–New office expected to facilitate efficient land administration
The Lands Commission is now set officially to begin operations at its newly constructed 8-story headquarters, an ultra-modern facility designed to enhance land administration services in the country, the Executive Secretary, Benjamin Arthur, has said.
The construction of this advanced edifice is said to be underlined by the government’s commitment to establishing a transparent, efficient, and accessible land management system.
The facility, has a 300-seater auditorium, boardroom, three executive meeting rooms, a library, and other amenities, and it is part of a broader infrastructure development plan.
Earlier this year, the Commission inaugurated a Greater Accra Lands Commission regional office.
Additionally, the Tema District Office complex is on track for completion in the first quarter of next year.
The Commission also plans to construct 12 new regional offices across the country. These projects are intended to provide a conducive working environment for staff while motivating efficient service delivery and ensuring accessibility for clients nationwide.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, speaking at the ceremony to inaugurate the facility said aside from the infrastructural developments, the Ministry has prioritised initiatives and reforms that drive transformation in the land sector.
“We have established six fully digitised offices for the six 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 travelling long distances to access the services of the Lands Commission.”
Under the Land Administration Reforms, he said the government is pursuing an aggressive digitisation agenda which is geared towards promoting a robust land administration system that ensures security, facilitates economic growth, and supports resource development.
“The successful migration of some operations of the Commission unto the digital environment through the Enterprise Land Information System (ELIS) is proof of our progress,” he added.
In addition to this, the Electronic Property Mass Appraisal System (EPMAS), was rolled out enabling revaluation in several Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to improve revenue collection.
“Additionally, we have fostered collaborative partnerships with experts from the private sector. Through these partnerships, we are advancing towards a comprehensive Land Administration Reform, which will strengthen the capacity of the Lands Commission to address current and future challenges effectively,” he added.
He also mentioned interventions such as the deployment of drones, in surveying and mapping to produce accurate, georeferenced, and efficient orthophoto maps to support land title registration and base-maps for the development of local planning schemes.
The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, reckoned that the new facility is not just a new structure, “it represents a significant step in our collective mission to build a more efficient, transparent, and customer-centred land administration system in Ghana.”
He said the government, In the last 8 years, has been working to build a robust land administration, anchored on three pillars: modern office infrastructure, digitisation and automation of business processes, and 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.
Dr. Bawumia also mentioned the effort to drive reforms, advance digitisation, and strengthen governance within the land sector.
“We have implemented most of these measures such as online searches, consolidated searches from all the Divisions of the Commission, and the Electronic Property Appraisal System for property valuation.”
