Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Alhaji Inusah Fuseini has blamed traditional rulers for misappropriation of lands in the country, accusing them of running ahead of state institutions mandated to administer in the sector. “The traditional authorities...are always running ahead of time.

They are running ahead of the institutions of state that have the responsibility to plan,” Alhaji Fuseini, who is also Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale Central Constituency, said on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 during a discussion of the 2014 budget regarding financial allocation to the Lands Commission.

Tabling the issue for discussion on the floor of Parliament, Albert Abongo, MP for Bongo Constituency, bemoaned the budgetary allocation to the Lands Commission, saying it is woefully inadequate.

“The only way is the need for all of us to support the plea for a financial bailout for the Lands Commission,” he told other Members.

Contributing to the issue, Papa Owusu Ankomah, MP for Sekondi Constituency, recommended that the only way to sanitise administration in the lands sector is to enforce the laws.

“We should enforce the laws and try to punish those who corrupt the system.” At the end of the day, Members agreed that 40 per cent of internally generated funds should be set aside for the Commission.

First Deputy Speaker Ebo Barton Odro was concerned about record keeping at the Commission.

He said measures should be put in place to better records keeping at the Commission. He forwarded the recommendations of Members to the Ministries of Finance and Lands and Natural Resources “for necessary action".