Vice President Commends Lands Ministry, Urges Stronger Environmental Protection and Inclusive Land Access

 Vice President Commends Lands Ministry, Urges Stronger Environmental Protection and Inclusive Land Access. 

Story by: Mary Bempah

The Vice President of the Republic, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has commended the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for what she described as encouraging progress in the management of the country’s lands, natural resources and environmental protection efforts.

She said the Ministry’s work was having a direct impact on the lives of Ghanaians and deserved strong support to achieve even greater results.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang made the remarks when she led a delegation to engage with the management and staff of the Ministry in Accra.

“The story you have shared with us today is a good one, and we believe it can only get better,” she said, describing the briefing as insightful and full of potential for greater national impact.

Alignment and national direction

The Vice President explained that the visit formed part of broader efforts to ensure alignment across government institutions.

“We are here to ensure that we are aligned and moving in the same direction,” she stated, noting that although agencies may operate at different levels, they must all work toward the same national objectives.

She underscored the central role of the Ministry, stressing that land remained fundamental to all forms of life and economic activity — from agriculture and mining to forestry, water bodies and airspace.

“What you do here affects lives in very direct and tangible ways,” she said. “For that reason, you deserve all the support necessary to ensure that the good work you are doing becomes even better.”

Heavy responsibility

Acknowledging the broad scope of the Ministry’s mandate, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said managing lands, natural resources and the environment placed a heavy responsibility on the sector, but expressed confidence in its leadership and staff.

“Our role is to encourage you, to commend you for what you have achieved so far, and to urge you to do even more. We trust you and we stand with you every step of the way,” she assured.

She also highlighted the importance of direct engagement with institutions beyond written reports.

“It matters that we come to you in person, to put faces to names, and to remind you that we are not distant observers receiving reports from faceless offices,” she said.

Environmental protection

The Vice President said she had taken keen interest in the Ministry’s five-pronged strategy to address land degradation and environmental damage. She described the scale of degradation — sometimes measured in the equivalent of football fields — as alarming, but acknowledged the significant gains being made through land retrieval and reclamation.

“These are important success stories, and we encourage you to continue and expand this work,” she urged.

She stressed that environmental protection was not only a moral duty but a matter of national survival.

“No amount of money can justify the human suffering caused by environmental destruction,” she said, adding that protecting the environment ultimately meant protecting human life.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang also praised efforts to strengthen enforcement, improve coordination and establish dedicated teams to tackle environmental challenges, noting that such measures would benefit both present and future generations.

Digitisation and data

Touching on digitisation, the Vice President said improved data management and access to records were essential for transparency, efficiency and accountability in land administration.

She encouraged the Ministry to deepen its digitisation drive to enhance service delivery and public confidence in the sector.

Gender inclusion

She made a special appeal for gender inclusion in the implementation of land bank initiatives, observing that many women were eager to engage in farming and other productive ventures but were constrained by limited access to land.

“As we develop land banks, we must be intentional about including women,” she said. “Providing them access to land will enable them to contribute meaningfully to the economy and national development.”

Decentralisation

In her concluding remarks, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang reiterated the importance of decentralisation, describing it as a practical governance tool rather than a political slogan.

“Decentralisation brings decision-making closer to the people and helps solve problems at the grassroots level,” she said.

She once again commended the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for its efforts and urged continued dedication to sustainable land and environmental management for the benefit of the nation.