Deputy Lands Minister Inaugurates Bono East Regional Land Commission Office

Hon. Benito Owusu-Bio (MP), the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Lands and Forestry, has on Friday, 8th April, 2022, commissioned the Bono East Regional Lands Commission Office, which is the fourth among six offices scheduled to be established in the six new regions of Ghana.

This move, the Dep. Minister said falls in line with Article 258 and 260(1) of the 1992 constitution which mandates the creation of the Lands Commission’s regional offices across the country.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Hon. Benito stressed the significance of Lands Commission in serving government and the general public, particularly in managing public lands and other lands vested in the President as prescribed by the constitution.

He said “land is a strategic asset which forms the basis of every development activity and hence the need for formal land administration to promote development at all levels.”

The Deputy Minister also stated that the creation of the Lands Commission office in the region will help advise the government, local authorities and traditional authorities on the policy framework for the development of the region and the entire country.

In his submission, Hon. Owusu-Bio also outlined some socio economic importance of land administration saying that Land administration services including survey and mapping, valuation of property, rating state land acquisition, Land management and registration are critical services that help propel the socio-economic growth of the country.

He also stressed that a decentralised land administration system will boost investor confidence in these new regions and ensure that efficient land administration services is brought to the door step of every Ghanaian and thereby render the era of people travelling long hours to access land administration services, a thing of the past.

He further noted that these offices are fully furnished with modern computerized systems that is geared towards the government’s digitalization agenda.

“Mr. Chairman, what is unique about the establishment of these offices in the new regions is that, the offices shall operate in a fully digital environment. This will help achieve speed and reduce the usual delays associated with processing of documents in manual environment.” He emphasized.

The of the Representative of the Omanhene of Techiman traditional area Nana Amponsah Yeboah Ntakra, Ankobea Hene, expressed his joy for the commissioning of the regional office saying that the people of Techiman have been yearning to witness such an important feet in the life of the region.

Nana Ntakra said land disputes has been a big challenge in the sub region and therefore he believes that the commissioning of the new office, will aid residents of the Techiman and the entire Bono East Region to appropriately register their Lands and bring an end to these disputes that has been plaguing their land.

To the people of Techiman and the Bono Region, Nana Ntakra said ” the Lands Commission has come to stay and so we really need to take advantage of their presence to do the needful and register our lands and I know they will also corporate with us accordingly”

On behalf of the Overload of Techiman, the Chief expressed his sincerest gratitude to Lands Ministry and the Lands Commission for honoring the region.

Mr. George Padmore Mensah, the Bono East Regional Cordinating Director who represented the Bono East Regional Minister, Hon. Kwasi Adu Gyan said they are elated to finally have a Lands Commission office in their region and urged the commission to effectively deliver on thier mandate to promote the judicious use of land in the Bono East Region and ensure that land use in the region, is in accordance to sustainable development principles.

He asserted that without sound and appropriate land management principles, there can be no sustainable development and there will be no or little investment from both foreign and local investors.

He added that the development of the region is therefore tied to land investment which requires the needed land administration to make it possible.

The Board Chair of the Bono East Regional Lands Commission, Madam Mary Ama Kudom Agyeman in her remark said the region considers the inauguration of the new office as a major land mark event in the life of the Bono East Region.

She indicated that the Bono East Regional Lands Commission has a key role to play in spearheading sound development and in addressing the looming socio-economic challenges in the region such as unplanned settlements, improper acquisition of large scale Lands, land related conflicts among others.

She added that in playing this crucial role, the Bono East Regional Lands Commission will embark on a strategic multi-stakeholder sensitization, consultation and engagement in collaboration with identified partners.

The Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, Mr. James Dadson, also touched on the purpose of the Bono East Regional Office stressing that it is to ensure that residents are drawn closer to government in the administration of their Lands.

He noted that the establishment of the new office places an enormous responsibility on the staff of the Commission, requiring that they will be up and doing to ensure land administration services are carried out professionally.

He remarked that staff of the Lands Commission at the region must ensure that the state-of-the-art equipment and facilities provided are properly maintained for the smooth running of the office.

Mr. Dadson assured that the Bono Regional office and all other offices inaugurated so far will not be left to operate in isolation, but monitoring will be done to ensure that work in the regions complement the full goal of the Lands Commission.

Source :PR UNIT MLNR