Challenges Of A Centralized Customary Land Regis- Tration In Ghana: A Case Of Selected Districts In The Ashanti Region Of Ghana

Ghana’s National Land Policy provides that secured tenure, through title registration, can be achieved if capacity building for land service delivery is created and maintained at the national, regional and district levels. Although the second phase of the Land Administration Project (LAP-2) aims at decentralizing land service delivery in Ghana, this is yet to become a reality five years since the onset of LAP-2. The Lands Commission (LC) [focusing on Public & Vested Land Management (PVLMD) and Survey & Mapping Divisions (SMD)] is barely visible at the district levels, albeit its visibility at the regional levels.This paper poses the question: ‘to what extent is land registration at the regional level enhancing clearly defined property rights and security of tenure at the district levels’. This study was conducted at Sekyere Afram Plains, Sekyere East and Offinso North district assemblies and at the premises of the LC of the Ashanti region. Using qualitative approach, data was drawn by adopting purposive and convenience sampling. Respondents sampled were mainly traditional authorities, staff of LC and lessees. The study revealed that over 85% of the lessees appreciate the benefits of attaining property rights and security of tenure through registration of their respective interests in land. However, they are disinclined in attaining same for reasons not limited to (a) travelling distance (over 100 kilometers) covered to the regional land service delivery divisions in Kumasi, (b) reluctance on the part of some personnel of the LC to go for site inspection, and (c) the perception that payment of ground rent to the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands is a guarantee of security of tenure. The study recommends, amongst others, collaboration between the LC and the traditional authorities to establish district offices of the LC to enhance security of tenure at the district levels.