Break professional silos to fix Ghana's land sector - Surveyors

Surveyors, planners, engineers and other built-environment professionals have been challenged to strengthen collaboration and break down professional and institutional silos if Ghana is to effectively address its growing land, infrastructure and spatial-development challenges.

The call emerged at the 2026 Annual Conference of the Land Surveying Division of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS) in Accra, held under the theme, “Advancing Land Surveying through Innovation, Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement.”

Delivering the keynote address, Chief Executive Officer of the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA), Dr Kwadwo Yeboah, challenged built-environment professionals to rethink how they work together.

He said professionals operating in silos risked losing their influence in important national development conversations and called for surveyors, planners and other built-environment professionals to pursue more strategic collaboration and demonstrate their relevance through practical solutions.

GhIS President, Surv Emmanuel Kofi Cobbold, reinforced the call for collaboration, noting that land surveying supports land administration, construction, spatial planning, environmental management and the protection of property rights.

He said advancing the profession required stronger partnerships involving government, professional bodies, academia, traditional authorities, communities and the private sector.

Chairperson of the Land Surveying Division, Surv Ing Dr Tina Dzigbordi Wemegah, said technological innovation alone could not deliver the desired national impact without collaboration.

She called for stronger partnerships between surveyors and engineers, planners, environmental institutions, technology providers, government agencies, traditional authorities, academia, development partners and communities, stressing the importance of treating stakeholders as active partners in development.

Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Surv Prof Prosper B. Laari, said Ghana’s recurring floods, illegal mining, unplanned settlements, indiscriminate land sales, land disputes and pressure on urban infrastructure demonstrated why professionals could no longer work independently.

He said these challenges required sound spatial information and coordinated action involving surveyors, planners, engineers, architects, environmental scientists, policymakers and other stakeholders.

Guest Speaker, John Asiamah, brought technology and data into the collaboration discussion, highlighting the growing importance of integrating spatial information and transforming data into intelligence that can support better planning and decision-making.

Surv Naa Abu Seidu Zakariah, Acting Director of the Survey and Mapping Division (SMD) of the Lands Commission, also stressed the importance of collaboration among professional bodies, academia and private practitioners. He called for technical issues to be addressed through scientific analysis, field observations, data sharing and constructive professional dialogue.

The conference discussions reinforced the view that Ghana does not only need more spatial data and technical expertise; it needs professionals, institutions and communities working together to convert spatial knowledge into practical development outcomes.

This message was further reinforced through brief solidarity and goodwill messages from other divisions of GhIS and sister professional bodies, which emphasised professional unity and the importance of stronger interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing challenges within the built environment.

The conference continues with technical sessions and paper presentations aimed at deepening discussions on innovation, collaboration, stakeholder engagement and the contribution of land surveyors to national development.

Members will also convene for the Division’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), where key professional and institutional matters will be discussed, with the outcomes expected to help shape the profession and strengthen its contribution to Ghana’s development.

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