Ghana’s Lands Commission collected GH¢40.7 million in ground rent from lessees of state-invested lands as of August 2026, representing approximately 90.4 per cent of its annual target of GH¢45 million, Executive Secretary Prof. Anthony Owusu-Ansah has disclosed.
Speaking at a press conference at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Prof. Owusu-Ansah said the amount collected had already exceeded the GH¢32 million recorded in 2025, as the Commission intensifies efforts to improve revenue mobilisation and enforce payment obligations.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the Commission wishes to draw the attention of all lessees of state-invested lands to their obligations regarding the payment of ground rent and the renewal of expired leases”.
Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, Ghana, Prof. Anthony Owusu-Ansah
The Commission has introduced a digital platform to support ground rent administration and is pursuing legal procedures against lessees who have defaulted on payments. It is also reminding lessees to pay annual ground rent and renew expired leases in accordance with the terms of their agreements.
Ground Rent Collection Exceeds 2025 Total
Prof Owusu-Ansah attributed the Commission’s revenue mobilisation efforts to measures aimed at strengthening the administration and collection of ground rent on state-invested lands.
As part of these efforts, the Commission has developed a digital platform to facilitate the collection of ground rent. The platform is being rolled out on a pilot basis in selected estates in the Greater Accra Region.
According to the Executive Secretary, the system is expected to improve record management, strengthen the monitoring of payments and support more effective follow-up on outstanding obligations.
The GH¢40.7 million collected by August represents about 90.4 per cent of the Commission’s GH¢45 million annual target. The amount also exceeds the GH¢32 million collected in the whole of 2025.
The figures indicate progress towards the Commission’s annual revenue target, although the supplied remarks did not provide a breakdown of collections by estate or the number of lessees who had settled their obligations.
Lessees Reminded of Annual Payment Obligations
The Commission used the press conference to remind lessees of state-invested lands that ground rent must be paid annually under the terms and conditions of their respective leases.
Prof. Owusu-Ansah stressed that the obligation to pay does not depend on whether a lessee has received a rent demand notice from the Commission. Lessees are therefore expected to ensure that payments are made when they fall due, rather than waiting for a formal reminder before settling their obligations.
The warning forms part of the Commission’s broader effort to improve compliance and ensure that revenue due from state-invested lands is collected. The Executive Secretary also drew attention to the renewal of expired leases, urging lessees to address their obligations in accordance with the applicable terms.
Failure to meet these requirements could expose defaulters to further action by the Commission as it seeks to recover outstanding ground rent.
Commission Pursues Legal Action Against Defaulters
Prof. Owusu-Ansah disclosed that the Lands Commission had initiated further legal procedures against lessees who had defaulted on ground rent payments. He explained that the Commission faces a different enforcement challenge from utility providers, which can disconnect services when customers fail to pay their bills.
The Commission cannot use the same approach to compel payment and may need to seek redress through the courts. He indicated that legal action could result in additional financial obligations for defaulters, depending on the outcome of proceedings.
The Commission expects the measures against defaulters to be fully rolled out in 2027. The announcement signals an intention to strengthen enforcement beyond reminders and payment monitoring.
However, the Executive Secretary did not specify the number of defaulters targeted, the total value of outstanding ground rent or the number of legal cases already initiated.
Digital Platform to Strengthen Monitoring
The pilot digital platform is expected to improve how the Commission records ground rent obligations and tracks payments across selected estates in Greater Accra. By improving record management and monitoring, the system is intended to help officials identify outstanding payments and follow up more effectively with lessees.
The Commission has not yet announced a nationwide rollout date for the platform in the supplied remarks. Its current implementation remains at the pilot stage in selected Greater Accra estates.
The digital initiative forms part of the Commission’s wider work to improve land administration and service delivery. Its effectiveness in boosting ground rent compliance will depend on how the system is expanded and used to monitor payments and follow up on arrears.
Revenue Mobilisation Remains a Priority
The Commission’s collection figures place ground rent administration among its ongoing revenue mobilisation priorities. By August 2026, it had collected GH¢40.7 million against a full-year target of GH¢45 million, leaving GH¢4.3 million to reach the target.
The amount collected had already surpassed the GH¢32 million recorded in 2025, according to Prof. Owusu-Ansah. The Commission is combining digital monitoring with legal procedures and public reminders to encourage timely payments and address defaults.
For lessees, the key message is that annual ground rent remains payable under their lease conditions, whether or not a demand notice has been received. Those with expired leases are also being urged to attend to their renewal obligations.
With the Land Commission expecting its enforcement measures to be fully rolled out in 2027, the coming period will be important in determining how the digital platform and legal procedures contribute to compliance and the recovery of outstanding payments.
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