MAHAMA LIFTS BAN ON STATE LAND TRANSACTIONS, ANNOUNCES “BOLD RESET”
President inaugurates new Lands Commission, unveils digital verification and stronger oversight to curb corruption in land administration.
President John Mahama has lifted the eight-month temporary ban on state land transactions, announcing a comprehensive overhaul of Ghana’s land administration system aimed at eliminating corruption and ensuring transparency.
The ban, which took effect on January 10, 2025, was implemented to allow for a thorough review of the country’s land management practices. Speaking at the inauguration of the reconstituted National Lands Commission on Tuesday, President Mahama stated that the suspension “yielded valuable insights into the weaknesses of our current system and the urgent reforms required.”
“Today, with the inauguration of the new commission and the adoption of robust accountability measures, I am pleased to announce that the ban on land transactions has been lifted,” the President declared.
However, Mahama emphasized that lifting the ban does not signal a return to business as usual. Instead, it marks the beginning of a “more disciplined era” in land management. All future allocations, leases, or sales of state lands must now follow strict transparent procedures, incorporate digital verification systems, and be subject to stronger oversight mechanisms.
The President outlined a four-pillar framework for the land administration reset: restoring public confidence through transparency and fairness; reversing illegal transactions and reclaiming encroached lands; digitizing and modernizing land services for efficiency; and harmonizing customary and statutory land systems to promote equity.
The move comes amid longstanding public complaints about corruption, land grabbing, and irregular transactions in Ghana’s land sector, particularly involving state lands.
