Africa's land commissions commit to recognizing and securing community land rights

Abstract

The regional workshop with African Land Commissions on securing community land rights ended in Accra, Ghana, Wednesday with participants committing to advancing policy, legal and regulatory reforms in their respective countries and ensure their effective implementation in order to recognize community land rights. Noting the diversity of their contexts, policies, legal frameworks and local communities, the Land Commissions reaffirmed their commitment to secure community lands by implementing African Union decisions relating to land governance and management. The Land Commissions also agreed adopt and strengthen alternative methods for conflict resolution, in contexts where it is difficult for communities to access state justice systems, especially in light of the distance between the courts and rural areas, the costs of procedures, the lack of awareness about state justice systems in communities, and the number of cases before the courts that delay decisions.