The Licensed Surveyors Association of Ghana (LiSAG) has called on government to intensify efforts in tackling the menace of land guards, whose destructive activities continue to pose serious threats to licensed surveyors.

He lamented that land guards often destroy sophisticated and expensive surveying equipment, thereby undermining the work of professionals who play a vital role in ensuring proper land administration.

He warned that the persistence of this menace not only hampers efficiency but also discourages investment in modern technology, which is critical to delivering accurate spatial data for development.

He therefore emphasized the need for stronger enforcement of laws, enhanced security, and policy measures to protect surveyors and their equipment as they execute their professional duties.

The call was made by the President of LiSAG, LS Dr. Ing. Samuel Larbi Darko, at the launch of the association’s 20th anniversary celebration in Accra.

The event was held under the theme: “Twenty Years of Impact: Licensed Surveyors as Pillars of Sustainable Land Management and National Development.”

Beyond the land guard menace, the LiSAG President outlined other challenges confronting the association, including limited access to continuous professional development opportunities, inadequate logistics for some practitioners and the slow pace of digital transformation within Ghana’s land sector.

He underscored that addressing these challenges requires stronger collaboration between government, the private sector, and development partners.

Dr. Darko appealed for government support in strengthening the regulatory framework to eliminate quack practitioners, while investing in modern geospatial technologies, capacity-building initiatives, and public education on land issues to ensure sustainable land management and equitable access to land resources.

Over the past two decades, LiSAG has achieved significant growth in transforming geospatial data collection through partnerships with key stakeholders such as the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA).

The association has also commissioned a modern office complex in Labone, Accra, and introduced capacity-building and logistics support for its members.

A partnership with Chinese firms has further enabled licensed surveyors to access modern surveying tools on a hire-purchase basis, boosting efficiency and service quality.

As LiSAG celebrates two decades of impact, it reaffirms its commitment to being the trusted custodian of Ghana’s land data, a defender of consistency and integrity, and a reliable partner in sustainable national development.

According to LiSAG, the activities of unqualified individuals in the land sector continue to fuel disputes, insecurity of tenure, and financial losses for unsuspecting landowners.

The association stressed that only licensed surveyors possess the professional expertise and legal mandate to provide accurate spatial data and ensure transparency in land acquisition and development.