Assessing the influence of land administration systems on physical development in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis
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Date
MAY, 2015
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Abstract
The capacity to plan, develop and coordinate the spatial distribution of human
activities in rapidly growing settlements is critical for national socio-economic
progress. Using Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis as a study area, this research compares
and contrasts the two land administrative systems, namely, State Lands and Stool
Lands and assesses their relative influences on physical development. Following
preliminary investigations and the updating of sector layouts for the five selected
areas, primary data was collected on a sample of 250 homeowners selected through
systematic sampling technique while institutions were purposively selected for indepth interviews. The research found that the Land Allocation committees were
ineffective and as result, the land purchasers dealt with chiefs rather than the
committee. The analyses also showed that planning schemes were not comprehensive
enough to meet increasing demands for recreational and commercial activities. The
Traditional Authorities were not informed about updates to sector layouts and as a
result allocated lands were based on old planning schemes. These updates were
largely carried out to retrofit uncontrolled physical development into the planning
schemes. The land documentation process was found to be time consuming and
burdensome. As a result, physical development occurred contrary to planning
schemes as developers ignored the process. This uncoordinated development was also
attributable to the weak resource base in terms of logistics, funds and staff capacity in
the official land sector institutions.
The study recommends that state institution should offer training to the chiefs as well
as the Land Allocation Committee. Experts on land issues should constitute the
committee in order to discharge their duties effectively. The committee members are
also to ensure that the necessary official documents are obtained by the developers to
before development is carried out. In order to minimize unauthorised development of
the study recommends that lands on the frontages of major roads should be designated
for residential/commercial uses. Thus purely residential uses should not permitted
along major roads. Institutions like the Building Inspectorate Division and the Survey
Unit should be privatised and run as a commercial entity in order to generate money
for the smooth running of the office. The Land Use Planning Bill which is currently
before Parliament should be hastened to make Physical Planning Department an
autonomous organisation with powers to enforce development control.
Description
A thesis submitted to The School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Planning