In a decisive move to restore integrity and efficiency to Ghana’s land sector, President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Lands Commission and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to conduct a comprehensive audit of all state lands allocated, leased, or sold from 2017 to 2024.
According to the President, any transaction found to involve illegality, conflict of interest, or abuse of office will be annulled as prescribed by law.
Unveiling a sweeping reform package, President Mahama introduced several innovative measures aimed at transforming land administration across the country. At the heart of these changes is the nationwide digitisation of land records through the Enterprise Land Information System, which will modernise how land data is managed and accessed.
The reform also involves integrating the registries, valuation, and survey departments, and deploying blockchain technology to secure land data against tampering. Furthermore, fully functional land offices will be established in all 261 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies, supported by the recruitment of over 300 young professionals to drive decentralisation and improve public service delivery.
During the swearing-in of the new Lands Commission Board, Mahama charged its members to lead this transformation with a commitment to integrity, fairness, and accountability. He outlined a four-pillar reform agenda designed to tackle longstanding challenges in the sector:
- Restoring public confidence in land administration through transparency and justice.
- Reversing illegal transactions and reclaiming encroached public lands.
- Digitising and decentralising services to enhance efficiency and accessibility.
- Harmonising customary and statutory systems for greater equity and coherence.
As part of these reforms, the government has lifted the temporary ban on state land transactions. Moving forward, all allocations, leases, and sales will be processed through strict digital verification, transparent procedures, and robust oversight.
“No land document should take more than 30 working days to process, and no Ghanaian should have to pay bribes or know someone at the top to register their land,” President Mahama declared, signalling a new era of openness and service in Ghana’s land administration.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
