Government cancels irregular public land leases, introduces sweeping reforms to restore transparency
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah,Minister for Lands and Natural Resources
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced the cancellation of all uncompleted public land lease transactions and the review of completed ones found to have breached due process, following a nationwide assessment of public land allocations.
Addressing the media at a press conference in Accra, the Minister said the decision followed a directive issued on January 10, 2025, by John Dramani Mahama, instructing the Lands Commission to halt all activities relating to the leasing and processing of public lands.
The move, he explained, was aimed at safeguarding public lands from abuse and restoring discipline in land administration.
“Public lands are held in trust for the people of Ghana, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure they are managed with integrity, transparency, and value for money,” Mr. Buah stated.
“This review marks a critical milestone in restoring public confidence in the administration of public lands.”
According to the Minister, a committee established in June 2025 reviewed 8,160 lease applications executed or initiated between 2017 and 2024 across all 16 regions.
The review uncovered significant procedural lapses, prompting Cabinet approval for the immediate implementation of corrective measures, including the cancellation of uncompleted transactions and case-by-case reviews of completed ones that failed to comply with statutory requirements.
“Where allocations were processed without full compliance with laid-down procedures, those transactions will be cancelled,” he emphasized, adding that affected applicants would be duly notified and given the opportunity to reapply after reforms are completed.
As part of the reforms, the Ministry has revised the Public Land Application Form to ensure uniformity nationwide, strengthened internal approval processes at the Lands Commission, and proposed a new premium framework requiring at least 70 percent of the market value of public land to be paid upfront.
The government has also announced the establishment of a Public Land Protection Task Force to prevent encroachment and illegal development on public lands under review.
The Minister further clarified that the temporary suspension on public land transactions has been lifted, allowing activities to resume under the new framework.
“Going forward, every public land transaction must adhere strictly to the principles of transparency, accountability, and value for money,” Mr. Buah said. “Our goal is to ensure that public lands serve national development and the interests of both present and future generations.”
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com
