Lands Ministry inaugurates Public Lands Protection Task Force
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has inaugurated a 20-member Public Lands Protection Task Force for the Greater Accra Region.
The inauguration, held in Accra yesterday, is to strengthen efforts to protect and preserve public lands in the region.
The task Force, chaired by a lawyer and surveyor, Raphael Hokey, is made up of representatives from the Lands Commission, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Armed Forces and the private sector, and is expected to safeguard public lands and support efforts to recover those that have been unlawfully occupied.
Protection of public lands national priority
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Buah described the protection of public lands as a national priority, stressing that public lands were strategic national assets meant to support development, infrastructure and public services.
The Lands and Natural Resources Minister stated that illegal occupation and encroachment of state lands had resulted in significant losses to the country.
"Public lands are not meant for individual exploitation or unlawful occupation.
They are national assets that must be preserved for the development of our country and for public use", the minister stated.
Mr Buah said the taskforce had been mandated to monitor, inspect and protect public lands across the Greater Accra Region, respond to reports of encroachment and support the enforcement of lawful directives on public land protection.
He urged members to work with professionalism, fairness and integrity.
Accountability, diligence
The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Yusif Sulemana, advised members to discharge their duties with accountability, transparency and integrity.
He cautioned against any conduct that could compromise the taskforce’s mandate and assured members of the ministry’s full support while stressing that their work would be closely monitored.
Speaking on behalf of the task force, Mark Enamevo Gudu, gave the assurance that members would remain committed to the assignment entrusted to them.
He pledged that the task Force would carry out its duties diligently, serve in the interest of the country and work to protect public lands.
Similar task Forces are expected to be inaugurated in the remaining regions of the country.
