Government is preparing to roll out nationwide digital maps as part of a broader effort to modernise Ghana’s land administration system, improve transparency, and eliminate longstanding inefficiencies in the sector. 

Director at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Jones Ofori Boadu, announced the initiative when he represented the sector minister at a ceremony in Accra to commission a new conference hall and guest house for the Licensed Surveyors Association of Ghana. 

He said the government had established a Land Banks and Digitisation Secretariat to oversee the reforms and drive the production of updated orthophoto and digital maps for the entire country.  

The Secretariat, he explained, would coordinate national mapping, digitisation of legacy land records, decentralisation of land administration services, and efforts to reduce delays in land title processing. 

Mr Boadu disclosed that the Ministry of Finance had approved 100 per cent retention of the Lands Commission’s internally generated funds, with 67 per cent allocated specifically to the land sector digitalisation agenda.  

He described the move as a strategic investment to accelerate the creation of accurate base maps and support the development of a modern land information system. 

Mr Boadu emphasised that the success of the national mapping project would depend on the professional contributions of licensed surveyors, particularly in undertaking ground controls, field validation and sectional map completion.  

“While some of the aerial photography may be undertaken by international partners, he stressed that all ground‑based technical work would be executed by local experts,” he said. 

Mr Boadu urged surveyors across the country to build capacity, acquire modern equipment and form professional collaborations in anticipation of the increased workload that will arise from the national mapping and systematic titling programme. 

He also highlighted long‑standing challenges within Ghana’s land administration system, including uncertain customary boundaries, limited transparency, investor concerns, cumbersome registration processes and a growing volume of land cases in the courts. 

Mr Boadu expressed confidence that the rollout of digital maps and the conversion of analogue land records into digital formats would significantly reduce disputes and strengthen public confidence in land governance. 

He commended the surveying community for its contribution to national development and described the commissioning of the new professional facilities as a milestone that would support knowledge sharing, collaboration and the nurturing of young surveyors.