Legal expert in land litigation and ownership, Mr. Kwame Gyan, has called on institutions entrusted with the responsibility to manage land-related issues, to step up their efforts in order to prevent the collapse of the land industry in Ghana. He spoke during Joy FM’s Super Morning Show in- studio discussion on land disputes on Thursday 22nd June 2023.
Mr. Gyan, who is also a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana School of Law (UGSoL), emphasised the need for the Lands Commission and other land acquisition stakeholders to play a more active role in addressing persistent land law issues, especially those associated with land guards and ownership.
“The whole system is collapsing because the entities that have the mandate to do right are not doing right. This has paved way for individuals to unlawfully take possession of lands belonging to others,” he said.
In light of the challenges with land acquisition in the country, Mr. Gyan cautioned the public to be vigilant when acquiring land to safeguard their property and investment.
“When you are going to acquire land, learn what has to be done, the ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’. There are things you shouldn’t do”. He shared two indicators of potential land issues that buyers should look out for. First, broken walls on a land and secondly, a good piece of land which appears to be undeveloped.
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As individuals looking to purchase land, we should be on the lookout and check records at the Lands Commission, check on the grounds and go to the assembly for the local plan of the area”. He advised that when a purchaser is uncertain about the authenticity and validity of a land sale, buyers should immediately register their disinterest to the landowner.
Also, he called on the Lands Commission to enhance their support to Ghanaians facing land acquisition challenges, to help address the escalating menace of land guards and the demolishing of constructed buildings for road construction.
Mr. Gyan believes that the decentralisation of the Lands Commission office will go a long way to reduce some land acquisition challenges as persons outside Accra and within all sixteen regions will not need to go through the stress of commuting all the way to the Head Office in Accra.