According to section 20 of the Lands Commission Act (Act 767) the functions of the Survey and Mapping Division are as follows:
- Supervise, regulate and control the survey and demarcation of land for the purposes of land use and land registration;
- Take custody of and preserve records and operations relating to the survey of any parcel of land;
- Direct and supervise the conduct of trigonometric, hydrographic and topographical surveys;
- Coordinate the preparation of plans from the data derived from survey and any amendment of the plans;
- Coordinate the production of photogrammetric surveys (aerial photography, orthophoto mapping, etc
- Survey, map and maintain the national territorial boundaries including maritime boundaries;
- Develop and maintain the national geodetic reference network for the country;
- Supervise, regulate, control and certify the production of maps;
- Other functions determined by the Commission.
PROFILE OF NAA SEIDU ZAKARIA (ACTING DIRECTOR-SMD)
A highly experienced Geomatic Engineering professional with over 30 years of service in land administration, surveying, and mapping. He is currently the Acting Director of the Survey and Mapping Division, Lands Commission Head Office.
He holds a Professional Master’s Degree in Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation from ITC, The Netherlands, and is a Fellow of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (FGHIS). He has served as Regional Head of the Survey and Mapping Division in the Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Upper East, and Upper West Regions, and as Acting Regional Lands Officer in the Upper East Region.
His career highlights include expanding survey control networks across several regions, strengthening professional standards in surveying practice, building staff capacity in modern survey techniques, and improving revenue mobilisation. He is proficient in English, Dagbani, Hausa, and Twi, with strong skills in GIS, GNSS applications, and leadership.