The Lands Commission has embarked on an intensive ground rent recovery and compliance enforcement campaign targeting some of Accra’s most expensive neighbourhoods, in a move aimed at boosting state revenue and restoring discipline in land administration.
The nationwide exercise, which began in the capital, is focusing on high-end enclaves including Airport Residential Area, East Legon, Tema Motorway Industrial Area, and the North Industrial Area, with teams from the Greater Accra Regional Lands Commission personally delivering demand notices to property owners and lessees to ensure the prompt settlement of outstanding ground rents.
The campaign is being led by Acting Greater Accra Regional Lands Officer, Surv. Dr. Pius Asumadu, under the supervision of Surv. Owusu Peprah, Regional Head of the Public and Vested Lands Management Division (PVLMD). According to the Commission, “the operation is part of a wider national effort to compel individuals and corporate bodies occupying state lands to comply with their lease obligations.”
In an update on the exercise, the Commission revealed that preliminary investigations have uncovered widespread irregularities in the management and use of public lands.
“Officials have identified a pattern of unauthorised land use changes, unapproved subletting, illegal redevelopment into commercial properties, and non-payment of ground rents spanning several years”
Surv. Dr. Pius Asumadu, Acting Greater Accra Regional Lands Officer
Dr. Asumadu described these developments as “a worrying trend that undermines the integrity of Ghana’s land administration system.” He noted that some lessees have converted residential plots into commercial complexes without approval, while others have “subdivided and resold public lands,” in clear violation of lease agreements.
Enforcement and Legal Sanctions
To address the growing irregularities, the Lands Commission announced a series of strict compliance measures. These include a “comprehensive review of lease terms, adjustment of conditions to reflect the current use of the land, and an upward revision of ground rents,” to align with prevailing market values.
Persistent defaulters, the Commission warned, risk facing severe sanctions under the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036). Their names will be published in national newspapers, and they could lose their lands through lawful re-entry if they fail to regularize their payments.
Acting Greater Accra Regional Lands Officer also advised all lessees, including those who may not yet have received a demand notice, to visit the nearest Lands Commission office to verify their rent payment status and clear any outstanding arrears.
In his statement, Dr. Asumadu stressed that the ongoing enforcement is “not a punitive exercise but a corrective one,” intended to restore accountability and transparency in public land management.
According to the Commission, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has expressed full support for the operation, describing it as part of the government’s broader reforms to safeguard public lands, improve revenue mobilization, and promote responsible land use. Officials say similar enforcement campaigns will soon be extended to other regions, with priority given to prime government lands in Kumasi, Takoradi, and Tamale.
The goal, according to the Ministry, is to ensure consistency and fairness in the collection of ground rents across the country. Surv. Owusu Peprah emphasized that effective ground rent collection “remains essential to maintaining the integrity of Ghana’s land records,” and ensuring that public lands contribute meaningfully to national development.
The Lands Commission believes that proper enforcement of ground rent obligations will not only enhance revenue performance but also reduce speculative landholding and improve compliance among lessees.
“The renewed enforcement drive underscores the Commission’s determination to protect the public interest, strengthen institutional integrity, and ensure that state lands are managed in a transparent and accountable manner”
Surv. Owusu Peprah, Regional Head of PVLMD
Officials reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to promoting responsible land stewardship and enhancing public confidence in the land administration system.
According to the commission, the campaign would serve as a reminder to all landholders that lease obligations are legal responsibilities, not discretionary payments, and that compliance is a prerequisite for sustainable land governance.
READ ALSO: Tories Call For Reeves’ Dismissal Over Rental License Error
