IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v13y2024i4p528-d1376658.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Navigating the Terrain of Digital Transition: Ghana’s Journey of Developing a Digital Land Information System

Author

Listed:
  • Rosemond Owusu Ansah

    (The Hague Pathway College, The University of Applied Sciences, 2521 EN Hague, The Netherlands)

  • Zaid Abubakari

    (Department Land Management, Faculty of Planning and Land Management, Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Wa P.O. Box W64, Ghana)

  • Benjamin Quaye

    (Lands Commission, Cantonments, Accra P.O. Box CT 5008, Ghana)

  • Dimo Todorovski

    (Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands)

  • Chipofya Malumbo

    (Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands)

  • Christiaan Lemmen

    (Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands)

Abstract

This paper explores Ghana’s two-decade journey in developing a digital land information system (LIS), exemplified by Ghana Enterprise Land Information System (GELIS) and Enterprise Land Information System (ELIS). Despite advancements by Ghana’s Lands Commission, manual processes persist and coexist with digital ones. Our study uses a qualitative approach to assess the effectiveness of the LIS implemented in Accra. This study found that Accra’s LIS is highly aligned with clear institutional mandates, roles, and responsibilities, as well as the availability of laws and policies to support analogue-to-digital conversion. Furthermore, a robust approach to protecting the data, operating system, and software underpins the system. Subsequently, the integration of a digital LIS has enhanced service delivery and accountability. Nonetheless, Accra’s LIS is still at the beginning of a comprehensive learning and development curve. Sustaining the LIS requires furtherance in the implementation plan, funding, law implementation, ICT strategy, divisional integration, work processes, data quality, and communication strategy. These findings will inform the next steps of improvement for Accra’s LIS and guide its nationwide scaling, contributing to discussions on technology acceptance dynamics in predominantly analogue environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Rosemond Owusu Ansah & Zaid Abubakari & Benjamin Quaye & Dimo Todorovski & Chipofya Malumbo & Christiaan Lemmen, 2024. "Navigating the Terrain of Digital Transition: Ghana’s Journey of Developing a Digital Land Information System," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-28, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:13:y:2024:i:4:p:528-:d:1376658
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/4/528/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/4/528/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Klaus Deininger & Harris Selod & Anthony Burns, 2012. "The Land Governance Assessment Framework : Identifying and Monitoring Good Practice in the Land Sector," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 2376.
    2. Zenoveva X. Correia & Antoni B. Moore & David P. Goodwin, 2021. "Accessibility of land data and information integration in recently‐independent countries: Timor‐Leste case study," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 100(1), pages 203-225, February.
    3. Lengoiboni, Monica & Richter, Christine & Zevenbergen, Jaap, 2019. "Cross-cutting challenges to innovation in land tenure documentation," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 21-32.
    4. Prince Donkor Ameyaw & Walter Timo de Vries, 2020. "Transparency of Land Administration and the Role of Blockchain Technology, a Four-Dimensional Framework Analysis from the Ghanaian Land Perspective," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-25, December.
    5. Bennett, Rohan Mark & Pickering, M. & Sargent, J., 2019. "Transformations, transitions, or tall tales? A global review of the uptake and impact of NoSQL, blockchain, and big data analytics on the land administration sector," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 435-448.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Aditya, Trias & Santosa, Purnama Budi & Yulaikhah, Yulaikhah & Widjajanti, Nurrohmat & Atunggal, Dedi & Sulistyawati, Miranty, 2021. "Title Validation and collaborative mapping to accelerate quality assurance of land registration," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    2. Rohan Bennett & Todd Miller & Mark Pickering & Al-Karim Kara, 2021. "Hybrid Approaches for Smart Contracts in Land Administration: Lessons from Three Blockchain Proofs-of-Concept," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-22, February.
