The Ghana Integrity Institute (GII) and the Lands Commission have initiated a stakeholder engagement in a collaborative effort to combat land corruption in Ghana. This initiative aims to address the widespread issues related to land acquisition and administration, promoting transparency and accountability.
As the national chapter of Transparency International, GII is a prominent civil society organization dedicated to fighting corruption and advancing openness. Under the “Land and Corruption in Africa” (LCA) initiative, GII focuses on responsible land governance and tackling the complex issues of land corruption. Launched in 2015, the LCA Project is implemented in eight African nations: Ghana, Madagascar, Cameroon, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and South Africa.
The second phase of the project, which began in 2022, is particularly focused on ensuring Ghana adopts ethical and transparent procedures for large-scale land-based investments (LSLBIs).
The stakeholder engagement meetings were held in the Savannah, Bono East, and Ashanti regions, bringing together government officials, traditional authorities, farmer-based organizations, and other relevant stakeholders. These fora provided a platform for discussing the current LSLBI implementation guidelines and the importance of ethical and transparent land practices.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Project Coordinator Mr. Michael Okai stressed on the necessity of collective action to tackle land corruption. “Land corruption affects not only individuals but the entire nation, so everyone must be involved in addressing the issue,” he said.
Mr. Okai talked about the importance of cooperation and raising awareness by engaging the public and interested parties to better understand land acquisition and management issues and identify potential solutions.
Regional surveyor of the Lands Commission, Mr. Bernard Kofi Boateng, advised land purchasers to ensure their documentation is accurate by registering their properties through authorized channels. “It’s essential to get the right documentation to prevent issues with traditional and government authorities regarding the land,” he stated.
The forum also empowered attendees to expose corruption using GII’s reporting systems and discussed the Land Act 2020 (Act 1036) and its implications for proper land management.
Source: GNA
