In a major step towards revolutionising land administration in Ghana, the Lands Commission has announced that it requires a total of $165 million to develop a comprehensive digital map of the country. This ambitious plan is expected to fast-track the creation of an integrated land information system and database, a move that would dramatically improve the issuance of credible land titles across the nation.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, disclosed this during his first official visit to the Lands Commission. Addressing the staff and leadership, he expressed strong determination to drive the project forward, emphasising the importance of using technology to reform Ghana’s land sector. According to him, the new system would put an end to the chaotic situation where multiple government agencies create different maps based on their own needs, leading to inconsistency and inefficiency.
Although the required funding is quite substantial, Mr Buah stated that the ministry was exploring multiple sources to secure the necessary resources. He described the initiative as a crucial foundation for resetting not just the Commission, but the entire country. He explained that digitising land administration is no longer a luxury but a necessity, and the government is committed to making it happen.
He stressed that the Commission must modernise its service delivery by fully adopting digital technologies. It is alarming, he said, that nearly 90 percent of operations within the Commission are still done manually in a world being shaped by innovation and digital systems. Mr Buah urged staff to embrace values like integrity, commitment, and transparency in their duties. He added that land administration must be made easier, faster, and more transparent for all Ghanaians.
He acknowledged the Commission’s reputation among the public as one of the more corrupt institutions and called on workers to help change that narrative. He also assured them that improving staff remuneration would be a top priority under his leadership. In his view, better pay and improved working conditions would motivate the workforce to deliver more efficiently and ethically.
Benjamin Arthur, the Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, echoed the Minister’s commitment and said the institution was ready to work with the ministry to implement transformative policies. He reminded stakeholders that the Commission had previously attempted a similar partnership in 2023 with a local investor, PBD Ltd., for an $85 million land digitisation project. Unfortunately, that project did not materialise.
Experts, including the Ghana Institution of Surveyors, have long warned that the absence of a national digital map affects effective land governance. With rising disputes and delays in acquiring land titles, the pressure has mounted on the government to act swiftly.
With this renewed energy from the top leadership, expectations are high. A successful rollout of the national digital map will not only modernise Ghana’s land records but also provide a foundation for other sectors like agriculture, real estate, and urban planning. The time for Ghana to enter the digital age of land administration may finally be here—if the funding comes through.
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