The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor has on Monday, 6th May, 2024, received the report and recommendations of a five-member Committee he set up to review a preliminary report on the de-vesting of vested lands presented by the Lands Commission in 2022.
Receiving the report, the Honorable Minister commended the Committee for their exemplary work, acknowledging the profound significance of vested lands to traditional rulers and family heads across the nation. He underscored the long-standing nature of the issues surrounding these lands and expressed satisfaction that the report would serve as a crucial tool in resolving them.
He said the submission of this report tells that a pivotal milestone has been reached, signaling progress towards resolving complex issues surrounding vested lands in the country.
Hon. Jinapor pledged to thoroughly study the reports presented and make recommendations to the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo which he was confident will guide Government in dealing with the issue of vested lands. “This will mean that in a not too distant future, the long-standing issue of vested lands will be dealt with once and for all” He added.
He assured the public on behalf of the President, particularly the Chiefs, title holders and owners of various lands of the country that at long last the Akufo-Addo Government is going to resolve the issue of vested lands for the people of Ghana.
On his part, the Chairman of the Committee, a lawyer and Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North Constituency, and a former Deputy Minister for Railways Development, Hon. Andy Kwame Appiah Kubi expressing gratitude for the trust placed in them, conveyed optimism regarding the impact their report would have on governmental decision-making regarding vested lands. He emphasized the importance of their findings in guiding the government towards equitable and just resolutions in this critical area and in the future as and when needed.
He hoped that the submission of this report marks a significant chapter in the ongoing efforts to manage and govern lands in Ghana, setting the stage for informed decision-making and equitable outcomes in land-related matters.
The Committee is chaired by Hon. Andy Kwame Appiah Kubi, a lawyer and Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North Constituency, and a former Deputy Minister for Railway Development. The other members are, Kumbun-Naa Alhaji Naa Abu Iddrisu II, a surveyor and fellow of the Ghana Institute of Surveyors, representing the National House of Chiefs, Dr. Wordsworth Odame-Larbi, a Land Policy and Land Administration Consultant, representing the Ghana Institute of Surveyors, Mr. Dennis Adjei-Dwomoh Esq the Managing Partner of Law Plus, representing the Ghana Bar Association, and Mr. Maxwell Adu-Nsafoa, the Technical Director for Lands at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and Deputy Executive Secretary in Charge of Operations at the Lands Commission.
