- Parliament's Government Assurances Committee criticizes Lands Commission.
- Committee seeks data on public lands to tackle fraudulent activities.
- Chairman Ablakwa accuses Lands Commission of withholding data.
- Minister Jinapor blames delay on manual operations and digitization efforts.
The Government Assurances Committee of Parliament has expressed strong criticism towards the Lands Commission for failing to provide essential data on public lands and their utilization over the years. The Committee emphasizes that this data is crucial in tackling fraudulent activities, including the registration of government lands as private lands.
Chairman of the Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, revealed that all attempts to obtain the necessary documents from the Lands Commission over the past two years have been unsuccessful. Ablakwa stressed the importance of having this data, stating that it would help prevent fraudulent activities and ensure transparency.
He expressed frustration, suggesting that certain elements within the Lands Commission are intentionally withholding the data from the Ghanaian people. Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, offered some justification for the delay in releasing the data.
Jinapor explained that the Lands Commission has historically operated manually, and only recently began efforts to digitize their records. According to Jinapor, compiling the list of public lands from the 16 regions, spanning from 1993 to present, is a significant undertaking that has yet to be completed.
Jinapor assured the Committee that work is in progress, but the data is not yet available for release. The Committee’s concerns highlight the need for transparency and accountability in the management of public lands, and the importance of addressing fraudulent activities in the sector.
