Lands Commission Partners with NIA to Eliminate ‘Middlemen’ in Land Registration using Ghana Card

Accra, Ghana – The Lands Commission is taking proactive measures to eradicate undesirable intermediaries in the land registration process by collaborating with the National Identification Authority (NIA). The Commission aims to leverage the GhanaCard for the verification of grantors and grantees, ensuring direct communication with the individuals involved rather than through intermediaries.

Mr. Benjamin Arthur, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, disclosed this initiative during the Executive Secretary’s Annual Briefing and the launch of the Staff Awards Scheme in Accra on Friday. He emphasized that this collaboration with the NIA would enable the Commission to communicate directly with grantors and grantees, eliminating the need for intermediaries or agents in the registration process.

The potential adoption of a “No GhanaCard, No Registration” policy was also hinted at by Mr. Arthur, signaling a potential requirement for the GhanaCard in future land registrations. This move aligns with ongoing efforts to enhance the land registration process and improve overall efficiency.

Mr. Arthur highlighted the progress made in the plan approval process, introducing additional features that allow for the early publication of title applications upon receipt. The Commission aims to keep applicants informed of the progress through direct text messages and prompts.

The event also marked the unveiling of the Commission’s five-year Business Strategic Plan for the period 2023 to 2027. The plan outlines major goals, including financial sustainability, digital reforms, corporate image enhancement, and staff competence and discipline improvement to elevate service delivery standards.

Emphasizing the importance of the Commission’s corporate image, Mr. Arthur stressed that the redemption drive must be accompanied by improvements in service delivery. He called for teamwork among staff and management to achieve the outlined goals.

Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Benito Owusu-Bio, expressed confidence in the Commission’s leadership and endorsed its direction. He outlined the Ministry’s plans for the year, which include the digital transformation of land administration activities, the completion of the new Lands Commission’s head office, and efforts to enhance the Commission’s corporate image. Mr. Owusu-Bio believed that Ghanaians would soon recognize the credibility and efficiency of the Lands Commission.