The Land Valuation Division of the Lands Commission has begun exploring various technologies available to leverage innovative digital scheme for improved valuation Services and revenue mobilization.
The Land Valuation Division is mandated under Section 22 of the Lands Commission Act 2008, Act 767 includes the provision of Valuation Services for compensation payable upon acquisition of land by government , stamp duty, rental, sales or lease by Government, property rating, estate duty and general valuation services for the public.
However, despite the arduous responsibilities and dynamics in service demands, the division has virtually remained static to manual ways of service delivery inhibiting high efficiency.
The Lands Commission had said it will need a minimum of US$ 250 million to completely digitize the institution to enable it to maximize efficiency.
Speaking at a National Valuation Conference in Koforidua, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh reiterated government’s commitment to a digital agenda as a key enabler to delivering the Ghana Beyond Aid strategy and Vision.
He said government has identified the land sector as one area its digitization will bring enormous economic impact “therefore initiated a number of actions to completely transform the Land Commission from the predominantly manual, to digital operations through the provision of high quality and accurate base maps, digitization of all records and the provision of technological platforms”
The Minister stated that , leveraging digital technology in Land Valuation is critical to reform property rating in Ghana through the provision of reliable and adequate data for revenue mobilization , and facilitate processes and turn around time for compensation assessments and payments for the numerous road and railway project.
A Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development ,Nana Agyei Boateng the lack of scientific data on Properties in various Metropolitan,Municipal and District Assemblies is hindering collection of property rate therefore believe digital migration of Land Valuation Service would help provide MMDAs accurate data on Property rate to maximize revenue generation adding that, the current trend of revenue raked from property rate collection nationwide is inadequate .
“2015 for instance when you put together all that property rates collected in Ghana, amounted to only about Ghc49million, 2016 -Ghc55 million, 2017-Ghc65 million, 2018- Gh73million. These are figures that are not adequate to be able to push development so we are looking forward to having this collaboration deepened”.
The Chairman of Lands Commission, Stephen Nti said society has become more service demanding, therefore, the need to evolve to meet public expectations through the deployment of technology. According to him, the Commission is poised for action to embrace technology to make it a centre of excellence in land service.
He charged the Land Valuation Division to facilitate processes for payment of outstanding compensation claims particularly for the chiefs and people of Bui arising from the construction of the Bui Dam.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Kojo Ansah