Practice of Transparency and Accountability Principles in Land Administration Office in Borena Woreda, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

In this study, the principle of accountability and transparency in land administration office were assessed. For this study, primary and secondary sources provided all the data that was needed. For this research, the primary sources of data were observations, questionnaires, key informant interviews, and Focus Group Discussions (FGD). A systematic sampling procedure was used to choose the samples, and important informants were chosen on purposive sampling technique. Out of the entire target population, 184 sample customers and rural landowners were chosen, and 15 key informants were specifically chosen. Descriptive and inferential statistics, along with a combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques, were utilized. The research findings indicated that the main obstacles to the implementation of transparency and accountability principles in land administration office were rent-seeking behavior, corruption, shortage of skilled labor, a lack of dedicated land administration officials, and inadequate monitoring and evaluation frameworks. 165 (91.7%) of sample respondents confirmed that the office was not open to its decisions on land allocation, registration and land acquisition especially through inheritance. The other findings also confirmed that Borena Woreda RLAU office has weak accountability system to maintain good governance due to the absence of periodic monitoring and evaluation system of officials and employees. “Naming and Shaming” of those involved in corruption in front of the public like in the religious and public institutions is recommended to reduce corruption and rent seeking behaviour in land sector. Finally, there should be a clear and praticable system developed by district land administration office to monitor and evaluate the performance of employers to take corrective measures on gaps identified.