Land Surveyors call for stronger collaboration and regulation to improve land governance

Land Surveyors and Geomatic Engineers in Ghana are urging better collaboration and regulation to tackle the country's land and environmental challenges. They argue that stronger partnerships among professionals, institutions and other stakeholders are crucial in addressing issues like flooding, illegal mining and unplanned settlements. This call was made at the 2026 Annual Conference and AGM of the Land Surveying Division of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors, held in Accra.

The conference's chairman, Surveyor Professor Prosper B. Laari, emphasized that land-related challenges are complex and require a collaborative approach. He pointed out that poor coordination among various institutions often leads to ineffective solutions, such as in cases of flooding. To address these issues, the surveying divisions of the Institution will engage other professionals through conferences and seminars to identify gaps and find practical ways to work together for the nation's benefit.

Surveyors are also pushing for legislation to regulate the profession. The current voluntary system lacks legal authority to prevent unqualified individuals from offering surveying services, which poses risks for land administration and property ownership. The proposed legislation would establish a statutory council with the power to regulate practitioners, ensuring accurate information is available for planning and managing Ghana's land and natural resources.

Accurate surveying is vital for national security and sovereignty, as demonstrated by past international boundary disputes.