An eight-member advisory board for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has been inaugurated with a call on the members to help the ministry overcome the numerous challenges facing the lands, forest and mining sub-sectors in its jurisdiction.
Inaugurating the board, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr John-Peter Amewu, said as a ministry which operated through three sub-sectors, namely lands, forest and mining, it faced a number of challenges.
Paramount among the challenges, the minister said, were illegal mining activities, popularly known as ‘galamsey’, over–reliance on few natural minerals resources and inequitable sharing of its benefits.
Others are multiple sale of lands, delay in land title and deeds registration, land guard menace, deforestation and forest degradation and illegal chainsaw operations.
“Even though a number of attempts have been made to address these problems, the situation still remains quite alarming,” he said.
He said the inauguration of the board was imperative as it complied with section 39 (1) of the Civil Service Law 1993, (PNDCL 327), which mandates every sector ministry to establish a ministerial advisory board.
Mandate
Outlining the mandate of the ministerial advisory board, Mr Amewu said they were to promote constant interaction between the ministry and the users of its services and to also advise the minister on adjustment in policy direction, planning objectives and operational strategies.
He expressed confidence in the board members and assured them of the ministry’s commitment to support them to deliver their mandate efficiently and diligently to achieve the government’s agenda.
“The challenges of the ministry are enormous, but I am confident that with the rich experiences of members, especially with representatives of the private sector, we can have significant improvement in the current situation in the sector,” he said.
The ministry, he said, was mandated to ensure the sustainable management and utilisation of the nation’s lands, forest and wildlife resources and efficient management of the mineral resources for socio-economic growth and development.
“In carrying out this mandate, the ministry aims at achieving revenue mobilisation, employment generation, poverty reduction, environmental sustainability and client–focused service delivery, while promoting a smooth and efficient land delivery system through partnership with traditional authorities,” he said.
Board members
The board comprised Mr Amewu as the Chairman, and his two deputies, Madam Benito Owusu Bio and Prof. Bruce Banoeng-Yakubo, who is also the Chief Director of the ministry.
The others included a representative each from three public and private sector organisations whose operations fall under the ministry. They are the Dean of the Institute of Development Studies of the University of Cape Coast, Prof. Patrick Agbesinyale; a Legal Practitioner of International Legal Consultancy Services, Ms Victoria Bright; the Chairman and Managing Director of Industrial and Engineering Services Limited, Nana Ehunabobrim Prah Agyensaim VI; and the Managing Director of McDan Group, Dr Daniel Mckorley.
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