Lands Commission to be networked soon

Sekondi, Aug 15, GNA - Mrs. Esther Obeng-Dapaah, Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, has stated that the reliance on scattered and obsolete operational procedures and unclear mandate of the various institutions under the Lands Commission would be changed soon. She said the Commission would soon be networked electronically to facilitate their work and ensure reliable information on available land to ease double sale and litigations.

Mrs. Obeng-Dapaah who was inaugurating the re-constituted 17-member Western Region Lands Commission in Sekondi on Wednesday, said under the Land Administration Project (LAP), all the six lands institutions in the country would be merged.

She said a Customary Land Secretariat would also be established and charged the reconstituted Commission to ensure that its services were effective, transparent and accessible.

Mr. Anthony E Amoah, Western Regional Minister, described land as "fundamental" for every society and said all efforts must be made to streamline its procedures.

He said the 1999 National Land Policy was aimed at stimulating economic development, reducing poverty and simplifying the processes for having access to it in a fair, transparent and efficient manner. Mr. Amoah called on members of the Commission to be transparent during their four-year tenure.