The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Yussif
Sulemana has stated that efficient land administration is critical for the success of government’s proposed 24-hour economy policy initiative, particularly in regions like Ahafo, described as the nation’s “food basket.” He made these remarks when he joined the Hon. Ahafo Regional Minister to inaugurate the reconstituted Regional Lands
Commission.
The Ahafo Regional Lands Commission was officially inaugurated on
Wednesday, 28th May, 2025 at an event held at the Ahafo Regional
Co-ordinating Council in Goaso, marking a major stride in the region’s
efforts to establish transparent, inclusive and efficient land
governance systems.
The event, chaired by the Ahafo Regional Minister, Hon. (Mrs.) Charity
Gardiner, brought together high-level stakeholders including the
Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and MP for Bole
Bamboi, Hon. Alhaji Yussif Sulemana, officials from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Executive Secretary of the Lands Commissionand representatives of the Lands Commission, Municipal and District Assemblies, traditional leaders and member of the Media.
The Regional Lands Commission which is a creation of law (Article 258
of the 1992 Constitution and the Lands Commission Act, 2008 (Act
767)) is composed of a Chairman, a representative each of the Municipal/District Assemblies in the region, representatives of the
Regional House of Chiefs, the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority,
the Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishers, the Ghana Bar
Association, the Ghana Institution of Surveyors and the Regional Lands
Officer.
Delivering the keynote address, Hon. Yussif Sulemana underscored the
central role of effective land administration in achieving Ghana’s
broader development agenda. He posited that Land governance
must be re-set to serve the country better, thus anchoring land reform
as a critical pillar for inclusive and sustainable growth.
The Deputy Minister reminded members of the constitutional and legal
mandates of the Lands Commission, referencing Article 258 of the
1992 Constitution and the Lands Commission Act, 2008 (Act 767),
which integrates the work of the Commission’s four key divisions,
including the Public and Vested Lands Management, Land Registration, Survey and Mapping, and Land Valuation.
He called on the newly inaugurated Ahafo Regional Lands Commission to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and
integrity, particularly as the region plays an increasingly sensitive role in national development effort. The Hon. Deputy Minister noted that secure land rights and transparent transactions were essential for boosting investment in agriculture, housing, tourism and industrial development.
The Deputy Minister also reaffirmed government’s commitment to
digitalizing land records under the Enterprise Land Information System
(ELIS), aimed at eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks and reducing
corruption. He urged the Ahafo Regional Lands Commission to
collaborate closely with the Lands Commission Secretariat to ensure
its successful implementation in the region.
Another key highlight of the address was the emphasis on customary
land governance. Hon. Sulemana stressed that 80% of Ghana’s lands
are under customary tenure and called for the operationalization of
Customary Land Secretariats as outlined in the Land Act, 2020 (Act
1036). These structures, he said, will improve land documentation,
reduce disputes, and protect the rights of all land users, especially
vulnerable groups.
In addition, the Deputy Minister issued a stern warning against land
encroachment, land guards and multiple sales of land, noting that the
Ministry will work with security agencies and the judiciary to enforce
laws and maintain order in the sector. In closing, Hon. Sulemana
formally declared the Commission duly inaugurated, charging the members to make their tenure one of service, innovation and impact.
Hon. (Mrs.) Charity Gardiner, in her welcome address, described the
inauguration as a “significant step” in building a sustainable land
administration system in Ahafo. She congratulated the appointed
Commission members and urged them to approach their duties with
diligence, expertise and integrity.
she remarked that as a young region with immense promise, it the
moment for Ahafo to chart a new course marked by order, equity and
liberal access to land. She also commended the collaborative efforts
of local government officials, traditional authorities and stakeholders who made the event possible.
L
Responding to the onerous charge that had been conferred on the
Commission, the Chairman, Mr. Opoku Atuahene assured the Ministry
and the Regional Co-ordinating Council of the readiness by the
members to devote their skills, expertise and knowledge to the service of the Region. He also thanked the various institutions for the
confidence reposed in them by nominating them to serve on the
Commission. He pledged, on behalf of the members, to work diligently
to justify the trust.
