MiDA To Help Courts On Land Cases

By William Yaw Owusu

Friday, 25 April 2008
THE Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) yesterday signed an agreement to support the Judicial Service to clear a backlog of land cases in 10 circuit courts in the country.

It forms part of the Land Tenure Facilitation Activity of the MiDA under the 547 million dollars Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC) signed between Ghana and the USA in 2006.

Under the Implementing Entity Agreement, the MiDA will spend 607,410 dollars to refurbish and automate the 10 selected courts that build the capacity of judges and staff.

MiDA will also develop a practice manual on the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and help refine the understanding of the nature and scope of the existing land disputes with the MCA Ghana programme.

The amount being spent to assist in the clearance of the backlog of the land cases forms part of the MCA’s Land Tenure Facilitation Activity which seeks to revolutionise agriculture in the country.

The 10 participating courts are: Swedru, Nsawam, Odumase, Kpando, Hohoe, Aflao, Keta, Sogakope, Tamale and Mpraeso are all located in MiDA intervention zones.

Signing the agreement at the Supreme Court building in Accra yesterday, Mr Martin Eson-Benjamin, Chief Executive Officer of MiDA, said they are collaborating with the Judicial Service to use nine months to put in place a sound and effective structure for the backlog of cases to be cleared to facilitate the acquisition of land in the selected areas for large scale agriculture.

He said "this component aims at finding a lasting solution to the backlog of land cases which constrain commercial farming activities in Ghana.

"Land availability and the secured rights to it are crucial to the success of many investments in Ghana. In a programme which aims at agricultural transformation and poverty reduction, land ownership becomes fundamental to our overall success," he added.

He said by entering into the agreement with the service, MiDA is helping to reduce the incidence of protracted litigation and the release of lands for agricultural activities and related agricultural businesses as well as promoting the administration of justice.

Mr Eson-Benjamin said "since we have only five years to make maximum use of the MCA account, I will call for commitment and cooperation from all stakeholders to successfully implement their aspect of the project."

The Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Wood, on her part said the MiDA intervention will facilitate efforts to bring about land reforms through the Land Administration Project (LAP).

"We are truly grateful to MiDA for this massive injection of funds and contribution to the enhancement of this important area of the law."

She promised to ensure that the backlog of land cases are cleared in the selected courts for MiDA to promote the commer-cialisation of agriculture.