Members of National Lands Commission sworn into office

Accra, Oct. 10, GNA- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday, swore into office 17 out of the 19-member reconstituted National Lands Commission.

He administered the oaths of office and secrecy to the members, with Mr Justice Isaac Richard Aboagye as the Chairman at the Castle, Osu. Other members were, Osahene Kwaku Aterkyi II, Paramount Chief of Kukuom Traditional Area in the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr Kwabena Berchie-Antwi, Dr Joseph Paul Okang, Mr Jonathan Addo Allotey, Mr Edward Puowole Karbo and Mr Eustace Nii-Amah Kumi-Bruce.

The rest were, Mr Mosobila Kpaama, Mr Kwame Agyapong Boafo, Alhaji Naa Abubakari Von Salifu, Mr Edmund Salifu Dam, Mr Samuel Asare Atuobi, Mr Paul Kwabena Damoah, Nana Kofi Ennin Insaful, Mr Akwasi Ameyaw Cheremeh, Professor George Kofi Ansah Ofosu-Amaah and Mr Ibrahim Hamidu Baryeh. The two members who were absent were, Mr Emmanuel Tetteh Danyo and Mr Michael Zewu Glover.

Present at the ceremony was the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister of Lands and Forestry and his Deputy Miss Theresah Amarley Tagoe.

Members of Lands Commission urged to review land reforms

Accra, Oct. 10, GNA- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday, called on members of the re-constituted National Lands Commission to review land reforms conform with the various customs and the statute laws to facilitate land administration and encourage business.

He said a major constraint to business was the poor and confused land tenure system pertaining in the country.

President Kufuor made the call when he swore into office 17 of the 19-member reconstituted Commission.

He administered the oaths of office and secrecy to the Commission under the Chairmanship of Mr Justice Isaac Richard Aboagye, at the Castle, Osu.

Other members were, Osahene Kwaku Aterkyi II, Paramount Chief of Kukuom Traditional Area in the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr Kwabena Berchie-Antwi, Dr Joseph Paul Okang, Mr Jonathan Addo Allotey, Mr Edward Puowole Karbo and Mr Eustace Nii-Amah Kumi-Bruce.

The rest were, Mr Mosobila Kpaama, Mr Kwame Agyapong Boafo, Alhaji Naa Abubakari Von Salifu, Mr Edmund Salifu Dam, Mr Samuel Asare Atuobi, Mr Paul Kwabena Damoah, Nana Kofi Ennin Insaful, Mr Akwasi Ameyaw Cheremeh, Professor George Kofi Ansah Ofosu-Amaah and Mr Ibrahim Hamidu Baryeh. The two members who were absent were, Mr Emmanuel Tetteh Danyo and Mr Michael Zewu Glover.

President Kufuor said unfortunately laws on land use were not streamlined but administered according to the customs pertaining in a particular area in the country while the customs vary from place to place.

He said land was basic to everything connected with social development but unfortunately, the people have allowed "corruption to invade land administration and in many parts of the country where land was seen as sacred".

President Kufuor said because of greed and self-centeredness, corruption had invaded the whole idea of land administration and in Accra, there had been constant reports of land guards who kill and maim people about land.

"I want you to look at this problem and see if you can help harmonise and streamline land administration to cut out the perceived corruption in dealing with land. You should be able to make a dent on the problem for the betterment of society", he said.

Mr Justice Aboagye, Chairman of the Commission said access to land and security of land tenure played a crucial role to social justice and national development.

He said the country's land sector, was beset with many problems by the public and stakeholders on land administration in line with the call for good governance, transparency, probity and accountability. Mr Justice Aboagye pledged that members of the Commission would work with diligence in the national interest to the best of their ability and called for support from the government.

Present at the ceremony was the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister of Lands and Forestry and his Deputy Miss Theresah Amarley Tagoe.