WE WON’T DEMOLISH BUILDINGS ON PUBLIC LANDS ANYMORE – Mahama
Occupants to pay full market value as government tightens land administration reforms
President John Dramani Mahama has announced a major shift in government policy on the management of public lands, stating that completed buildings erected on improperly acquired state lands will no longer be demolished.
Instead, owners of such properties will be compelled to pay the true market value of the land to regularise their ownership.
Speaking during a meeting with the Ghanaian diaspora community in Lusaka, Zambia, President Mahama said a government-appointed committee tasked with reviewing the status of public lands across the country has already submitted its findings.
According to him, the review uncovered widespread abuse of state lands, including cases where prime government properties were allegedly allocated at grossly undervalued prices.
“Some public lands were simply distributed and looted,” the President said, adding that several leases that were still in the processing stage have since been cancelled.
President Mahama cited instances in Accra where individuals reportedly acquired prime government land for as little as GH¢150,000, only to later resell those same properties for as much as $2 million.
While describing such practices as unacceptable, he acknowledged the practical and social challenges associated with demolishing completed and occupied buildings.
“It would be difficult to say, ‘we’re going to break this house and take the land back,’” he said.
As a result, the government has opted for a different approach.
“In cases where the title has already been processed and the building completed, we are asking them to pay the true value of the land,” President Mahama explained.
He stressed that the new approach balances accountability with fairness, while ensuring the state recovers the full economic value of its assets.
The President also announced plans to digitise land administration using blockchain technology, a move aimed at tackling chronic challenges such as double sales, fraudulent documentation, and disputes involving family and stool lands.
According to him, digitisation will allow prospective buyers to verify land ownership, track transaction histories, and reduce manipulation within the Lands Registry.
“These reforms are necessary to bring transparency, protect legitimate owners, and end the chaos in our land administration system,” President Mahama said.
The policy shift forms part of the government’s broader agenda to restore public confidence in land governance and ensure that Ghana’s state assets are managed in the national interest.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
