Savannah Regional Lands Commission Committee sworn Into Office

The Savannah regional lands commission committee has been duly sworn into office in the quest to properly manage the lands under the newly created region.

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Honourable Samuel Abu Jinapor in an inaugural speech called on the chiefs and people of the region to assist the members of the Savannah Regional Lands Commission committee in order to achieve its purpose of importance in the management of a wide area of land in the region.

The committee will ensure a swift resolution pertaining to land issues to avert land conflicts in Gonjaland.

Hon Abu Jinapor who doubles as the Member of Parliament, MP for Damongo as sector Minister Inaugurated the committee at the conference Hall of Regional Coordinating Council in Damongo on Monday, July 26, 2021.

"Land as we all know is a very important natural resource. It is the catalyst for socio-economic development in every nation. But if not well managed, it can lead to conflicts and disasters. It is for this reason that the constitution established the Lands Commission and the Regional Lands Commissions to see to the efficient management and utilization of land in our country,” The MP said.

Honourable Abu Jinapor indicated that the Savannah region is blessed with a large tract of this natural resource, making it the largest of the 16 regions in Ghana in terms of land size. 

“We have a great opportunity to leverage this resource to accelerate socio-economic development in the region. How we do this, however, depends largely on the Regional Lands Commission, who are mandated by article 260(1) of our national constitution, to perform the functions of the Lands Commission in this region,” he said.

Abu Jinapor said the membership of the Regional Lands Commission has been carefully circumscribed by the framers of our Constitution.

Aside from the Chairperson who has been appointed by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, the other members are drawn from professional groups, traditional leaders and local authorities. 

Moreover, the representatives of these groups are nominated by the groups themselves informing the committee.

The former Deputy Chief of Staff urged the committee to bring their expertise on board to manage the administration in the Savannah region better. “As you assume office, I will urge you, to bring onboard your expertise and experiences, to make the administration of land in this region better Thankfully, I have appointed an experienced academic, Dr Alhaji Adams Sulemana Achanso, to chair the Savannah regional Lands Commission and it is my fervent hope that he will provide the needed leadership to steer the affairs of the commission”, he added.

He also revealed that the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036) has paved way for the effective implementation of land administration and management in the country.

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Lands Commission have commenced an awareness creation and sensitization of this new law to ensure that all stakeholders understand and appreciate the requirements of the law.

Abu Jinapor disclosed that the Northern Regional Lands Commission records show that prior to the creation of the Savannah region, very few people from the Savannah region registered their deeds with the Commission and said “It is my hope that the Regional Lands Commission will lead the education on the land Act in this region, to ensure, among others, that deeds are registered as mandated by the law”.

The world is championed by technology and so the Lands Commission cannot move in the opposite direction.

The Damongo MP said, “we are in the process of undertaking a major digitization programme to digitize the records of the Commission, and prompt and timely registration will be critical to the effective implementation of this program and prevent fraudulent dealings inland”.

He called for the support of the traditional leaders and all stakeholders to help the Commission works better.

The proper administration of land in the region will not lie only with the foresight of the members of the commission, it will require the collaboration of the chiefs and people who are the owners of the land, and hopeful that Yagbonwura Tutumba Bore Esa I and all Gonjaland chiefs will give the needed support.

He commended the traditional leaders for their bold decision to ban outrightly, all forms of tree harvesting.

The Lands and Natural Resources minister appealed to the committee not to renege on their duty to protect and manage the public lands on behalf of the government. As a young region, the government will require land for critical infrastructure, necessary for the proper functioning of the region. 

He, therefore, charged the members to put in their utmost best, to manage the lands in a manner that serves the best interest of the community to assuage the pain of the custodians of such lands.

The Savannah Regional Lands Commission Committee has a 14 membership that will steer affairs of the commission in the next 4 years.
Below is the full membership of the committee.

The committee has Alhaji Dr Adams Sulemana Achanso as chairman, a senior lecturer at the University for Development Studies.

Mr Noel Tuotir, the Regional Lands Director, is a member.

Mr Takora Saaka from the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority, (LUSPA), a member.

Mr Mbonwura Jimah Awudu from the Association of Farmers and Fishermen, a member.

Mr Salia Abdul Kudus (Esq) from Ghana Bar Association, a member.

Mr Charles Okyere Kwapong from Ghana Institute of Surveyors, a member.

Chief Kakpandewura  Mumuni Shaibu Kanyiti II from Regional House of Chiefs, a member.

Mr Saaka Dinonah from the Bole district

Mr Asawu Wone Williams from Central Gonja district, a member.

Chief Mabunwura Yakubu Jacob from East Gonja Municipality, a member

Gabasowura Daniel Amadu Iddrisu from North Gonja district, a member.

Mr Sulemana Asimiru from North East Gonja district, a member.

Wakawakawura Akati Joseph Mumuni from West Gonja Municipality, a member.

Sawlawura Iddrisu Nugbaso from the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba district, a member.

The committee members took the oath of office as they were sworn into office by a supervisory High Court judge, Justice Richard Mark.

The Chairperson of the committee, Alhaji Dr Adams Sulemana Achanso assured that the committee will work closely with chiefs and other stakeholders to get the education down to the people for them to start registering their deeds as stipulated by the Land Act, 2020 ( Act 1036).

He said the Savannah regional office will also assist in the major digitization programme to digitize the records of the Commission.
The inauguration was attended by the Savannah regional Minister, traditional leaders, heads of departments, judicial service, security agencies amongst many.

 Abdul Sammed Gurundari