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Toward Smart Land Management: Land Acquisition and the Associated Challenges in Ghana. A Look into a Blockchain Digital Land Registry for Prospects

Author

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  • Prince Donkor Ameyaw

    (Chair of Land Management, Technische Universität München (TUM), 80333 München, Germany)

  • Walter Timo de Vries

    (Chair of Land Management, Technische Universität München (TUM), 80333 München, Germany)

Abstract

Land acquisition in Ghana is fraught with challenges of multiple sales, numerous unofficial charges, unnecessary bureaucracies, intrusion of unqualified middlemen, and lack of transparency among others. Studies have suggested digitization as a way forward to improve Ghana’s land management system and to address these acquisition challenges. However, none of these studies have specifically provided a clear conceptual digital framework for land acquisition. Most contemporary land literature globally appraise blockchain technology as a potential solution to these challenges in Ghana’s land acquisition process. This article applies an integrative review, mixed with strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis, and deductive lessons from a digital land registry concept to develop a blockchain-based smart land acquisition framework solution in view of Ghana’s land acquisition challenges. However, it is identified that threats of sabotage of this framework exist among some customary land owners, land officials, and private blockchain-based land experts for various reasons. Among others, a legal basis for a public–private partnership is recommended particularly to discourage sabotage from private blockchain-based land experts. We recommend future research works to delve into establishing a framework that can be used as a guide to assess the readiness of land management and land administration systems for blockchain consideration in sub-Sahara Africa, particularly Ghana.

Suggested Citation

  • Prince Donkor Ameyaw & Walter Timo de Vries, 2021. "Toward Smart Land Management: Land Acquisition and the Associated Challenges in Ghana. A Look into a Blockchain Digital Land Registry for Prospects," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-22, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:10:y:2021:i:3:p:239-:d:508043
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    Cited by:

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    2. Ivana Racetin & Jelena Kilić Pamuković & Mladen Zrinjski & Marina Peko, 2022. "Blockchain-Based Land Management for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-15, August.
    3. Mohammed, Abubakar Sadiq & Abbas, Jannat & Dzimale, Augustine, 2023. "Navigating Land Acquisition Hurdles in Ghana’s Real Estate Development," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(12), pages 1084-1098, December.
    4. Ameyaw, Prince Donkor & de Vries, Walter Timo, 2023. "Blockchain technology adaptation for land administration services: The importance of socio-cultural elements," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    5. Bouchra El Houda Lamhamedi & Walter Timo de Vries, 2022. "An Exploration of the Land–(Renewable) Energy Nexus," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-17, May.

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