Lands Commission boss inducted into West Africa Nobles Forum

Dr. Wilfred Kwabena Anim-Odame, Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, has been honoured and inducted into the West Africa Nobles Forum - a group of eminent West Africans.

At the 22^nd West Africa Nobles Congress and Awards held in Accra, Dr. Anim-Odame was honoured alongside other prominent West Africans for their hardwork, commitment, and dedication to uphold the virtues of Honesty, Integrity and Accountability.

Under the chairmanship of Rev. Dr. Kofi Fynn, Chancellor of Wisconsin International University College, the ceremony had Noble Robert KowBentil, Managing Director of The Royal Bank, as the keynote speaker.

Receiving his award, Dr. Anim-Odame said he felt very humbled but motivated to do more. “This is an indication that whatever you do as an individual; society is watching. The award is a symbolic manifestation of my commitment to hard work, honesty and integrity. I am indeed, encouraged and motivated, and the award will inspire me to deliver better quality of services to the good people of Ghana, and the African Sub-region at large,” he said.

As the head of the Lands Commission since May 2012, Dr. Anim-Odame believes he still has the energy, wisdom and knowledge -and the right calibre of people around him -to do better and better.

“My dream is to have a very efficient and effective land administration in Ghana, and make Ghana the flagship in land administration for Africa. We are almost there because we are currently building the foundation and putting the structures in place, and with a good foundation it will be quiet easy to build on.”He thanked the West Africa Nobles Forum for identifying his honesty, integrity and commitment to accountability.

Dr. Anim-Odame started his career as a Valuer at the former Land Valuation Board in December 1993, after obtaining his BSc. (Hons) Land Economy Degree from the University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in 1990.

Over the past years, he has demonstrated sterling career development by rising through the ranks to become Director of the Land Valuation Division of the Lands Commission in 2010. At the Land Valuation Division, he developed the first-ever blueprint on Valuation Standards and Guidelines in Ghana and is also credited with automation of the Property Valuation Systems and establishment of an automated property database for the Division.

In 2005, Dr. Anim-Odame was awarded a fellowship to pursue a PhD in Finance (with a specialization in Real Estate Finance and Investment) at the prestigious Cass Business School, City University, London, after completing his Master’s Degree at the same university in 1998.

In March, 2014 he was honoured with an awardedfor the best student in Leadership Commitment to Excellence instituted by the Land Management & Development Students Association of the Land Economy Department of KNUST, Kumasi.

He has on two occasions won the Best Paper Award at the Annual Conference of the African Real Estate Society in October, 2010 and 2013.

In March 2008 he also won an award from The World Bank/IFC for four years outstanding research contributions to the Doing Business Project. In 2007 he obtained the first-prize award as the best PhD Research Student, Cass Business School, City University,London.

In June 1996 he won the award for outstanding performance from the Lund Centre for Habitat Studies/Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency to participate at the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (HABITAT II), Istanbul, Turkey.

Dr. Anim-Odame is research-oriented and has published a number of peer-reviewed research papers, as well as delivered presentations at international and local conferences. He is married to Evelyn and they have three children - Genevieve, Michelle and Wilfred (Jnr).

Professionally he is a member of the International Federation of Surveyors, American Real Estate Society and the African Real Estate society. He is also a Fellow of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors and a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Story by Ghana/Myjoyonline.com