Land Administration project will create a one-stop shop - Justice Aboagye

The Land Administration Project (LAP) being implemented throughout the country is to create a one-stop shop where prospective developers and investors could process documents on land.

Under the project, all agencies such as Lands Title Registry, Lands Commission, Town and Country Planning Department, Lands Valuation Board and Survey Department would be under 'one roof'.

Mr Justice Isaac Aboagye, Chairman of the Lands Commission disclosed this during a courtesy call on Mr Ambrose Dery Upper West Regional Minister at his office at Wa.

Mr Justice Aboagye said members of the Commission had decided to leave Accra for the countryside to interact with their staff on the problems and had already visited Bolgatanga and Tamale.

He noted that unlike the southern part of the country, there were no serious land problems in the northern part, but pointed out that in Tamale, the chiefs were asking for the return of the land at the old Kaladan barracks.

On the demands by many chiefs for the return of lands acquired by Government from traditional authorities, Justice Aboagye said there was no evidence that Government had encroached on any land.

He said all lands acquired by Government in the past and present were given freely by the chiefs as a way of attracting development to their areas.

Mr Dery cautioned traditional authorities to be circumspect in their demand for the return of lands they offered to Government willingly since such lands could still be used for other purposes in the public's interest.