The land factor in development: the experience of the Central Region Development Corporation (CEREDEC)

Regional and rural planning issues have gained prominence and received the attention of significant numbers of planners and governments. In pursuance of planning and development objectives many government agencies have been established to undertake development projects at the regional and rural levels. Among such agencies are the Regional Development Corporations (RDCs) which were established in the country in 1975 by NRCD 140. The Central Regional Development Corporation (CEREDEC), one of the nine RDC in the country, is the focus of study. The success of the Development Corporation and. other development agencies can be determined and physically seen when the plans he been translated into their spatial aspects. This depends to a very large extent, on easy accessibility to land which is the meeting ground for all schemes of development. - However, the type of tenure systems practiced and the legislations formulated by governments can promote or block development. The object of the study was, therefore, to investigate the impediments posed by the land tenure systems and legislations on land on the operations of CEREDEC and to offer proposals that may make land acquisition easier to promote rapid development. In the light of the aforementioned objectives the land tenure system were reviewed along side with some of the government legislation on land to determine the extent to which they promote development. Notable among the legislations was the State Lands ct 125 of 1962 for compulsory acquisition of land. The study revealed that much as the traditional tenure system is not very favourable to most development schemes, especially large scale commercial farming, the legislation which sought to do away with the problem has net succeeded in doing so absolutely owing to the implementation of the Act. Land owners have misgivings about the compulsory acquisition of land. Consequently land owners had posed very serious resistance to the use of the Act wherever it had been applied in recent times. Easy access to land has become a problem under such circumstances. Drawing from the problems in the traditional tenure system and the ill implementation of the legislation on compulsory acquisition, the need arises for formulation of effective policies for easy land acquisition, It is in that perspective that proposals have been made towards formulating the policies. Mass education should be encouraged to promote understanding in the acquisition processes w1tile the acquiring body also fulfils its obligations. Efforts should be made to consolidate scattered parcels of land and titles to the lands duly registered. This will reduce incidence of disputes. Consolidation of lands forms the basis for large scale activities. There should be a policy that will spell out clearly the cost and procedures for acquiring land in the country. On compulsory acquisition, the custodians of the lands should be consulted and informed by an effective means other than publication in the Gazette and the national dailies adequate compensation for crops and lands should be paid out and as early as possible. For commercial activities, the land owners could be made partners of the project and employed in it instead of payment of compensation. Rehabilitation of displaced lend owners or farmers in the form of re-training in some skills should be considered. These are but some of the proposals for formulating policies that will make land acquisition easy. In order to ensure that the activities of the various Organisations concerned with land reforms are harmoniously related, it is propose& that a Land tenure Commission is formed and charged with the responsibility of initiating end implementing proposals for land reforms. Solutions to the land problems created by customary arrangements and legislations must be found in t he interest of the national development effort while at the same taking due regard of the right of the individuals. The Onus of this task rests with the policy makers and development planners.

Source: KNUST