Restoring integrity in public land management
Public lands are vested in the President in trust for the people of Ghana to be administered in the public interest.
It is the solemn responsibility of the government to safeguard public lands from mismanagement, misuse, and unauthorised disposals, ensuring they serve the interests of all Ghanaians.
Unfortunately, especially in the last 20 years or more, the management of public lands, mostly in Accra, and to an extent the other regional capitals and major towns in the country, has been a pressing concern for Ghanaians, with allegations of mismanagement and corruption plaguing the sector.
On January 10, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama directed the Lands Commission to immediately halt all activities relating to the lease and processing of transactions involving public lands.
The reason for this directive was to safeguard public lands from abuse, restore discipline in land administration, and ensure that all transactions involving these lands deliver value for money to the State.
Consequently, a committee was set up to review 8,160 lease applications for public lands executed or initiated between 2017 and 2024 and make recommendations.
This is aimed at restoring public confidence in land administration and ensuring that public lands are managed with integrity, efficiency, and in the best interest of national development.
The good thing is that the committee has finished its work and the recommendations have been made public.
Looking at some of the key recommendations, the Daily Graphic believes that measures such as the establishment of a public land protection task force, the review of the public land application form (Form 5), and the revision of the Lands Commission’s internal processes for public land allocation will help strengthen accountability and transparency in the sector.
Legislative backing for these reforms will ensure that public lands are managed transparently and responsibly.
The cancellation of uncompleted transactions, along with the review of completed ones, will help root out corruption and ensure that public lands are allocated to deserving applicants.
The revised Form 5 will ensure uniformity in the application process, reducing discretionary practices and uneven standards in the allocation of public lands.
The strengthened internal checks and alignment of each stage of decision-making with the principles of transparency, accountability, and traceability will provide an additional safeguard against unauthorised or irregular allocations.
The proposed new premium framework for public land leases, which requires a minimum of 70 per cent of the assessed market value to be payable upfront, is a step towards ensuring that public lands are valued correctly and that Ghanaians receive a fair deal.
The compilation and publication of market value data for defined land clusters must be effectively done to provide a reference point for assessing premiums, evaluating value for money, and supporting consistent and objective decision-making in public land allocations.
The proposed new premium framework for public land leases, which requires at least 70 per cent of the assessed market value to be paid upfront, is a crucial step toward ensuring that public lands are properly valued and that Ghanaians receive a fair deal.
Equally important is the systematic compilation and publication of market value data for defined land clusters. We hope these reforms will serve as a testament to the government's commitment to good governance and transparency.
The success of these reforms hinges on effective implementation, and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources must not fail Ghanaians in this regard.
Adequate infrastructure and resources must be provided to support the reforms, the Lands Commission must be properly resourced to execute its mandate, and the public must be educated on the new procedures to ensure transparency and compliance.
The Daily Graphic is happy that under the revised framework, no public land will be allocated by the Lands Commission without the prior written approval of the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.
This measure reinforces ministerial oversight, ensures policy coherence, and provides an additional safeguard against unauthorised or irregular allocations.
We urge the government to ensure that these reforms are implemented effectively and that the necessary infrastructure and resources are put in place to support them.
