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An independent research and advocacy organization, Good Governance Africa [GGA] has advised some chiefs in the Ashanti Region to engage professionals in land administration in the metropolis for security reasons.

According to GGA-West Africa, security of property rights, protected by the rule of law, provides the foundation for both economic freedom and the efficient operations of markets.

The organization noted that - most individuals and corporations have fallen victims to the weak laws and institutions which are mandated to protect them and their properties.

GGA over the week organised a workshop in Kumasi dubbed – “The rights of a property owner, challenges of owning a piece of land in Kumasi.”

The workshop sought to outline the various laws that govern land administration; identify the challenges in enforcing the laws governing land administration; sensitize land owners and make recommendations to the mandated land administration institutions.

The Chief Executive Officer of GGA-West Africa, Tina Asante-Apeatu, said during the workshop that -“There is the perception that from tradition the chiefs know nitty-gritty of acquiring land, registration and all those things involved; but from the programme, we’ve realized that some of the complains the citizens have, the chiefs themselves don’t know. They so some of the things they do out of pure ignorance of the law.”

Land Economist with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof. Seth Opuni Asiama speaking at the workshop said Ghana can emulate from other countries who are using professionals in land related issues.

He named Rwanda as an African country that have succeeded in registering every piece of land “so even if it’s a customary landholding, they’ve registered it” which gives the owner the confidence to deal in his lands.

“We should be more proactive in ensuring that we improve the security of title for our people because a lot of the problem we’re seeing in Kumasi today is because there are no professionals involved, who will be able to advise them on what to do with their lands,” he stated. “There is no reason why in this day and age there should be multiple sale of land simply because the chief does not have records; no it shouldn’t happen,” he added.