    3. Rabah Arezki & Klaus Deininger & Harris Selod, 2015. "What Drives the Global "Land Rush"?," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 29(2), pages 207-233.
    4. Lupale Mubanga & Hampwaye Godfrey, 2019. "Inclusiveness of Urban Land Administration in the City of Lusaka, Zambia," Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series, Sciendo, vol. 46(46), pages 53-70, December.
    5. Stöcker, Claudia & Bennett, Rohan & Koeva, Mila & Nex, Francesco & Zevenbergen, Jaap, 2022. "Scaling up UAVs for land administration: Towards the plateau of productivity," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    6. Thierry Ngoga & Francois Ntaganda & Karim Tushabe & David Niyonsenga & Nadia Ingabire & Pothin Muvara, 2017. "Land Governance Assessment Framework," World Bank Publications - Reports 28492, The World Bank Group.
    7. Nikita Sud, 2020. "The Unfixed State of Unfixed Land," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 51(5), pages 1175-1198, September.
    8. Björn Hoops & Nicholas K. Tagliarino, 2019. "The Legal Boundaries of ‘Public Purpose’ in India and South Africa: A Comparative Assessment in Light of the Voluntary Guidelines," Land, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-21, October.
    9. Zaid Abubakari & Christine Richter & Jaap Zevenbergen, 2020. "Evaluating Some Major Assumptions in Land Registration: Insights from Ghana’s Context of Land Tenure and Registration," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-14, August.
    10. Kabigi, B. & de Vries, Walter T. & Kelvin, H., 2021. "A neo-institutional analysis of alternative land registration systems in Tanzania: The cases of Babati and Iringa districts," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    11. Sundarakani, Balan & Ajaykumar, Aneesh & Gunasekaran, Angappa, 2021. "Big data driven supply chain design and applications for blockchain: An action research using case study approach," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    12. Ana García-Morán & Simon Ulvund & Eva-Maria Unger & Rohan Mark Bennett, 2021. "Exploring PPPs in Support of Fit-for-Purpose Land Administration: A Case Study from Côte d’Ivoire," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-20, August.
    13. Rignall, Karen & Kusunose, Yoko, 2018. "Governing livelihood and land use transitions: The role of customary tenure in southeastern Morocco," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 91-103.
    14. Ringo Willy Tenga & Sist J. Mramba, 2015. "Tanzania LGAF Synthesis Report," World Bank Publications - Reports 28512, The World Bank Group.
    15. Prishchepov, Alexander V. & Ponkina, Elena V. & Sun, Zhanli & Bavorova, Miroslava & Yekimovskaja, Olga A., 2021. "Revealing the intentions of farmers to recultivate abandoned farmland: A case study of the Buryat Republic in Russia," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    16. Ephraim Kabunda Munshifwa & Wilson Ngoma & Ikugile Makenja, 2017. "Major Determinant of Physical Development on Urban Residential Land: The Case of Kalulushi Municipality in Zambia," International Journal of Social Science Studies, Redfame publishing, vol. 5(6), pages 79-89, June.
    17. Klimach, Anna & Dawidowicz, Agnieszka & Źróbek, Ryszard, 2018. "The Polish land administration system supporting good governance," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 547-555.
    18. Hafte Gebreselassie Gebrihet & Pregala Pillay, 2021. "Emerging Challenges and Prospects of Digital Transformation and Stakeholders Integration in Urban Land Administration in Ethiopia," Global Journal of Emerging Market Economies, Emerging Markets Forum, vol. 13(3), pages 341-356, September.
    19. Ansah, Barikisa Owusu & Voss, Winrich & Asiama, Kwabena Obeng & Wuni, Ibrahim Yahaya, 2023. "A systematic review of the institutional success factors for blockchain-based land administration," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    20. Walter Dachaga & Walter Timo de Vries, 2021. "Land Tenure Security and Health Nexus: A Conceptual Framework for Navigating the Connections between Land Tenure Security and Health," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-21, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:13:y:2024:i:4:p:528-:d:1376658. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.