International Land Systems (ILS), Inc. recently participated in the recording of two television programs designed to educate the Ghanaian public on land administration and procedures for formalizing land rights. The programs also sought to make citizens aware of interventions in the land sector undertaken by the Millennium Development Authority (MIDA) which is funded by the United States Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). The broadcasts are currently airing nationwide via Ghana Television (GTV), on the popular television talk show Mmaa Nkomo.
ILS and its partner, COLANDEF (Community Land and Development Foundation) hosted the forum in Bawjiase, in the district of Awutu Senya, drawing more than 500 attendees. The forum served as the closing event in the district under the MiDA Public Education and Information Dissemination project. Panelists in the program included the Regional Lands Officer of the Central Region, Mr. Aboagye Kyei; Dr. Isaac Bonsu Karikari, Director of the MiDA Land Team and Mrs. Nana Ama Yirrah, the Executive Director of COLANDEF.
Also in attendance were many key decision makers in both Statutory and Customary Land Administration including Chiefs, Queen Mothers, Officers of the District Assembly, and religious leaders.
Regarding the importance of the broadcast for the Ghanaian people, ILS Project Manager Frank Pichel said, “From this program more than a million potential television viewers will learn about some of the benefits to securing their property rights, as well as the steps to do so. This broadcast will be of great assistance in disseminating information in the MiDA targeted districts as well as nationwide in an effort to help improve overall understanding of land rights.”
The project works to enhance the public’s awareness and knowledge of land rights, land laws and land title registration. In addition, the project seeks to provide a forum for discussion and dissemination of all findings from the MiDA’s land activities. An important part of the assignment’s Information Dissemination component is to outline key policy issues that rise out of stakeholder engagements and then feed them into policy discussions at the national level.
ILS and COLANDEF have recently concluded their work in Awutu Senya, and will be conducting workshops and seminars in Savelugu Nanton, Dangme East and Akuapim South in the coming months.
