What: High level workshop on securing community land rights in Africa
Who: Africa's top policymakers and land commissioners will attend the workshop that is being hosted by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the Rights and Resources Initiative(RRI) and the Ghanian Government.
Official Opening Ceremony begins 9am on Monday July 17, 2017:
- Welcome to Ghana statement from Alhaji Sulemana Mahama, Technical Director, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Ghana.
- Statement by Land Policy Initiative (LPI) Coordinator, Joan Kagwanja.
- Statement by Janet Edeme, Head of Rural Division, DREA, African Union Commission.
- Statement from Solange Bandiaky-Badji, Director, Africa Program and Gender Justice, RRI.
- Key note address and opening by Hon. John-Peter Amewu, Ghana's Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.
When: 17th - 20th July
Location: La-Palm Royal Beach Hotel
Many African countries are approaching pivotal moments in land and forest reforms that will shape their nations' tenure rights for years to come. Rural communities claim customary ownership of up to 80 per cent of all land on the continent yet most governments do not formally recognize communities' rights to much of this land. The workshop will bring together Land Commissioners and senior government officials from 16 African countries and organizations to discuss the need to secure community land rights by advancing reforms for better and more inclusive land governance by local communities, in particular women and indigenous peoples.
Media Contacts:
ECA: Sandra Nyaira, nyaira@uneca.org. Tel. +233 546 057 369
ECA: Sophia Denekew, denekews@uneca.org. Tel. +251 92 10 14 767
