Cut Land Registration Time to 30 Days – Armah Kofi-Buah
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has inaugurated the newly reconstituted Western Regional Lands Commission Board with a firm directive to drastically reduce land registration timelines and decentralize the process to enhance accessibility and promote efficient land administration in the region.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony held in Sekondi on Monday, May 12, 2025, the Minister charged the board to prioritize the reduction of land title registration duration to just 30 days — a bold departure from the often-lengthy and bureaucratic process that has historically plagued the country’s land management system.
Hon. Buah emphasized that the directive aligns with the government’s broader vision to digitize land services, promote transparency in land transactions, and stimulate investor confidence in the real estate and agricultural sectors.
“Our citizens deserve a fast, transparent, and reliable land registration system. I am tasking this board to ensure that within the next year, registration timelines are cut to a maximum of 30 days,” the Minister declared.
He also called on the commission to take immediate steps to decentralize its operations by setting up satellite offices across the region, particularly in growing urban and peri-urban communities, where land-related disputes and development pressure are most acute.
“The era where people have to travel long distances and face unnecessary delays in registering their land must end,” Mr. Buah added. “A decentralized system ensures accessibility, encourages documentation, and ultimately strengthens land tenure security.”
He further highlighted the importance of collaboration between the Lands Commission, traditional authorities, and district assemblies to curb multiple land sales and ensure that land transactions are conducted within a lawful and traceable framework.
The newly sworn-in board, chaired by Ing. Patrick Asmah, includes representatives from the Ghana Bar Association, Ghana Institution of Surveyors, the Stool Lands Administration, and other relevant stakeholders.
In his remarks, Ing. Asmah pledged the board’s full commitment to the minister’s vision, noting that the commission will work assiduously to introduce innovative systems and stakeholder engagement platforms to address long-standing challenges.
“We understand the urgency of this mandate and are determined to ensure that the Western Region becomes a model of efficient land administration in Ghana,” the chairman said.
Land documentation and ownership security remain pressing issues in Ghana, with overlapping claims and protracted registration timelines often contributing to disputes and stifled development. The new reforms, once implemented, are expected to streamline land administration and boost both investor and public confidence in the sector. The inauguration of the board forms part of a nationwide effort by the Lands Ministry to improve service delivery across all regional land commissions.
