The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP, has officially inaugurated the reconstituted 22-member board of the Western Regional Lands Commission, charging them to ensure effective and efficient land administration in the region.
In his address, Mr Buah highlighted pressing land challenges, urging the board to tackle issues such as multiple land sales and illegal mining (galamsey) he said.
“Unregulated land sales by multiple claimants have led to haphazard development and poor land use. We must also confront the galamsey menace, which destroys arable land and pollutes major rivers like the Tano, Pra, and Ankobra. These activities threaten human security and will not be tolerated.” the Lands minister said.
The board’s key mandates include reducing land registration turnaround time to 30 working days, decentralising services to lower costs, and preventing unlawful conversion of stool lands to family lands against customary law. They are also tasked with combating encroachment on public lands and ensuring strict staff supervision to uphold professionalism.
Mr Buah emphasised the board’s pivotal role in supporting economic revival and job creation, stating,
“Land is the foundation of these initiatives. I urge you to embrace this responsibility with dedication, working to transform the region into a thriving business hub that generates opportunities for all.”
Prof. Frederick Boakye-Yiadom, Chairman of the new board, expressed gratitude for the appointment and pledged the board’s commitment to transparent and effective land administration.
The board includes experienced professionals from various sectors, including the Regional Lands Officer, representatives from the Ghana Bar Association, Ghana Institution of Surveyors, and the Western Regional House of Chiefs, as well as chief executives of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies in the region.
The Minister also thanked the outgoing board members for their service and wished them success in their future endeavours.
