The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has raised concerns over mounting land-related issues in the Western-North region, driven by increasing investment interest in its rich natural resources.
The Minister noted that while cocoa farming, timber, mining, and agriculture remain key economic drivers, land disputes and unauthorized development are threatening the region’s growth prospects.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Western-North Regional Commission Board, Hon. Buah emphasized that the Region’s abundance of natural resources has made it a prime destination for investors. However, the resulting land rush has sparked a surge in ownership conflicts, with multiple claims from stools, families, and individuals creating a web of disputes.
This, he said, has deterred many potential investors and stalled key development initiatives.
“Unauthorized land sales, boundary disputes, and the lack of coordinated land planning are undermining investor confidence and leading to haphazard community expansion,” he noted. “The situation is particularly dire in farming and mining zones where tensions are escalating.”
The Minister also sounded the alarm on illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, which continues to ravage arable lands and pollute vital water bodies, including the Tano and Bia rivers. He revealed that in many cases, farmers and landowners are pressured into surrendering their lands to illegal miners—a practice that jeopardizes food security and ecological stability.
Compounding the issue is the rise in activities of unlicensed surveyors and estate agents, as well as encroachments on public lands, sometimes carried out in collusion with traditional authorities.
To curb these practices, the Hon. Minister called for strict enforcement of the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036), which introduces severe penalties for unlawful land transactions. He tasked the Lands Commission with leading the charge to restore order and trust in the land sector.
Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah laid out key priorities for the Commission, including:
1. Reducing land registration turnaround time to 30 working days.
2. Decentralizing land services to make them accessible at the district level within two months.
3. Preventing the unlawful conversion of stool lands into family lands where it contradicts customary law.
4. Combating encroachment on public lands, including forests and water bodies.
5. Enforcing strict supervision and ethical standards among Lands Commission staff.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by the Commission, he stressed that the Board’s effectiveness will be judged by results. “Your mandate is crucial to the region’s development agenda. Land is the foundation upon which our economic revival and job creation efforts rest. The public and Government are counting on your dedication.”
Hon. Wilbert Petty Brentum, the Northern Regional Minister indicated that members have been carefully nominated or selected by their respective Assemblies and institutions due to their vast experience in land administration and are hopeful that they would demonstrate commitment, professionalism, fairness, and hard work in the discharge of the commission’s functions.
The Western North Regional Co- ordinating council will work in collaboration with Nanamo and the Regional Lands Commission to ensure smooth land administration in the region, he added.
Mr. George Kobina Richardson the chairman of the board expressed gratitude to the government for the opportunity and pledged the Board’s commitment to ensuring effective and transparent land administration in the region.
