (LUSPA)
Mbonwura Jimah Awudu from the Association of Farmers and Fishermen
Salia Abdul Kudus (Esq) from Ghana Bar Association
Charles Okyere Kwapong from Ghana Institute of Surveyors
Chief Kikpandewura Kanyiti II Mumuni Shaibu from Regional House of Chiefs
Saaka Dinonah from Bole district
Asawu Wone Williams from Central Gonja district
Chief Mabunwura Yakubu Jacob from East Gonja Municipality
Gabasiwura Daniel Amadu Iddrisu from North Gonja district
Sulemana Asimiru from North East Gonja district
Wakawakawura Akati Joseph Mumuni from West Gonja Municipality
Sawlawura Iddrisu Nugbaso from the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba district.
The committee members were sworn into office by a supervisory High Court judge, Justice Richard Mark.
Abu Jinapor said the membership of the Regional Lands Commission has been carefully circumscribed by the framers of our constitution. Apart from the Chairperson who is appointed by the minister for Lands and Natural Resources, the other members are drawn from professional groups, traditional leaders and local authorities. More importantly, the representatives of these groups are nominated by the groups themselves.
The former Deputy Chief of Staff urged the committee to bring their expertise on board to manage the administration in the Savannah region better. “As you assume office, I will urge you, to bring on board your expertise and experiences, to make the administration of land in this region better Thankfully, I have appointed an experienced academic, Dr Alhaji Adams Sulemana Achanso, to chair the Savannah regional Lands Commission and it is my fervent hope that he will provide the needed leadership to steer the affairs of the commission”, he added.
He also revealed that the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036) has paved way for effective implementation of land administration and management in the country. The ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Lands Commission have commenced an awareness creation and sensitization of the this new law to ensure that all stakeholders understand and appreciate the requirements of the law.
Abu Jinapor disclosed that the Northern Regional Lands Commission records shows that prior to the creation of the Savannah region, very few people from the Savannah region registered their deeds with the Commission and said “It is my hope that the Regional Lands Commission will lead the education on the land Act in this region, to ensure, among others, that deeds are registered as mandated by the law”.
The world is championed by technology and so the Lands Commission cannot moving in the opposite direction.
The Damongo MP said “we are in the process of undertaking a major digitization programme to digitize the records of the Commission, and prompt and timely registration will be critical to the effective implementation of this program and prevent fraudulent dealings in land”.
He called for support of the traditional leaders and all stakeholders to help the Commission works better. The proper administration of land in the region will not lie only with the foresight of the members of the commission, it will require the collaboration of the chiefs and people who are the owners of the land, and hopeful that Yagbonwura Tutumba Bore Esa I and all Gonjaland chiefs will give the needed support.
He commended the traditional leaders for their bold decision to ban outrightly, all forms of tree harvesting.
The Lands and Natural Resources minister appealed to the committee not to renege on their duty to protect and manage the public lands on behalf of government. As a young region, government will require land for critical infrastructure, necessary for the proper functioning of the region. You must do your utmost best, to manage these lands in a manner that serves the best interest of the community to assuage the pain of the allodial owners of such lands, he added.
Alhaji Daud Sulemana Mahama, the Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, said there is huge work to be done by the regional office and disclosed that the commission will soon acquire 2,000 acres of land to initiate the satellite city process for Damongo and it’s environs.
He cautioned that Land Commission is not a place to make money but to work harder to put things in order for the benefit of all in the Savannah region.
The program was chaired by the Savannah regional minister Saeed Muhazu Jibril. He thanked the Damongo MP Samuel Abu Jinapor and appealed to the members to collaborate with the necessary stakeholders to make the Commission a better place
The Savannah Regional Lands Commission committee Chairperson, Dr. Alhaji Adams Sulemana Achanso assured that the committee will work closely with chiefs and other stakeholders to get the education down to the people for them to start registering their deeds as stipulated by the Land Act, 2020 ( Act 1036).
He said the Savannah regional office will also assist in the major digitization programme to digitize the records of the Commission.
The inauguration was attended by high profile persons from the sector, traditional leaders, heads of departments, judicial service, security agencies, the NPP regional chairman, among others.
www padfm.com.gh / zulqanoah16@gmail.com / 0242381890
