Gov’t opens court in Sekondi to deal with land cases

The government has established an automated land court in Sekondi in the Western Region, to deal specifically with land cases to facilitate speedy adjudication of cases in the region.

The establishment of the court became necessary in view of potential land ownership conflicts following the increase in demand for land for commercial and industrial purposes in the oil and gas enclave.

Madam Barbara Serwa Asamoah, Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, made the disclosure at the inauguration of Regional Secretariat of Client Service and Access Unit (CSAU) of the Lands Commission in Sekondi.

She added that five Customary Land Secretariats had been established in Wassa Akropong in the Wassa Amenfi East, Benyin and Atuabo in Jomoro District, Tarkwa in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality and Enchi in the Aowin District, to improve land management and administration of land by skins, families and clans at the local level.

She said: “An exercise to demarcate and collect associated attribute data on farm lands in the rural areas of Wassa is in progress. The completion of this activity will assume security of tenure to farmers and thereby increase farm productivity and income levels”.

She reiterated government’s commitment to transform land administration system in the country to accelerate socio-economic development.

Madam Asamoah urged the staff of the Commission to exhibit positive work attitudes to justify the purpose for establishing the CSAU.

Alhaji Bakari Sadiq Nyari, Chairman of the Lands Commission, indicated that the land administration reforms started in 2008 with the passage of the Lands Commission Act of 2008, (Act 767) that laid the foundation for efficient land service delivery, which is anchored on transparency, integrity, honesty, client satisfaction and positive staff attitudes.

He encouraged the public to deal with the CSAU for land services instead of individual workers, to avert frustration and failure of getting the required land documents.

Tetrete Akuamoah Sekyi II, Omanhen of Wassa Amenfi Traditional Area, who represented the Regional House of Chiefs, urged the management of the Commission to undertake extensive public education on the CSAU so that people could access the services.

He asked them to institute the necessary safeguards so that the CSAU would realize its purpose.