November 16, 2016, Accra, Ghana- The African Union –Economic Commission for Africa –African Development Bank (AU-ECA-AfDB) Land Policy Initiative launched a sensitization seminar on large-scale land-based investments in Africa which opened on Wednesday in Accra. Hosted by the Government of Ghana’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the seminar aims to sensitize traditional leaders and orient them on principles for negotiating land investment deals that are sustainable and beneficial to African people and communities.
This is line with aspirations 1 and 3 of Africa’s Agenda 2063, namely; a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development; and an Africa of good governance, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law; by securing the land rights of African farmers, the majority of whom are smallholder farmers. Protecting the customary based land rights of African people, including those of women, is a key determining factor for Africa’s development as also pointed out in the AU 2014 Malabo Declaration on Africa Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation (3AGT), which contains seven key commitments on agricultural transformation,  which the AU Heads of State and Government committed to.
Fifty (50) traditional leaders from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, DR Congo, Ghana, Madagascar, Niger, Uganda and Zambia attended the Seminar.
Addressing the traditional leaders, Honourable Nii Osah Mills, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources of the Republic of Ghana stressed that land was an important economic resource and prime contributor to a country’s gross domestic product.
He said his country has established several customary lands secretariats - institutional structures to facilitate efficient and effective administration of customary lands.
“When the Ghana Land Policy was launched in 1999, a prime place was provided for capacity development of traditional authorities,” Said Mr. Mills. “Under the Ghana Land Administration Project, Customary Land Secretariats are encouraged and supported by my ministry to enable customary landowners to have proper administrative structures to manage their lands.”
AUC’s representative, Mr. Laila Lokosang, also emphasized the importance of recognizing and protecting the customary based land rights of African people.
“If Africa is to feed its rapidly growing population, then land rights of African farmers, the majority of whom are smallholder farmers, need to be secured,” said Mr. Lokosang. “Protecting the customary based land rights of African people, including those of women, is a key determining factor for Africa’s development.”
Speaking on behalf of the Ghanaian National House of Chiefs, Nene Akuaku III described the seminar as a first-of-kind opportunity for traditional leaders.
“I understand it is first of its kind for traditional authorities to meet and deliberate on land issues. I will therefore entreat all of us to use this opportunity to share experiences, learn and document lessons for future considerations.”
Speaking on behalf of Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Hubert Ouedraogo, lead land expert from the Land Policy Initiative, explained that the focus on traditional leaders was a strategic move. “It is important to engage traditional leaders in such activities because land rights in most African communities are customary law based, and are governed by traditional institutions,” said Mr. Ouedraogo.
He added that Africa harbors an estimated 60% of the world’s arable lands but the continent is still a net importer of food and agricultural produce noting that meanwhile, the continent’s youths were fleeing massively to Europe as economic migrants. indicating that Africa’s rich land resources were not properly harnessed to meet the needs of its growing population and rapid urbanization.
The seminar is part of several activities carried out by the LPI under the auspices of the AUC, AfDB and ECA, to provide guidance to African governments, traditional leaders and other stakeholders on how to make land related investments benefit local people and economies.
For more information contact:
Mr. Laila Lokosang,
AUC Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture
LokosangL@africa-union.org