A high-level delegation from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has completed a five-day study tour of Ghana’s Lands Commission, aimed at strengthening land governance and administration across member states.
The 20-member delegation, led by Ms. Jocelyn Birigwa of Uganda included representatives from Ethiopia, Djibouti, South Sudan, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda. The visit, held from September 29 to October 3, 2025, formed part of a regional knowledge exchange initiative designed to build the capacity of National Land Commissions in IGAD countries through dialogue, experience sharing, and cross-learning.
At a welcome meeting in Accra, the Chairman of the Lands Commission, Surv. Wordsworth Odame-Larbi commended IGAD for promoting regional cooperation on land governance and expressed Ghana’s readiness to share best practices. He was joined by the Acting Executive Secretary, Prof. Anthony Owusu-Ansah and his deputies, who pledged full support for the program.
The delegation later paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, who lauded IGAD’s choice of Ghana as a case study. The Minister highlighted key reforms such as the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036), the digitalization of land records, and the decentralization of land services, stressing government’s commitment to building a transparent and efficient land administration system.
As part of the study program, the delegation visited the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA), where Deputy CEO Dr. Chapman Owusu-Sekyere outlined the Authority’s mandate and challenges in spatial planning. At the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL), Dr. Gad Asorwoe Akwensme briefed the delegation on stool land revenue management and equitable disbursement. Technical sessions also covered Ghana’s land governance trajectory, including the Enterprise Land Information System (ELIS).
The visitors toured the Lands Commission’s Head Office and the Greater Accra Regional Office to observe digital land records management and client service operations. They also engaged with customary land secretariats at Gbawe and Ngleshie Amanfrom, interacted with civil society organizations such as COLANDEF, and met with professional associations including the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS), the Ghana Institution of Planners (GIP), and the Real Estate Agency Council (REAC).
Field visits took the team to government and private residential areas, informal settlements, the Accra Technical University, and the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly, where Ghana’s decentralization framework was highlighted.
The study tour concluded with a wrap-up session to reflect on lessons learned and discuss potential areas of collaboration. Key takeaways included the value of participatory approaches in land governance, integrating customary and statutory systems, digitizing land records, and promoting equity and inclusion.
The delegation praised Ghana’s land governance system as a model for the region, particularly the harmonization of formal and traditional institutions, the efficiency of the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands, and the effectiveness of the one-stop Client Service Unit. They also commended Ghana’s strong coordination between institutions and the role of traditional authority in land management.
Expressing appreciation to the Lands Commission, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, and partner institutions for their hospitality, the IGAD team reaffirmed their commitment to applying the lessons learned to enhance land governance in their respective countries.
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