The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Sulemana Yusif, has inaugurated the North East Regional Lands Commission Board in a decisive step toward decentralizing land governance.
This forms part of government’s commitment to strengthening land administration and improving service delivery at the regional level.
The ceremony took place on Tuesday, 13th May 2025, at the North East Regional Coordinating Council, where 12 board members were officially sworn in to serve on the Commission.
Deputy Minister Yusif expressed gratitude to the Chiefs and people of the North East Region for their support and collaboration in bringing land administration closer to the communities. He emphasized that decentralization is a cornerstone of the government’s land reform agenda.
“Inaugurating functional regional lands commissions across the country enables us to deliver land services more efficiently, reduce cost and travel burdens for citizens, and empower local stakeholders to actively participate in land governance,” the Deputy Minister said.
He noted that under the Lands Commission Act, 2008 (Act 767), the Commission is mandated to advise government entities, traditional leaders, and local authorities on land policies and ensure that development efforts align with district and regional plans.
The newly inaugurated board is a diverse group representing key stakeholder institutions, including:
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Lawyer Issah Kaponde – Chairman
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Yaw Danso Boateng – Secretary, Lands Commission
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Rashid Wemah – Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority
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Surv. Alex Sarfo – Ghana Institute of Surveyors
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Chief Abdulai Sibri – Farmers and Fishermen Association
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Mumuni Yahaya, Babont Yennu, Bukari Ibrahim, Saibu Akuwah Nanyuni, Yidana Baba, Iddrisu Moses Kofi-KA – Assembly Representatives
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Lawyer Sampson Bikilati Lambon – Ghana Bar Association
The North East Regional Minister, Hon. Ibrahim Tia, welcomed the development, expressing confidence that the diverse backgrounds of the board members would help address persistent land-related challenges such as boundary disputes, encroachments, compensation claims, insecure land tenure, and bureaucratic delays.
“This inauguration is a landmark in our journey to build a transparent, accountable, and efficient land administration system that supports sustainable regional development,” the Minister said.
The establishment of the North East Regional Lands Commission Board is expected to significantly improve land governance, foster investor confidence, and enhance socio-economic development across the region.