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Professor Fobih urges Lands
Commission to discharge duties efficiently
Kumasi, July 14,
Ghanadot/GNA - Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister of Lands,
Forestry and Mines, on Friday asked members of Ashanti
Region Lands Commission to address problems of delays in the
processing of documents, rampant encroachment on public
lands and the use of unapproved development schemes.
He said these practices posed a challenge to efficient and
effective land administration, management and orderly
development of towns and cities in the country.
Prof. Fobih made the call when inaugurating a 13-member
Ashanti Region Lands Commission to renew its mandate for
four years in Kumasi.
He noted that by dint of hard work and enforcement of the
relevant laws and legislation, the incidence of these
constraints and problems would be eliminated.
Prof. Fobih stressed the need to re-orient mentality of the
staff to be aggressive to reduce corruption and other vices
in land administration.
However, he reminded the members to maintain sound and
cordial relationship with traditional authorities and other
stakeholders to ensure positive impact on their performance.
"It would be suicidal if you ignore their views and
sentiments before decisions are taken. I would therefore
admonish you to co-operate effectively with stakeholders
particularly the Golden Stool and its occupant, Otumfuo Osei
Tutu II whose wisdom when tapped would immensely enhance
your performance," he added.
Prof. Fobih urged them to intensify public education on the
Land Administration Project whose implementation would
address most of the constraints and challenges facing the
land sector.
Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister,
was optimistic members of the Commission would prove equal
to the task and discharged their duties with transparency,
honesty, impartiality and in the best interest of the
region.
He asked them to work hard and committed to sustain the
confidence institutions and authorities they represented had
reposed in them.
Mr Owusu-Ansah noted that despite the importance of land in
society, its acquisition and use had generated the most
controversial and contentious issues in the region and
Ghana, adding; "Some chieftaincy disputes have their causes
deeply rooted in land ownership."
"It is sad to note that often communities were pulled apart,
in some cases lives and properties were lost through
protracted land litigation.
The Commission should devote its attention to address
factors that led to land disputes to instil sanity in land
use issues in the region," he added.
Mr Kwame Agyapong Boafo, Chairman of Ashanti Region Lands
Commission, pledged to work assiduously to discharge their
duties and constitutional mandate with renewed vigour.
He suggested that Government lands and plots within Ridge
and bungalows in Kumasi should be re-demarcated to create
more plots for development.
Mr Boafo said the tract of land around Cadbury Hall in
Kumasi should be well utilised.
GNA
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