Government is weighed down with a huge debt of over $ 1 billion dollars in compensations to owners of parcels of land government has acquired for various developmental purposes.
While sourcing for funds to settle this debt, government would in the mean time release parcels of land acquired by the sate for projects, but for some reasons the land would not be useful to government any more.
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Collins Dauda who made this known while inaugurating the Reconstituted National Lands Commission in Accra on Friday gave the assurance that government would rather give such lands back to their owners to sell their own thing instead of government’s selling them.
“After all, the people can sell their own lands, can’t they” Hon Alhaji Dauda quipped.
The minister tasked the newly inaugurated committee under the chairmanship of Nana Agyei Ampofo, to advise government on the appropriate policies that will address many challenges faced by the nation’s lands administration.
One of such challenges the minister mentioned is the spate of land cases in Ghanaian courts. According to him, studies have shown that about 30,000 land cases are filed in the courts, each year, with each of them taking at least a year to complete.
He also pointed out that there is a general lack of discipline among workers of all the institution related to land administration in the country.
He therefore called on the commission to restore discipline among the workers so as to restore public confidence in them.
He also called for the computerization of land administration in Ghana, since he believes in the current age of technology it is necessary to automate the lands administration system.
The chairman, Nana Agyei Ampofo thanked the President for the confidence reposed in them and promised that with team work the commission would deliver on its mandate.
Other members of the commission are Dr. W. Odame Larbi, Excecutive Secretary, Augustine Appiah Adu, Ministry of Lands, Samuel Ofori-OfeiGhana Institute of Surveyors, Nii Osa Mills, Ghana Bar Association, Kwodwo Baafuor Asare Town and Country Planning and Jonnathan Allotey, Environmental Protection Agenct.
The res are Nai Kwao Otu V, Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen, Kumbum Na YiriII, National House of Chiefs, Mr. Oko Nikoi Dzanie Greater Accra Region, Dr. Kwaku Agyeman Mensah Ashanti Region, Rev. Mrs. Hellena Swanzy-Essien, Central Region Mr. Hudu Siita Upper West Region, Naba Sigri Bewong, Upper East and Ismaila Alhassan Northern Region.
In a related development the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Collins Dauda also inaugurated a seven member Revenue Leakage Committee to look into allegations of mulpractices in the allocation of Teak lots, harvesting and export of Teaks from forest reserves.
He said the committee is necessary because the revenue leakages in the sector could have dire consequences for net revenue accruing to all stakeholders.
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