Gov’t Fast Tracks Process To Return Vested Lands

Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor Esq., has given an assurance that Government is committed to permanently resolving the sensitively complex challenge of vested lands  and  has therefore fast tracked the recommended processes through which a majority of vested lands should be given back to the pre-acquisition owners.

The Minister made the remarks based on the recommendations of the five-member De-vesting of Lands Review Committee which was set up in February 2022  to review the work done by the De-vesting of Public Lands Committee set up in 2021 in accordance with Section 270 of Act 1036, to make recommendations for the de-vesting of vested lands.

The Committee, on Monday submitted its comprehensive reports to the Lands Minister, Samuel Jinapor and among other things was categorical that there was the urgent need to return a majority of vested lands to the pre-acquisition owners.

It said in areas where the circumstances of acquisition was complex, there is the need to set up another committee to work with the land owners, the Lands Commission and the land users to jointly manage the situation

“I have been reliably informed that this committee has done a thorough job because the members have literally visited all the existing regions of the country, engaged various relevant stakeholders, before coming up with this comprehensive report.

“I will also have to take a look at it and make recommendations to the President, which will mean that in the not-too-distant future, the long-standing issue of vested lands will be dealt with once and for all,”  Minister Jinapor noted.

The Minister cited Section 270 of the new Land Act 2020 (Act 1036), which required the government to take steps to de-vest vested lands.

Receiving the report, the 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.

Samuel Jinapor 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,  on behalf of the President, gave an assurance to Ghanaians  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, 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.

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.