Land Administration to be decentralised

Accra, Aug. 17, GNA - Ms Theresa Ameley Tagoe, Deputy Minister of Lands Forestry and Mines, on Wednesday said activities and programmes under the Land Administration Project (LAP) would be decentralized to the regional and district levels to ensure speedy processing of all issues concerning land.

She said it was, therefore, important that customary land secretariats and regional land sector agencies were brought on board the general operations of the land sector programmes and projects, which included financial and procurement management.

Opening a three-day workshop on Financial Management and Procurement Procedures on Land Administration Project in Accra, Ms Tagoe said training and capacity building was one major concern and it was in line with Government's policy of making human resource development a priority area.

Ms Tagoe said the Ministry had organised similar workshops in the nine out of the 10 regions to enlighten the key staff of customary land authorities and land sector agencies in matters relating to these areas with the view to enhancing efficiency.

Contribution of participants to the success of the project is of prime importance to the Ministry and it would, therefore, seek funds and partnerships to offer the requisite training to the rank and file of members to make them more efficient and competent in their work. She commended the heads and land sector agencies and directors for their zeal to be in the forefront of change management and offering inspiration to their staff.

She also acknowledged the contributions and efforts of the Land Administration Project Unit for making the regional programmes a success and urged them not rest on their oars.

The workshop is part of institutional reform and capacity building for comprehensive improvement in the land administration, thus the need to train officers of various customary land secretariats and other land sector agencies in the procurement guidelines, financial management, including World Bank procedures and budgeting.

Participants would be taken through topics including: "Financial Management Under LAP"; "Project Accounting and Reporting", "Project Management Public Procurement Act", "Internal Audit Agency Act", "Donor and Public Procurement Procedures", "Preparation of Statement of Expenditures", "Preparation of Financial Returns and Budgeting", "Cash Planning" and "Commitment Control".

LAP aims at developing an efficient, cost-effective land administration system that is capable of enhancing land tenure security, which required the effective participation of all sector actors including landowners and land administrators both in the private and public sectors.