The Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GIS) has declared war against unqualified surveyors whose activities have resulted in the poor layout of Accra and the surrounding human settlements.
In that connection the institute has advised prospective land buyers and estate developers not to engage the services of unqualified surveyors but rather to avail themselves of the expertise of qualified surveyors in their business.
Briefing the press yesterday to highlight problems encountered in the industry, Mr. Francis Atta Afram President of GIS noted that the price to pay for poor layouts in Accra has been endless litigation, floods and poor accessibility to certain parts of the city in time of emergencies.
Speaking on the theme "Management of Human Settlements, the role of the Surveyor," he said surveyors play an importance role in co-ordinating the activities of engineers and architects in the building industry.
Mr. Afram said the institute is working hard to get a law to purge the estate brokerage industry of unqualified persons in the country.
Mr. Afram explained that the law is necessary because quack surveyors have introduced fraud into the property market and are having a field day at the expense of the property owners who do not get the real value for the sale their properties.
He said to bring sanity into the property market, the GIS has proposed a Bill on Estate Agency and Salesman Law.
Dr. Benjamin E.K Prah, Chairman of the Land Surveying Division, said landowners could not develop their properties anyhow but must follow laid down regulations.
Mr. Kwame Tenadu, Council Member of GIS, stressed the need for community land registration.
In his opinion, since traditional authorities control the land there would not be the need for a chief to resell the lands or enter into transaction already made by his predecessor.
He said the proposal would prevent double sale of lands and make chiefs accountable.
