Ghana Hosts IGAD Delegation on Land Governance Exchange
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Honourable Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP) has welcomed a 21-member delegation from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to Ghana, highlighting the country’s ongoing reforms to strengthen land governance and attract investment.
Welcoming the team in Accra, the Minister stressed that while Ghana has made significant progress, challenges remain and these are being aggressively addressed with Ghana’s new Land Act.
“Land is a very divisive matter everywhere. Even though we have made progress, we are still not completely out of the woods. That is why we have passed a new Land Act, embarked on digitising land records, and are decentralising services to district levels to reduce bureaucracy, delays, and corruption.”
He added that transparent and efficient land administration is critical for economic growth.
“When an investor is certain that land issues are transparent and secure, it encourages them to establish themselves for growth. That is why we are determined to simplify processes and improve transparency,” Hon. Buah noted.
The delegation led by Madam Joselyn Bigirwa, Head of the IGAD Mission Office in Uganda, explained that the visit was designed to share experiences and learn from Ghana’s approach to land administration.
“We were informed by the African Union and the African Development Bank that Ghana’s Land Commission is the best on the continent to learn from. We hope to take best practices and lessons back to our countries while also sharing our experiences, “she stated.
The team included representatives from Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda, as well as officials from the IGAD Secretariat.
The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Minister, the Chief Director, Directors from the Ministry, and representatives from the Lands Commission.
The visit formed part of IGAD’s wider efforts to address land-related conflicts in the region by supporting effective land governance systems. Both parties expressed optimism that the exchange would foster sustainable land management and inclusive growth.
