Recapping Key Messages from The National Forum on Women’s Land, Property and Natural Resource Rights
There was consensus at the forum that our advocacy in Ghana should be focused on WOMEN’S LAND, PROPERTY AND NATURAL RESOURCE RIGHTS. Do you know why?
It is because Section 281 (Interpretation Section of the Land Act, 2020, ACT 1036), defines LAND to ‘include the solid surface of the earth, trees, plant, crops and other vegetation, a part of the earth surface covered by water, any house, building or structure whatsoever, and any interest or right in, to or over immovable property.’
This legal definition means that ‘land’ in Ghana is all encompassing and therefore advocating on land rights should imply advocating for women’s rights in all that is included in the definition of land given under the law. But in practice that is not exactly the case. Even though the Land Act gives this all-encompassing definition of land, operationally, there are different institutions, regulations, legislation and policies for managing the different aspects of what encompasses land in Ghana.