Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has unveiled a comprehensive plan to tackle the persistent issue of land disputes in Ghana. Central to his proposal is the provision of free land registration for chiefs and the digitization of the land tenure system.
During a recent address to the clergy in the Greater Accra Region, Dr. Bawumia identified the high cost of registration fees as a significant barrier preventing chiefs from registering their lands, which often leads to ownership disputes. He emphasized the importance of modernizing the land tenure system, drawing inspiration from advanced countries where land ownership information is readily accessible online.
Dr. Bawumia explained, “In many advanced countries, you can easily find out who owns a piece of land using your mobile phone, without the need to visit the land registry. Our goal is to move towards marking and digitalizing our land. Numerous land disputes arise because there is uncertainty about land ownership.”
He further elaborated on his plan, stating, “Many people claim ownership, and one of the challenges we face is that a significant portion of stool lands remain unregistered. I discovered that many chiefs find it difficult to pay the registration fee due to its high cost. So, what am I going to do? We are going to provide free registration for all the chiefs.”
When asked about the controversial National Cathedral project, Dr. Bawumia called upon the church to take the lead in determining the way forward. He suggested exploring private-sector funding options to complete the project, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the church and the government.
“The National Cathedral is a very important project for Ghana, and I have personally contributed to it,” Dr. Bawumia stated. “However, given the current situation, I believe the church should come together with the government to discuss the best way forward. The church should unite and explore options, including the possibility of securing private resources to help complete the Cathedral.”
