Kumasi: Private actors in Ghana’s land sector have undergone training in risk mapping assessment as part of the ongoing implementation of the Land and Corruption in Africa (LCA) Project by Transparency International Ghana. The training, held in Kumasi, aimed to strengthen the capacity of participants to identify potential corruption risks in land transactions, thereby reducing corrupt practices within the sector.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Michael Okai, Coordinator of the LCA Project, explained that risk mapping served as a diagnostic tool for identifying corruption vulnerabilities and developing home-grown solutions at the local level. “When we identify these issues, we can map out where to prioritise first and find solutions,” he said in an interview on the sidelines of the training. He added that the programme would equip participants to recognise corruption risks associated with land registration, allocation, acquisition, and dispute resolution processes.
Mr. Okai emphasized that involving private citizens in policy implementation fosters ownership and inclusivity, which are vital for effective land administration in Ghana. He further highlighted the objectives of the LCA Project, including empowering citizens through information sharing to enable them to make informed decisions. He noted that before the project’s launch in 2015, there was no comprehensive research addressing land corruption in Ghana.
“One key component of the project is research. We have produced publications that provide evidence of corruption in the land sector, empowering citizens to identify and help address the problem,” he stated. He also recounted the project’s contribution to the passage of the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036), through stakeholder consultations that allowed civil society organisations and the private sector to submit memoranda to Parliament.
Mr. Prince Akwasi Sasu, Deputy Regional Head of the Mapping and Survey Department at the Lands Commission, commended the initiative, noting that it aligned with the Commission’s mandate to educate the public on land laws. He acknowledged that financial and administrative challenges had limited the Commission’s ability to carry out extensive public education and welcomed such collaborations as valuable complements to its efforts.