Coalition worried over delays in Land Administration Project

The Civil Society Coalition on Lands (CICOL), has expressed worry over the delay by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to speed-up the pace in the implementation of Phase Two of the Land Administration Project (LAP II).

Madam Lilian Bruce, Coordinator of CICOL, said the government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources contracted a World Bank loan for a five-year land administration implementation projects to ensure efficient utilization of lands but expressed regret that little was being done on the project.

She was speaking in Tamale on Saturday at a workshop that brought together stakeholders in the implementation of the project and those who attended included some civil society organizations to discuss progress being made on the LAP II project.

Madam Bruce said the LAP II was building upon the National Land Policy of 1999 to make acquisition of lands efficient to stimulate economic development, reduce poverty and promote social stability by improving on the security of land tenure system in the country.

She said a full implementation of the project would simplify the processes for accessing land and making it fair, transparent and efficient to develop land market in fostering prudent land management.

Mad Bruce said out of the 50 million dollars acquired from the World Bank for the project only about 37 per cent of the money had been spent.

She said even though some new bills had been prepared in an attempt to reform land administration in the country, the implementers were still awaiting Parliamentary passage before implementation even though the project was for five years.

Mad Bruce said low awareness and willingness of the Regional Officers on implementation of LAP-2 had equally affected the project.

Madam Bruce recommended the need for regular participatory monitoring in order to achieve the objectives of the project and that more awareness on the laws, policies and practices through awareness creation and documentation of rights must be undertaken to intersect and secure land rights.

Some of the implementing agencies such as the Northern Region Lands Commission and the Town and Country Planning Department expressed worry about inadequate funding for the implementation of projects under their jurisdiction.