STU Lecturer outdoors book on Ghana’s land tenure systems

Surveyor Engineer Dr. Samuel Boamah Asiedu, a Senior Lecturer at the Civil Engineering Department of Sunyani Technical University (STU) has added to the knowledge base of society with the launch of his book titled: “Securing Land Rights: Technological Innovations in Cadastral Systems.”

Dr. Boamah’s book provides an in-depth analysis of land acquisition, administration, and governance, with particular focus on Ghana’s land tenure systems. The work explores both international and local perspectives, aiming to improve understanding of land management challenges and propose effective solutions.

Some of the key areas discussed in the book are Land Acquisition in Selected Countries, Cadastral Foundations in Modern Land Administration, Customary Land Tenure System in Ghana, Causes of Land Disputes in Ghana, Integrating Biometric Verification in Land Transactions.

Personal experiences

Speaking at the launch, the author said he was encouraged to publish the book based on his personal experience and observations about the lack of documentation to land titles and the array of other avoidable bottlenecks associated with land acquisition in Ghana.

“As a surveyor and researcher in Ghana, I witnessed first-hand how uncertainties in land ownership created barriers to investment, fueled conflicts, and undermined economic development. I also observed how technological innovation, when thoughtfully applied, could bridge traditional and modern governance systems to strengthen tenure security for all”, he explained.

According to him, statistics reveal that in Ghana, as in many developing nations, up to 80% of land remains outside formal registration systems, adding that land transfers occur through complex customary processes with limited documentation, creating environments where multiple allocations, fraudulent deals, and chaotic records flourish.

He said the human costs are immense as families are displaced, investments lost, development stalled by paperwork that cannot reliably establish who owns what.

“Through rigorous research and practical experimentation, it demonstrates how emerging technologies, particularly biometric verification systems and mobile communication platforms—can revolutionize land administration. The solutions presented here do not seek to replace traditional tenure systems but rather to strengthen them, creating bridges between customary practices and modern governance requirements”, he told the gathering during the launch, which took place at the STU library.

Motivation

Surveyor Engineer Boamah Asiedu says this book was inspired by deep personal and professional encounters in the field, especially moments like one I experienced in a rural community outside Kumasi where he met an elderly farmer, Kwame Nyamekye, who proudly showed him (the author) his cocoa farmland, which his family had cultivated for generations.

He recounts that despite the farmer’s deep-rooted connection to the land; he had no formal documentation confirming ownership. His entire claim relied on local knowledge and community recognition, which are increasingly under threat from urbanization, population growth, and changing economic dynamics.

“As a surveyor and researcher, I have repeatedly witnessed how the lack of formal land documentation fuels disputes, undermines investment, and hinders development. I also observed that traditional land governance systems rich in culture and social capital are struggling to keep pace with modern economic and legal pressures. This motivated me to explore and share how technological innovation, particularly biometric verification and mobile platforms, could help bridge this gap. I felt compelled to contribute to a solution by documenting both the challenges and the promising pathways for reform in land administration in Ghana.”

It is Surveyor Engineer Boamah Asiedu wish that policymakers recognize that insecure land tenure is both a technical and socio-cultural challenge. Therefore, any intervention must be holistic and inclusive.

Recommendations

Based on the insights from this book, he is recommending the strengthening of customary land institutions.

He believes that instead of sidelining traditional authorities, the government should empower customary land secretariats with tools, training, and technology to improve record-keeping and transparency.

On digitizing and decentralizing land administration, the STU lecturer called for the development of mobile-friendly, interoperable land registration platforms that allow real-time verification, simplify processes, and reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks—especially in rural and peri-urban areas.

At the launch to lend their support were the several lecturers, administrative staff and students of STU as well as the Bono Regional Surveyor, Alhassan Nantogmah and Nana Afia Pomaa Kyekyeku, the Adontenhemaa of Fiapre.

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