W/R Lands Commission Board inaugurated

Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, has advised lands administrators and various Divisional Stools in the region to prioritise lands for investment to woo investors into the region.

Acknowledging land litigation as a concern in the region, he has urged the newly constituted Board of the Lands Commission to work as a team to help address all land related issues and litigation in region.
They should also collaborate effectively to resolve these issues given that it would enable the region to maximize its land resources.

That apart, he is also encouraged lands administrators and traditional leaders to identify priority lands for investment to aide development in the region.
“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 their the working space and aid our courts, resolve those in courts”

He continued “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”.
Joseph Nelson was speaking in Sekondi where he joined the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to reconstitute the 23 member Board of the Lands Commission in the region.

The Board is chaired by Professor Frederick Boakye Yiadom of Takoradi Technical University (TTU).
Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah tasked the newly reconstituted Western Regional Lands Commission Board to streamline land registration within 30 working days.
He also directed the board to decentralise the registration process, making it more accessible to the public.
Speaking at the Board’s inauguration in Sekondi, the Minister questioned the essence for individuals to travel to the regional office for registration, urging the board to leverage their expertise to enhance efficiency.
“Reduce land registration turnaround time to 30 working days. Lower the cost of land services by making them accessible at the District level”.
Additionally, they should 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.
What is more, ensure strict supervision of Lands Commission staff to uphold professionalism and high service standards“, he charged.

The Lands Minister commended the Board Members on their selection and urged them to remain vigilant against illegal mining (galamsey) and land encroachment, working proactively to prevent these activities.
“We cannot also lose sight of the galamsey menace. Alarmingly, many farmers and landowners are coerced into ceding their land for illegal mining.

“This has resulted in the wanton destruction of arable land and forest resources, as well as the pollution of major rivers like the Tano, Pra, and Ankobra. Such activities threaten human security and will not be tolerated”, he warned.
Given the Region’s vast resources, Minister Armah Kofi Buah said he was informed that the operations of unlicensed surveyors and estate agents were increasing.

Additionally, encroachment on public lands-sometimes with the complicity of customary land claimants-creates tension between government agencies and traditional authorities.
That apart, there were also reports of unscrupulous sales of large agricultural tracts and coastal beachfronts for speculative purposes.

These practices, he noted, hindered progress and must cease. The Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036) he indicated, introduces stringent punitive measures to address such misconduct.
“Considering these challenges, the Western Regional Lands Commission has an enormous task ahead. You must collaborate with all relevant Government agencies and landowners to implement practical solutions“, he noted.

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