The Second Ghana Land Administration Project (LAP-2) has expanded the Regional Planning Coordinating Units (RPCU) for the existing 10 regions of the country as part of its decentralization policy.

The expanded units will include the Chairpersons of Land Commission in the regions, regional heads of the Town and Country Planning Departments, Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands, the Lands Commission and the President of the Regional Houses of Chiefs.

According to Dr. Isaac Bonsu Karikari, the National Project Co-ordinator, the decentralization agenda of LAP-2 is to ensure that land transactions are efficiently handled at the district, community and local levels to avoid the situation where people are compelled to travel far distances to Accra or Regional capitals for titles, deeds and other related land transactions.

He said information reaching the National Project Coordinating Unit of LAP-2 showed that a number of these Regional Planning Coordinating Units have not been functioning effectively.

He said the Project is determined to support the revival and expansion of the RPCC’S for purposes of paying proper attention to land issues at the local levels.

Dr. Karikari said this at an Orientation and Sensitization seminar for staff of Land Sector and Implementing Agencies of LAP-2 in the Central Region organized by the Communication and Public Outreach Unit of the National Project Coordinating Unit of the Project in Cape-Coast.

He said the expanded Regional Planning and Coordinating Committee is expected to meet regularly to deliberate on all developmental and all other matters for the well being of the Region and it was of vital importance that they are made to take on board issues to do with land administration in the Regions and Districts.

The RPCC is made up of the Regional Coordinating Director, the Regional Planning Officer, the Regional Budget Officer, Regional Local Government Inspector, Regional Director of Health, Regional Directorate of Education, Youth and Sports, Directorate of Agriculture, Chief Works Superintendent, Regional Town and Country Planning Officer, Regional Statistical Officer and a nominee from the Regional Coordinating Council.

The orientation brought together over 250 staff from the Land Sector Agencies in the Central Region as well as some media personnel.