A Client Service Access Unit has been inaugurated in the Upper East Regional capital, Bolgatanga to do away with administrative bottlenecks that have characterized the Lands commission over the years.
The facility is the third among five similar facilities which is being piloted in five regions including Western region, Northern region, Eastern region and Greater Accra Region.
At a short ceremony held at the forecourt of the commission’s office on Wednesday to inaugurate the facility, National Chairman of the Lands Commission, Alhaji Bakari Sidique, explained that, the establishment of the CSAU is one of the key milestones in the reform process of the land sector that began some years ago.
He explained that, the facility has been established in line with the provisions of the lands commission Act, 2008 (Act 767) which made all agencies involved in land service delivery a single entity, Lands commission.
He mentioned that, the CSAU represents a change in service delivery by the Lands commission because it will reduce the time lapse for seeking land services, cost, reduce the drudgery dealing with the erstwhile four divisions of the commission and also ensure transparency in land acquisition.
He intimated that, the call for the needed change could only be realised if the staff and management of the lands commission commits itself to the course and perform their duties diligently. He charged the staff of the commission to adopt good customer relations because they represent the face of the new lands commission.
Alhaji Bakari called on clients to seek the services of the commission through the single window, which is the CSAU but added that they should not hesitate to report any staff who tries to entice them to use illegal means in the land acquisition process adding that, the commission will not relent in its bid to flush out staff involved in any illegality.
On her part, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Barbara Serwaa Asamoah said through some development partners, the Land Administration Project was launched in 2003. This programme, according to her, laid the foundation for the implementation of a sustainable administrative system.
She noted that, one of the key achievements the Land Administration Project has achieved is making all independent land sector agencies one unit and supporting the commission to undergo structural reforms culminating into the establishment of the Client Service Access Unit which is going to operate as a front desk of the lands commission.
She mentioned that the unit is expected to reduce frustrations and administrative bottlenecks and promote quality in land service delivery and help improve the image of the Lands Commission.
She remarked that the change they are craving for should not only be limited to the only administration but also should be glaring in the attitude of the staff of the unit.
She tasked the Lands commission to furnish the ministry with a comprehensive action plan on how the commission intends to sustain the Client Service Access Unit and also expand to other parts of the country.
By Offei-Akoto Ayeh | A1RADIOONLINE.com | GHANA
