By Godwill Arthur-Mensah
Accra, Nov.25, GNA – Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia on Monday unveiled the new ultra-modern National Corporate Office Complex of the Lands Commission in Accra.
The commissioning of the facility marks a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to improve land administration and management.
The office complex is designed to provide a conducive environment for the Commission to carry out its mandate effectively.
The eight-storey building is equipped with modern technological infrastructure and office spaces including a baby care centre, a gymnasium, and a 300-seater capacity auditorium.
At the inauguration ceremony in Accra, Dr. Bawumia said the office complex marked a paradigm shift in the provision of land administration services with digitalisation at the centre of every process.
The Vice President stated that the construction of the facility marked a pivotal moment in government’s efforts to transforming the lands sector.
“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, digitisation and automation of business processes, and a well-motivated and knowledgeable staff,” Dr Bawumia said.
The Vice President said the office complex was equipped with digital equipment and tools for smooth transition of the Commission’s activities from a manual and human-driven concept to a digital one, guaranteeing efficiency and transparency in service delivery.
The lands sector held the key to Ghana’s economy, Dr Bawumia stated, noting that, properly functioning land management system cannot be overemphasised, and thus, assured the government’s commitment to continue empowering the Commission 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,” he said.
The Ghana Statistical Service estimates that some 90 per cent of the population derive their livelihoods directly or indirectly from the land.
Therefore, a well-functioning land administration system is essential for sustainable economic development, social cohesion, and a vibrant investment climate, he said.
“That is why building a robust and modern land administration must be the priority of all,” Dr Bawumia pointed out.
“In the last eight years, the government has been working to build a robust land administration, anchored on three pillars: modern office infrastructure, digitisation and automation of business processes, and a well-motivated and knowledgeable staff,” he stated.
The completion of the new head office 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, the Vice President stated.
He said it represented a significant step in government’s collective mission to building 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. Bawumia highlighted some major achievements chalked up by the government in the land sector, including the digitalisation 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 digitalisation of its processes.
“Through this collaboration, we have worked to drive reforms, advance digitization, and strengthen governance within the land sector,”Dr Bawumia noted.
Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, in an address, listed the infrastructure projects delivered by the government over the last eight years, noting that the land sector had witnessed unprecedented transformation under the current government.
“This Ultra-modern edifice stands is 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.
The Minister said the facility would, undoubtedly, elevate the standard of land service delivery, ensuring that the Commission and other allied agencies provided top-notch services to the public.
“We are also working to construct 12 new Regional Offices for the Commission across the country, to provide a conducive and congenial working environment for the staff of the Commission and serve as motivation for efficient land service delivery.
“Aside these infrastructural developments, the Ministry is working through the Lands Commission, under the outstanding leadership of the President and Vice President Bawumia, who prioritised initiatives and reforms to drive transformation in the land sector,” Mr. Jinapor stated.
“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 those Regions expenses and time involved in travelling long distances to access the services of the Lands Commission,” the Minister stated
Mr. Benjamin Arthur, the Executive Secretary, Lands Commission, on his part, stated that the magnificent Office Complex represented a new era for the Commission—a new chapter in its journey toward providing efficient, transparent, and accessible land services to Ghanaians.
He said the Commission is currently implementing a recently approved new Scheme of Service and Organogram, which clearly distinguished the role of the head office from the regional offices of the Commission.
The Executive Secretary commended the government for its support in obtaining approval to undertake a five-year land administration transformation project.
The project is expected to take off in the first quarter of 2025.
It aimed at creating a national up-to-date digital map to support all sectors of the land economy, a digital database of land records, layout and planning schemes for registrable lands, a robust Land Information System to support a total digitalisation of the Commission’s operations and Business Process Automation of selected services.
Mr. Arthur highlighted some of the successes chalked up by the Commission, which included 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 staff to form an Alternative Dispute Resolution Panel to mediate and facilitate the resolution of disputes, particularly those related to land registration.
This is to help reduce court cases and promote swift and amicable settlement of land related cases.
GNA