The Head of the Regional Operations Unit at the Land Commission, Raphael Hokey, has called for greater representation of women on Traditional Land Committees to ensure their input on land matters.
Mr Hokey urged communities to collectively advocate for women’s involvement and to respect their contributions during decisions about community lands.
“The Queen mother also has a stake in community land. I know it is not easy, but we have to keep making noise about this advocacy until it is accepted into our system,” he said.
Mr. Hokey made his statement on Thursday during a National Expert Dialogue focused on Large-Scale Land-Based Investment (LSLBI) Guidelines in Ghana.
The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) organized the event in Accra, which gathered key stakeholders for a meaningful discussion aimed at creating effective and enforceable guidelines for LSLBIs in Ghana.
He pledged to advocate for stronger female representation at the Customary Land Secretariat at the Commission level.
Mr. Hokey emphasized that public education on land issues is an ongoing effort that requires everyone’s involvement.
He called on stakeholders to support the Commission’s sensitization programs.
In her welcoming address, Mary Awelana Addah, Executive Director of GII, highlighted that land is not only a crucial economic resource but also a foundation of heritage, identity, and livelihood for millions of Ghanaians.
She noted that the changing dynamics of global food demands and economic development have led to a new wave of large-scale land acquisitions.
Mrs. Addah pointed out that while these investments have the potential to improve food production and spur economic growth, they also bring a complex set of challenges, as documented by the International Land Coalition (ILC).
“As highlighted by the ILC, issues like corruption, unequal land access for women, and environmental sustainability concerns threaten to overshadow the potential benefits.”
“Furthermore, a lack of public awareness and stakeholder engagement can exacerbate these challenges, hindering the realization of transparent, equitable, and sustainable land investments.”
Mamaga Agumekosua V, the Paramount Queen Mother of Logba Traditional Area, lamented the stakeholders’ failure to implement policies and called for the strict enforcement of land acquisition laws.
“No one seems to take responsibility for the implementation of all existing laws. We always meet to make policies but struggle to implement them. If enforcement is done well, it would prevent land disputes and its associated corruption,” she said.
Mamaga Agumekosua V, who also serves as the Secretary to the Volta Region Queen Mothers Association, linked some land disputes to the exclusion of women from negotiations with land buyers.
“On many occasions, meetings with investors seeking to acquire a piece of land are done clandestinely without the involvement of the queen mother. At the end of the day, you’ll see someone come to your area to start a project without your knowledge.”
“This causes tension in the family because there are family members who support the Queen mother and want to ensure that no one is left behind in the negotiation process.”
She noted that at times, Traditional Authorities were misled about the true intentions of investors.
Miss Lois Aduamoah-Addo, Programme Manager of WILDAF Ghana, emphasized that land laws should be accessible and simplified for everyone to read and understand.
She advocated for deliberate efforts to enable women, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable groups to participate in discussions on land acquisition and its use.