ENHANCING LAND ADMINISTRATION IN GHANA
THROUGH THE DECENTRALIZED LOCAL
GOVERNMENT SYSTEM
David Forkuor (PhD)
Callistus Mahama (PhD)
Peter Ohene Kyei (PhD)
INTRODUCTION
Land has been a source of livelihood to man since
antiquity.
Rapid world urbanization has compelled
countries to develop strategies to judiciously use
lands.
 In Sub-Saharan Africa, an estimated 20
countries have, from the dawn of the 21st
century began land reforms (Willy, 2003).
 In Ghana, the LAP was established in 2003 with
the mandate of harmonizing the various
components of the land administration process.
HISTORY
Land administration in Ghana has evolved
through ambiguous processes (Kasanga,
2006).
Before colonization, occupants of stools and
skin administered lands (Busia, 1951).
With the onset of colonization, attempts were
made to streamline process of land
administration (Public Lands Ordinance ,
CAP 134; Land Bill of 1897).
HISTORY CONT’D
Institutions were established to help in land
administration (Survey Department, Lands
Department, Town and Country Planning
Department).
In the mid 1980s and early 1990s government
established 3 land institutions (Land Title
Registry, Land Valuation Board and Office of
the Administrator of Stool Lands).
Traditional authorities have been strong,
responsible and equitable (Kasanga, 2000)
Land Administration Structure in Ghana
Lands
Commission
Secretariat
Client Service
Public Relation
Gen. Mgt. and
Logistics
Land Information
Human Resource
Policy, Planning
and Research
Finance
Monitoring and
Evaluation
Internal Audit
Legal Affairs
Survey and
Mapping
Land Registry
Source: Authors Derivative from Act 767
Land Valuation
Public and
Vested Lands
CRITICISM OF THE STRUCTURE
1. Exclude:
a. spatial planning unit
b. monitoring of development
c. revenue mobilization
d. land owners
2. Takes the form of de-concentration at the
sub-national level
OBJECTIVE
Explore an alternative structure of land
administration that integrates all the
components of land administration into a
unified whole.
STUDY AREA
Source: Author’s construct, 2012
METHODS
Qualitative approach was used.
Technique for obtaining information was:
a. face-to-face interviews
Sources of information:
a. district coordinators
b. traditional councils
c. lands commission
d. district courts
DATA ANALYSIS
Data analyzed qualitatively using:
a. Thematic analysis approach
b. Comparative analysis approach
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
Operations of the Lands Commission at the
District Level
a. Apart from the Obuasi municipality, the LC
has no office at the districts in the Asante
region.
b. The regional office in Kumasi gives
concurrence to all land transactions in the
region.
c. The commission depends on quarterly
funds from HQ for its expenditure. (Zero
retention of IGF).
FINDINGS CONT’D
Bottlenecks in Allocation of Lands
a. Two out of the 4 land owners had no
formal land secretariat.
b. Allocation of stool lands are made by land
owners without involvement or
consultation with the District Assembly
(DA) ie. planning unit.
b. Unless a buyer decides to obtain
documentation on the land, the DA is
never in the known of a sale of land.
Problems of Land Administration
District Assembly (DA)
Land Owners
a. Towns do not have layout
plans.
b. Weak links with related
departments (chiefs, LC)
c. Careless spatial
development
d. Low commitment from DA
i. monitoring unit not
properly resourced.
ii. Statutory planning
committee not regular
a. No layout plans
b. DA don’t respect
transactions from them.
c. Hire surveyors at a huge
cost.
d. No clear demarcation
between two stools lands.
e. No proper record keeping
on lands.
f. Don’t hear and get to
participate in training
programmes by LC
CAUSE OF PROBLEM
District Assembly
a. Land owners have poor
understanding of the role
of DA in land matters.
a. Inadequate financial
resources.
Land Owners
a. Bureaucracy in processing
lands by the government.
b. Insufficient assistance to stool
lands by the LC.
c. Poor understanding of the
structure and procedure of
chiefs by the DA.
CONCLUSION
The new LC has not brought much changes to
the challenges of land administration as
evident from the problems identified.
New structure is not felt as the local level.
RECOMMENDATION
DISTRICT
ASSEMBLY
(DCE)
LAND OWNERS
LANDS DEP’T
(HEAD)
SMU
(HEAD)
•Surveying
•Mapping
•Interpreting
SPMU
(HEAD)
LTRU
(HEAD)
•Manage Public
Lands
•Prepare Layout
•Monitor
development
LVU
(HEAD)
CLRU
(HEAD)
•Advice to land
owners
•Land and
property rates
IMPLICATIONS
1. Ministry of Local Government and Rural
Development shall take oversight
responsibility for land matters
2. Collapsing the national lands commission,
Town and Country Planning Department and
the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands
BENEFITS
• Land ministry will have much time for forest,
mining and other natural resources.
• Interaction between land owners and
government land administrators shall be
improved.
• Land transactions shall be handled under a
unified authority within a geographic area.
• Make the districts more committed and
responsible for land management.
THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION