Lands Commission Kicks Against 40% IGF Retention

The Lands Commission has kicked against the Ministry of Finance�s decision to retain 40% of its Internally Generated Funds (IGF). At an orientation seminar held in Takoradi recently, its staffs noted that if the decision was not immediately reversed, operations of the Lands Commission in the various regions would be undermined. The Western Regional Chairman of the Lands Commission, Mr. Benjamin Yaw Wireko, who was also a participant, noted that the proposition made by the majority of the participants who attended the seminar was genuine. According to him, all the regional chairmen of the Commission had already met and discussed the issue, and that they would soon make a representation to the Ministry on why the decision must be reviewed. Benjamin Yaw Wireko argued that the regional offices of the Commission already lacked logistics such as operational vehicles among others, and that the retention of the 40% IGF would rather exacerbate the already precarious situation. The Regional Lands Officer, Mr. Stephen Oduro-Kwarteng, presenting a paper on an overview of Lands Commissions structure, noted that the quarterly allocation from the Commission�s headquarters was woefully inadequate. According to him, the development was posing serious challenges such as weak financial resources, and irregular training of staff amongst others. The Regional Lands Officer further mentioned the inability of the Regional House of Chiefs and traditional councils to furnish the Commission with information on all the stools. Mr. Stephen Oduro-Kwarteng, however, noted that despite all these challenges facing them, his outfit was still working hard to ensure that there was an effective files tracking system and communication network amongst others. Oduro-Kwarteng revealed that the commission had adopted sanctions and discipline as its hallmark to restore public confidence in their work. For this reason, any officer found to have misconducted himself, would be dealt with. According to him, a staff in the regional office of the Lands Commission in Sekondi had been dismissed for misconduct. Mr. Kwarteng, who would not disclose the name of the said officer, said he (officer) failed to defend himself on indiscipline charges brought against him. The Lands Commission was established under the Lands Commission Act, 2008 (Act 767), in accordance with Article 258 of the Constitution. It has objectives to promote the judicious use of land, and ensure that land use is in accordance with sustainable management principles, and the maintenance of a sound eco-system.