Government Introduces Sweeping Reforms to Strengthen Transparency in Public Lands Administration

Government Introduces Sweeping Reforms to Strengthen Transparency in Public Lands Administration

The Government of Ghana has announced a comprehensive set of reforms aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the administration of public lands across the country.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Yusif Sulemana, said the reforms form part of Cabinet directives currently being implemented by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in collaboration with the Lands Commission to restore integrity in the management of public lands.

One of the key reforms is the introduction of a new premium framework for public land leases. Under the new arrangement, at least 70 percent of the assigned market value of public land must be paid upfront, while the remaining 30 percent will be spread over the tenure of the lease as ground rent. According to the Deputy Minister, this measure is intended to increase government revenue and prevent the wide disparities in land premiums that previously existed for similar lands.

Hon. Sulemana also announced the revision of the Public Land Application Form, popularly known as Form 5, which will now serve as the single mandatory application instrument for all public land transactions nationwide. The revised form will apply to both new applications and reapplications by individuals whose earlier applications were cancelled during the recent review exercise.

To improve accessibility and efficiency, the Lands Commission has been directed to publish the form on its official website, allowing applicants to download, complete, and submit their applications electronically.

The Deputy Minister further revealed that the Ministry has conducted a comprehensive review of the Lands Commission’s internal procedures for allocating public lands. Under the new framework, the stages involved in processing applications have been clearly defined, with stronger internal checks and verification mechanisms introduced to ensure transparency and accountability.

He added that no public land will be allocated without the prior approval of the Minister, a move expected to strengthen oversight and ensure that land allocations align with national policy objectives.

Another major reform is the standardisation of land market values for estates across the country. Hon. Sulemana stated that the Ministry and the Lands Commission have compiled reliable market values for several prime estates, including over 30 estates in the Greater Accra Region.

These values will be published on the Lands Commission’s website to guide the assessment of land premiums and eliminate discretionary pricing, ensuring fairness and value for money in public land allocations.

Additionally, the government will soon inaugurate a Public Land Protection Taskforce to prevent encroachment on state lands, halt unauthorised developments, and prosecute offenders where necessary.

As part of efforts to promote transparency, the Deputy Minister disclosed that a list of more than 8,000 reviewed public land applications will soon be published on the websites of the Ministry and the Lands Commission, starting with the Greater Accra Region.

He also announced that the temporary suspension on public land transactions has been lifted, although all services will now operate strictly under the new reform framework.

Hon. Sulemana further revealed that the Ministry has initiated the procurement process for the national digitalisation of Ghana’s land administration system, a project largely funded through the Lands Commission’s internally generated funds. The digitalisation initiative is expected to modernise land services and significantly reduce human interference in land transactions.

Source:Bibianinews.com