The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Yusif Sulemana, has inaugurated a 14-member Savannah Regional Lands Commission Committee, chaired by Kulukuwura Alhaji Sachibu Harruna. The ceremony took place on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at the Conference Hall of the Savannah Regional Coordinating Council in Damongo.
The committee’s membership is prescribed by the 1992 Constitution and comprises representatives from selected professional groups, farmers, and fishermen associations, the Ghana Bar Association, traditional leaders, and local authorities from all seven districts in the region.
During his inaugural speech, Deputy Minister Sulemana emphasized the critical role lands play in human setups and the importance of proper management. He noted that land is a catalyst for socio-economic development and that the government has identified its proper management as a priority.
“The Savannah region, being the largest in Ghana in terms of land size, has a great opportunity to leverage its natural resources to accelerate socio-economic development, create jobs for the youth, and curb the menace of high opioid intake in the region,” he said.
Sulemana added that the Regional Commission, mandated by Article 260(1) of the 1992 Constitution, has a significant role in managing and utilizing land in the region. He charged the board to engage traditional rulers in the effective discharge of their duties, acknowledging the importance of farmers and chiefs in land administration and management.
The Deputy Minister concluded by expressing hope that the Regional Lands Commission would lead education on the Land Act in the region, ensuring that deeds are registered as mandated.
In response, Board Chairman Kulukuwura Alhaji Sachibu Harruna expressed gratitude for the early inauguration and promised to deliver as expected. He committed to overseeing the administration and management of land in the Savannah region in accordance with the Land Act of Ghana, 2020 (Act 1036).
Harruna outlined his priorities, including: Efficient and transparent land allocation and utilization, Alternative dispute resolution, Promoting registration of land ownership and interest, Land use planning to eliminate arbitrary development and urban slums and Enhancing collaboration among traditional leaders, government agencies, civil societies, and the private sector.
He concluded, “I commit to working tirelessly to address the challenges of land management and ensure that our systems are efficient, effective, and responsive to the needs of all stakeholders.”
The ceremony was chaired by the Savannah Regional Minister, Hon. Salisu Issifu Be-Awuribe, Esq.
This inauguration marks a significant step towards effective land management and administration in the Savannah region, with the potential to drive socio-economic development and improve the lives of its people.
