Government has lifted the temporary ban on public land transactions as part of new reforms aimed at improving transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the administration of public lands in Ghana.
The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources announced Alhaji Yussif Sulemana the decision while updating the media on the implementation of reforms approved by Cabinet following the review of public land leases.
According to the Deputy Minister, the suspension of services related to the leasing, processing, and regularization of public lands by the Lands Commission has now been removed.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is also important to reiterate that the temporary suspension of services of the Lands Commission relating to the leasing, processing, and regularization of public lands has now been lifted by the Hon. Minister,” he said.
Alhaji Sulemana explained that although the services have resumed, all public land transactions will now be conducted under newly introduced procedures designed to strengthen oversight and ensure value for money.
As part of the reforms, the Ministry has revised the Public Land Application Form, known as Form 5, which will now serve as the single mandatory application document for all public land transactions across the country.
“The revised Form 5 now serves as the official application form for all public land transactions in Ghana. It will function as the single mandatory application instrument nationwide for all public lands applications,” the Deputy Minister stated.
Government has also introduced stricter controls over the allocation of public lands. Under the new framework, the Lands Commission cannot allocate any public land without written approval from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
“Under the revised framework, no public land will be allocated by the Lands Commission without the prior written approval of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources,” he added.
The Ministry has also compiled market values for public lands across various estates in the country, which will be published on the Lands Commission’s website to ensure transparency in determining land premiums.
Additionally, a new payment structure has been introduced, requiring applicants to pay at least 70 percent of the assessed market value of public land upfront as a premium, while the remaining 30 percent will be paid over the duration of the lease as ground rent.
To protect state lands from encroachment and illegal development, government has also established a Public Land Protection Task Force made up of representatives from the Lands Commission, security agencies, regional authorities, and other relevant stakeholders.
The Ministry further announced plans to digitalize Ghana’s land administration system to reduce human interference and improve efficiency in land services across the country.
The Deputy Minister said the reforms are aimed at restoring public confidence in the management of state lands and ensuring that public land resources are protected for national development.
