National Land Policy to Undergo Comprehensive Review, Says Dr Akwensivie.

Accra: The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced plans to review and update Ghana's 25-year-old National Land Policy to enhance its responsiveness to current needs. Dr. Gad Asorwoe Akwensivie, a Land Expert, revealed that the revised policy under the next NDC government would aim for efficient and equitable distribution of land resources.According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Akwensivie emphasized that the revised policy would ensure affordable access to land for housing and other developmental initiatives, aligning with the Land Act 2020 (Act 1036). He noted that apart from upgrading the existing land policy to meet international standards, the NDC's proposed administration under John Mahama intends to improve customary land administration. This initiative is expected to reduce land conflicts and litigation, which have significantly burdened Ghana's court system.In a statement, Dr. Akwensivie highlighted that John Mahama, the NDC Presidential Candidate, is aware of the increasing litigation in Gh ana's law courts, which has slowed down the resolution of cases. Land-related conflicts have hindered both private and public development projects, complicating Ghana's efforts to attract foreign investments. This announcement follows complaints from land buyers about the issues plaguing the land market, including multiple sales, frequent litigation, and weak land administration.Dr. Akwensivie mentioned that in Mahama's next government, customary land authorities would be encouraged to survey and map their borders to produce boundary plans for registration. Mahama believes this approach would improve customary land management and administration, attracting investment and enhancing land tenure security.He further stated that Mahama proposes establishing a Presidential Commission to address persistent land problems. The commission would focus on resolving issues related to overlapping claims, conflicting court judgments, and the return of acquired lands to their original owners, along with compensation clai ms for stools, families, and clans.Citizens can expect enhanced service delivery from state land agencies, such as the Lands Commission and the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority. Starting in the Greater Accra Region, Mahama plans to introduce a Citizens Service Delivery Charter to streamline service timelines, aiming for a 30-day turnaround for Land Title Registration and a 20-day turnaround for mortgage registration.Dr. Akwensivie also noted that the current public land allocation regime would be reviewed to foster trust, confidence, and transparency while preventing administrative abuses by public officials. Issues surrounding large-scale land acquisition would be examined to protect the rights of women, youth, and vulnerable groups and to address inefficiencies in land resource allocation. These proposals are part of the Building-The-Ghana-We-Want-Together Policy, aimed at empowering and safeguarding vulnerable populations, including women and the youth.