Lawyer Alex Quaynor, the Board chairperson for national Lands Commission has appealed to the chiefs and people of Savannah region to embrace the activities of the commission to help reduce land litigation related issues and also attract investors into Savannah region.
He said an efficient and decentralized land administration system will boost investor confidence in the new regions and ensure that efficient land administration service delivery is brought to the door step of every Ghanaian.
Lawyer Quaynor made the call during inauguration of Savannah Regional Lands Commission’s office complex at Damongo on Wednesday, August 10, 2022, whilst speaking on behalf of the deputy minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Benito Owusu Bio.
Lawyer Quaynor explained that after assumption of office in 2017, president Nana Akuffo-Addo carried out his promised of creating new regions to bring governance closer to the people. Per the Constitutional Instrument (CI) 113 of 2019, six (6) new regions were created in fulfilment of the vision.
Further to that and in accordance with Article 260(1) of the 1992 constitution which provides that “the Lands Commission shall have a branch in each region to be known as Regional Lands Commission for
the performance of the functions specified in article 258 of this constitution, it became necessary to take steps to establish the regional offices of the Commission.
The value of the Lands Commission to the people of Savannah region and Ghana are numerous as the commission manages public lands and advise government, traditional and local authorities on policy framework.
“The importance of the services of the Lands Commission to the people cannot be over emphasized.
Among others, the Lands Commission exists to serve the government and the general public in the following respects;
On behalf of the government, the Commission manages public lands and any other lands vested in the President by the constitution or by any other law and any lands vested in the commission;
Advise the government, local authorities and traditional authorities on the policy framework for the development of particular areas of
the country to ensure that the development of individual pieces of land is coordinated with the relevant development plan for the area concerned;
Advise on, and assist in the execution of, a comprehensive programme for the registration of title to land throughout the country;
Register deeds and instruments that affect land throughout the country;
Establish standards for and regulate survey and mapping of the country;
Provide surveying and mapping services where necessary;
Provide land and land related valuation services and others”, he enumerated.
In the past land administration services could only be
accessed from the Tamale office of the Lands Commission. One can imagine the stress the people of the now Savannah Region went through in travelling to Tamale. The era when applicants have to travel for hours from Bole, Buipe, Sawla, Salaga, Damongo etc to access land administration services in Tamale has become a thing of the past thus, the unofficial cost associated with land administration services will now reduce drastically.
The provision of formal land administration services is at the core of every sector of the economy. Land administration services including survey and
mapping, valuation of property, rating, state land acquisition, land management and registration are critical services that help to propel the socio-economic growth of the country. Land is a strategic asset which
forms the basis of every development activity and hence the need for formal land administration to promote development at all levels.
Lawyer Quaynor added that what is unique about the establishment of offices in the
Savannah region is that, the offices shall operate in a fully digital environment.
This will help achieve speed and reduce the usual delays associated with processing of documents in manual environment. The human interactions
will reduce and hopefully issues of rent seeking attitude of staff and unqualified land agents will be reduced to the barest minimum.
He concluded by thanking the chiefs and people of Savannah region for being a part of the commissioning of Savannah Lands Commission
Regional Office and on behalf of Honorable Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, declared the
office duly commissioned.
The Savannah Regional minister Saeed Muhazu Jibril expressed gratitude to president Nana Akuffo-Addo for having the region at heart and appealed to the staff to work harder to help promote coordination of lands in the region.
Saeed Muhazu Jibril revealed that the RCC, together with the chiefs has acquired a three (3) acre land for the commission to build permanent offices.
Saeed Muhazu Jibril said the Savannah region’s Lands Commission office will be assisted to conduct business digitally and assured the digitization will be implemented across the municipal and district assemblies in the region.
The program was chaired by Chief Wakawakwura Akati Mumuni from Bole traditional area. Regional officers, Directors, security agencies, clergy, youth groups, heads of departments among others, attended the program.
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