The Government of Ghana has announced a series of sweeping reforms aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the administration of public lands across the country.
The reforms are being implemented by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in collaboration with the Lands Commission as part of Cabinet directives designed to restore integrity in the management of state lands.
Addressing a press conference, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Yusif Sulemana, said the measures were introduced to ensure that public lands are administered in a transparent and accountable manner while delivering greater value to the state.
According to him, the reforms form part of a broader government strategy to strengthen public land governance and prevent irregular allocations that have undermined public confidence in the system.
A central component of the reforms is the introduction of a new premium framework for public land leases. Under the policy, individuals and entities seeking leases for public lands will now be required to pay at least 70 percent of the assessed market value of the land upfront as a premium.
The remaining 30 percent will be paid over the tenure of the lease as ground rent. Hon. Sulemana explained that the new framework is intended to ensure that the state receives fair value from the allocation of public lands while improving revenue generation.
“The Ministry, in collaboration with the Lands Commission, has introduced a new premium framework for public land leases.
“Under this new framework, a minimum of 70 percent of the assessed market value of a public land will be paid upfront as a premium, while the remaining 30 percent will be structured over the tenure of the lease as ground rent.”
Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Yussif Sulemana
Addressing Past Undervaluation of State Lands
Officials say the reform also addresses longstanding concerns about the undervaluation of public lands. In the past, premiums paid for public land leases ranged between one percent and 30 percent of the assessed market value, a situation authorities say significantly undervalued state assets.
The government believes the revised pricing structure will promote fairness and consistency while ensuring that public resources are managed in the national interest.
According to the Ministry, the reform will also help prevent situations where different applicants paid widely varying premiums for similar parcels of land. Beyond the new pricing framework, the government has introduced several administrative measures to improve oversight of public land allocations.
Under the new system, no public land can be allocated by the Lands Commission without prior written approval from the Lands Minister. Officials say this measure will provide an additional safeguard against irregular allocations and ensure that decisions are aligned with national policy priorities.
The reforms also include the standardisation of the Public Land Application Form to serve as the single official instrument for all public land transactions nationwide. The new procedures are expected to reduce discretionary practices and improve transparency in the land allocation process.
Review of Public Land Transactions
The reforms follow a nationwide review of public land transactions initiated by the government. The review examined more than 8,000 public land lease applications across all 16 regions of Ghana and identified several procedural lapses in the allocation process.
Authorities say some of the transactions did not fully comply with the Lands Commission’s internal procedures, raising concerns about transparency and accountability in the administration of public lands.
As part of the reforms, all uncompleted transactions identified during the review have been cancelled. Completed transactions are also being reviewed on a case-by-case basis, with officials warning that any allocation found to have breached due process could be revoked.
Protecting Public Lands
To further strengthen enforcement, the government has announced plans to establish a Public Land Protection Task Force. The task force will include personnel from the Ministry, the Lands Commission, the police, and other relevant agencies.
Its mandate will include safeguarding public lands under review, preventing encroachment and stopping unauthorized developments on state-owned lands.
Authorities say the task force will help protect public land assets while the government completes ongoing reforms in the sector. Officials say the reforms are ultimately aimed at restoring public confidence in Ghana’s land administration system.
Public lands in Ghana are vested in the President in trust for the people, meaning they must be managed in a way that protects national interests and benefits future generations.
The government believes that strengthening oversight, improving transparency and ensuring fair valuation will help build a more credible and efficient land administration system.
Hon. Sulemana emphasised that the reforms reflect the government’s commitment to responsible land management and sustainable national development.
He added that the Ministry will continue working with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the new policies are effectively implemented and that public lands are managed in a way that serves the best interests of the Ghanaian people.
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