Database for judgments lands is vital - Chief Justice

The Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood has said the Judiciary needs a credible digital geographic judgment registry to aid in speeding up the adjudication of many land cases piled up in the courts.

Developing geographic database for all judgments emanating from land courts is critical and that the data could be updated from time to time to reflect the latest decisions, she said.

The Chief Justice said this at a launch of a book titled: “Land Law, Practice and Conveyance in Ghana,” by Sir Justice Dennis Dominic Adjei.

The 416 page book divided into 22 chapters is filled with detailed and simple legal language for the benefits of readers especially lawyers and law students on issues of land law.

Some of the topics discussed in the book include: “Law practice in Ghana,” “Proper acquisition of land,” “Compulsory acquisition of land,” “Evidence of land acquisition,” “Land title Registration Act,”and “Reforms in land administration”.

The Chief Justice said the launch was necessary because the inequitable access to land and insecure ownership rights are the root cause of instability and insecurity characterized by the growing menace of self-help protection measures.

Mrs Wood said the multiple sale of lands, land racketeering and fraudulent transactions within the entire land administration and management systems, particularly land registration procedures are issues that continue to muddle land acquisition and erode investor confidence.

The Chief Justice commended the progressive reforms being undertaken by the land administration project in partnership with the Judiciary to streamline the legal system.

She said the courts are inundated with a multiplicity claims by those who pretend to have interest in the same piece of land.

She said the book is designed to serve the needs of law students; it is a one stop-shop work on land law related matters in the country; and a useful tool to all who are interested in the development of land law.

Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, said sound management of land has contributed immensely to environmental stability and the economic well-being of many societies.

She said the book comes to further advance the development of land law in the country as well provide a contemporary perspectives on various land matters.

Justice Adjei, the author, said he was motivated to write because most of the books on land law were scattered and fragmented.

He said the book will add to promote scholarship among the judicial and legal community and help in the growth and sustainability of the legal system.

He commended the efforts of all who helped in producing the book and dedicated the book to the Chief Justice for her contribution to the development of the law in the country.