Sunyani, Sept 2, GNA - Nana Kwadwo Seinti, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, on Monday called for the acceleration of plans to integrate land sector agencies to enable them to provide collective services. It is necessary for the land sector agencies to provide a one-stop shop for people seeking information on all land matters instead of the current cumbersome procedures that they have to go through that sometimes end up in litigations and encroachment on lands earmarked for public use, he said.

Nana Seinti said this when the Director of the Town and Country Planning Department (TCPD), Mr Edward P. Karbo, paid a courtesy call on him as part of a three-day visit to the Brong Ahafo Region. Mr Karbo, who assumed duty six months ago, will meet staff of the department to explain his vision and an intended restructuring exercise to enable the department to provide better services. The Regional Minister called on TCPD to collaborate with chiefs and district assemblies to ensure proper planning of villages, towns and cities.

He said the elevation of the Sunyani area to a Municipal status will take off soon and appealed to the Department to ensure that new settlements are well planned to befit the status.

Mr Yaw Adjei-Duffour, the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, accused staff of the department of only showing interest in private jobs to the detriment of the public ones.

He said plots of land belonging to some schools have been encroached upon as they do not have any layout plans or they have not been properly acquired.

Mr Karbo gave the assurance that measures are being taken to ensure the effective collaboration of land sector agencies. He appealed to District Assemblies to support the Department, as it is one of the decentralized organizations under the decentralization policy.

''Since the TCPD cannot work in isolation it needs to constantly be in touch with landowners and developers to ensure orderly development of the country,'' Mr Kabo said.