Land registries are to curb disputes - Minister

Cape Coast, June 20, GNA - Madam Esther Obeng-Dapaah, Minister for Lands, Forestry and Mines, on Friday said establishment of land registries in the country was to build a credible land information system that would exude public confidence and the courts would find invaluable assets in the determination of land disputes. She pointed out that it would ascertain who owns what land, the types of land rights and the security attached to the rights.

Madam Obeng-Dapaah, who announced this at the inauguration of a Land Registry at Cape Coast, said they formed part of government's strategic interventions under the Land Administration Project (LAP) to improve land administration service delivery in the country. She reiterated government's determination to improve the investment climate for the private sector, which was vital to economic growth because there was the need for investors both large and small to be assured of their rights and property of their investments.

Madam Obeng-Dapaah said since 2005, 11,460 documents covering lands, had been registered and 22 per cent of those who registered their lands were women, and gave the assurance that the registries would be computerized to enhance their operations. She noted that since the establishment of the registries in the 10 regions the period for registration of land, had reduced from three years to about two months, especially in areas where the registries had been newly established.

Madam Obeng-Dapaah said seven additional customary Land Secretariats had in addition, been established, bringing their number to 17 to improve the capacities when traditional authorities within the areas managed their lands properly. She said an inventory of state acquired and occupied lands had also been completed in the Central Region as well as 10 selected districts in the Eastern, Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo Regions, to enable government deal with outstanding issues arising from the acquisitions.

Madam Obeng-Dapaah gave the assurance that those who had their lands registered since 2005 would soon have them gazetted and urged staff of the land registries to provide quality service and endeavour to be innovative, disciplined and transparent in the discharge of their duties Nana Ato Arthur, Central Regional Minister, said the Registry would not only bring services closer to the door-steps of people in the region, but would also ensure timely service delivery to the public because it would streamline administrative procedures. He was optimistic the measures being instituted to develop the land tenure system would be sustained for the ultimate benefit of all Ghanaians and development partners.

Mr Eustace Kumi-Bruce, Chairman of Lands Commission advised the registrars and staff of the registries and Lands Commission to operate within the law and adopt the right procedures to enable them build good and reliable records to make land transactions easier. He warned them against corrupt practices and cautioned that no one caught, would be protected in this era of "transparency, accountability, good governance and rule of law". Mr Kumi-Bruce announced that through its own internally generated funds LAP had built three registries at Tamale, Ho and Cape Coast at an estimated cost of GH¢132,248.33. Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II, Paramount Chief of Oguaa Traditional Area, noted that the reforms in the land sector were ideal, and expressed concern that many people had died through land acquisition. He was optimistic that the staff would be diligent, transparent, accommodating and polite to all clients to maintain public confidence in their operations.