The government through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has cancelled all uncompleted transactions involving public lands after a nationwide review of 8,160 lease applications uncovered widespread lapses in compliance with the Lands Commission’s internal allocation procedures.
The move follows a directive issued by President John Dramani Mahama on Jan. 10, 2025 ordering the Lands Commission to halt the leasing and processing of public land transactions, a suspension the government said was aimed at preventing abuse and restoring discipline in land administration.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah adressing the press said that, “As you recall, on the 10th of January 2025, on the assumption of Her Excellency the President, President John Mahama directed the Lands Commission to immediately halt all activities related to the lease and processing of transactions involving public lands,” the minister said at a press conference.
The minister said a committee chaired by his deputy was inaugurated on June 5, 2025 to review the lease of public lands across Ghana’s 16 regions. Cabinet has approved the committee’s recommendations and directed that implementation begin immediately, he said.
“Because of this work, the committee reviewed a total of 8,160 lease applications executed or initiated across all 16 regions in Ghana,” the minister said.
The applications included 4,176 direct allocations, 2,799 regularizations, 19 direct allocations related to state bungalows, 108 land swap or public-private partnership arrangements, 795 subsequent transactions and 265 fresh allocations, he said. Of the land swap and PPP arrangements, 88 were in the Ashanti region.
The review found that a number of the applications and allocations did not comply with internal processes, which the minister said undermined transparency and exposed the system to abuse.
“A, all uncompleted transactions of the categories listed above have been cancelled and affected applicants will be formally notified,” the minister said.
“Completed transactions of the categories listed above will undergo case-by-case review. And any allocations found to have been processed without full compliance with due process will also face cancellation,” he said.
He further noted that uncompleted regularization applications will remain suspended pending a comprehensive review and standardization of the Lands Commission’s internal procedures.
“For the avoidance of doubt and to ensure consistency in implementation, a transaction will be treated as completed where a formal offer has been issued and accepted by the applicant,” he said.
In the interest of transparency, the ministry will publish both completed and uncompleted application lists on a region-by-region basis, beginning with Greater Accra, on the Ministry and Lands Commission websites.
The minister said affected applicants will be given the opportunity to reapply once reforms are completed, stressing the measures are not intended to unfairly disadvantage legitimate applicants.
