Ghana’s Land Administration Enters New Era as Dr. Bawumia Unveils Ultra-Modern Office Complex

The delivery of land administration and management services in the country is about to witness a new level of effectiveness, transparency, and efficiency following the commissioning of a magnificent and ultra-modern head office for the Lands Commission.

The Vice President, H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, on Monday, November 25, 2024, commissioned the 8-story office complex, which is expected to mark a paradigm shift in the provision of land administration services with digitalization at the center of every process.

Delivering an address to mark the Official opening of the spectacular facility in Accra, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia stated that the construction of the new head office of the Lands Commission marks a pivotal moment in government’s efforts to transform the lands sector.

The Vice President explained that the government has, for the past eight years, been pursuing a total transformation of the lands sector with the foundation being a modern office infrastructure, digitization and automation of business processes, and a well-motivated and knowledgeable staff.

According to him, the new office complex for the Lands Commission is equipped with digital equipment and tools, ensuring the smooth transition of the commission’s activities from a paper and human-driven concept to a digital one, guaranteeing efficiency and transparency.

Dr. Bawumia stated that with the lands sector holding a key and prominent role in Ghana’s economy, the importance of a properly functioning land management system cannot be overemphasized, and that the Lands Commission will continue to be empowered to deliver on its mandate.

“Ghana’s land sector continues to play a critical role in our economy, shaping the development of our communities, cities, and our nation as a whole. The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) estimates that some ninety percent (90%) of our population derive their livelihoods directly or indirectly from land. A well-functioning land administration system is, therefore, essential for sustainable economic development, social cohesion, and a vibrant investment climate. That is why building a robust and modern land administration must be the priority of all”, he said.

“In the last eight (8) years, the government has been working to build a robust land administration, anchored on three pillars: modern office infrastructure, digitization and automation of business processes, and a well-motivated and knowledgeable staff. The completion of this new Head Office building, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, is geared towards the first pillar of a robust land administration, and demonstrates the government’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for effective land management”, he stated.

“This modern facility is not just a new structure; it represents a significant step in our collective mission to build a more efficient, transparent, and customer-centered land administration system in Ghana. This is, indeed, a proud moment, not only for the Lands Commission and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, but Ghana as a whole; for we celebrate, today, not just the completion of this building but also the promise it holds for the future of land management in our country,” he added.

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia also outlined some major achievements chalked up by the government in the land sector, with focus being the digitalization of the land administration processes.

“I established in my office a Liaison Unit to work closely with the Lands Commission and other institutions to expedite the digitalization of its processes. Through this collaboration, we have worked to drive reforms, advance digitization, and strengthen governance within the land sector. Indeed, when I visited the Commission in 2018, I emphasized the need to streamline property valuation, property digitization, the digitalization of the records of the Commission, and the consolidation of searches”, he disclosed.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, in today’s fast-evolving world, digital transformation is essential for enhancing service delivery, accountability, and transparency, and I commend the Lands Commission for their efforts in this regard. Today, with the aid of digitalization, the Lands Commission has been able to automate land title certificates, which reduces the potential for errors that could arise from manual entries, thereby significantly enhancing accuracy and efficiency.

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, in an address, commended Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for delivering on his 2018 promise of ensuring that the Lands Commission gets a modern and befitting office that fits the digitalization plans the government intended to implement.

The Minister listed the infrastructure projects delivered by the government in the last eight years and noted that the land sector has witnessed unprecedented transformation under the watch of His Excellency President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

“This Ultra-modern edifice stands as a testament to the commitment of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia Government to create an efficient, transparent, and accessible land administration system as the pivot for economic growth and development. It will, undoubtedly, elevate the standard of land services delivery, ensuring that the Lands Commission and allied agencies provide top-notch services to Ghanaians and all those in need of land administration services.

“In addition to this office complex, earlier this year, I commissioned, on behalf of the Government, a new Regional Office for the Greater Accra Regional Lands Commission, and an office complex for the Tema District Office is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of next year. We are also working to construct twelve (12) new Regional Offices for the Commission across the country, to provide a conducive and congenial working environment for staff of the Commission and serve as motivation for efficient land service delivery.

“Aside from these infrastructural developments, the Ministry, working through the Lands Commission, under the outstanding leadership of President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Bawumia, has prioritized initiatives and reforms that drive transformation in the land sector. We have established six (6) fully digitized offices for the six (6) new Regions of Ahafo, Bono East, North East, Oti, Savannah, and Western North. This has saved residents of these Regions expenses and time involved in traveling long distances to access the services of the Lands Commission,” he said.

The Executive Secretary, Surv. Benjamin Arthur, in his welcome address, recounted that the magnificent new Head Office building is an achievement that speaks volume about the Commission’s commitment to advancing land administration in Ghana.

He noted that the 8-story facility, plus a basement, represents a new era for the Commission—a new chapter in its journey toward providing efficient, transparent, and accessible land services for the good people of Ghana.

Commending the past and present Executives, especially the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, for their relentless efforts to ensure the Commission completes the facility, he said, the Commission is currently implementing a recently approved new scheme of service and organogram, which clearly distinguishes the role of the head office from the regional offices.

The Executive Secretary commended the Government for the support in obtaining approval to undertake the 5-year land administration transformation project expected to take off in the first quarter of 2025.

The project, he stated, is targeted at creating a national up-to-date digital map to support all sectors of the comprehensive economy, a digital database of land records, layout and planning schemes for registrable lands, a robust Land Information System to support a total digitalization of operations of the Lands Commission, and Business Process Automation of selected services.

Surv. Arthur enumerated some achievements of the Commission, which include the establishment of a Complaints and Advisory Centre in the Greater Accra region and desks in the other regional offices, the launch of the Corporate Application Processing Centre with the support of the Ghana Association of Bankers, and the training of a dedicated pool of staff to form an Alternative Dispute Resolution Panel to mediate and facilitate the resolution of disputes, particularly those related to land registration, helping to reduce court cases and promoting swift, amicable settlements.