Lands Commission target full digitalisation of services by 2027, reports GH¢40.7m in ground rent

The Lands Commission says it is targeting the full operationalisation of its Enterprise Land Information System (ELIS) across all regional offices by the end of 2027, as part of efforts to modernise land administration and improve service delivery in Ghana.

Prof. Anthony Owusu-Ansah, Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, announced this during a media engagement organised by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, where he outlined progress on key programmes and projects being implemented by the Commission.

He said the Commission had made significant strides in digital transformation, infrastructure development, land policy reform, revenue mobilisation and the decentralisation of land administration services.

According to him, as of September 2026, ELIS had been enhanced in the Greater Accra Region and extended to nine other regions: Eastern, Western, Volta, Western North, Oti, Bono East, Savannah, North East and Ahafo.

Prof. Owusu-Ansah explained that the digital platform was being rolled out in phases to improve the efficiency, accessibility and effectiveness of land administration services.

He noted that members of the public could now apply for official land searches online, reducing the need for physical visits to Lands Commission offices and cutting the turnaround time for such searches from approximately one month to an average of seven working days.

The Commission, he added, planned to launch ELIS at its Ashanti Regional Office before the end of November 2026, with full operationalisation across all regional offices expected by the end of 2027.

He said the full rollout of the Strategic Land Administration Reform Project (SLARP) would further support the development of an integrated, technology-driven land administration system through investments in digital infrastructure, systems integration and improved service delivery.

On land policy reform, Prof. Owusu-Ansah disclosed that the Lands Commission, in collaboration with the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands and under the auspices of the Ministry, was facilitating the review of the 1999 National Land Policy and the preparation of a new policy.

He said an inception workshop held on October 6 and 7, 2026, brought together traditional authorities, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, ministries, departments and agencies, civil society organisations, academia, development partners, the media and other stakeholders to provide input into the process.

Further consultations would be undertaken to ensure that the new policy reflected current national priorities and addressed emerging challenges in land governance.

The Commission expects the review process to be completed in 2027.

On the implementation of the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036), Prof. Owusu-Ansah said the preparation of the accompanying Legislative Instrument was at an advanced stage.

He indicated that, following consultations with key stakeholders, including Parliament’s Committee on Subsidiary Legislation, the revised draft regulations had been forwarded to Parliament for consideration and approval.

The Commission anticipates parliamentary approval before the end of 2026 to facilitate the effective implementation of the relevant provisions of the Act.

The Executive Secretary also announced that the Commission had collected GH¢40.7 million in ground rent as of August 2026, representing approximately 90.4 per cent of its annual target of GH¢45 million.

He said the amount exceeded the GH¢32.02 million collected in 2025, reflecting progress in revenue mobilisation from lessees of State and vested lands.

To strengthen the administration and collection of ground rent, the Commission had developed a digital platform that was being piloted in selected estates in the Greater Accra Region.

The platform is expected to improve records management, facilitate the monitoring of payments and strengthen follow-up on outstanding obligations.

Prof. Owusu-Ansah reminded lessees that they were required to pay ground rent annually in accordance with the terms and conditions of their leases, irrespective of whether they had received a demand notice from the Commission.

He disclosed that the Commission had initiated legal procedures against lessees who had defaulted on their ground rent payments, with the enforcement measures expected to be fully rolled out in 2027.

He urged defaulters to settle their outstanding obligations to avoid potential legal proceedings and other consequences under applicable laws.

Government lessees were also encouraged to visit the Commission’s official website and complete the online Know Your Customer (KYC) form to facilitate the updating of lease records.

Additionally, lessees whose leases had expired were advised to contact the Commission to initiate the renewal process, where applicable.

As part of efforts to bring land administration services closer to the public, Prof. Owusu-Ansah said the Commission was working towards establishing district offices within selected Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.

He said a needs assessment had been conducted to identify suitable locations and determine the requirements for establishing the offices.

Some of the selected assemblies had provided accommodation to facilitate the initiative.

The Commission is currently working to renovate and furnish 36 identified facilities to enable them to provide selected land administration services.

On infrastructure development, he reported that construction of regional office buildings in the Savannah, Upper East and Western Regions was ongoing, with an average completion rate of approximately 50 per cent as at the reporting period.

He added that work on the Central Regional Office project had resumed following the resolution of initial challenges, with the projects expected to be completed by 2027.

The final phase of the Greater Accra Regional Office Complex had also been completed, while procurement processes were underway to furnish the facility ahead of its commissioning and operationalisation.

The facility will house the Greater Accra Client Service and Access Unit to enhance the delivery of client-facing services.

Regarding the Tema District Office building, Prof. Owusu-Ansah said the Commission had received Commitment Authorisation from the Ministry of Finance for the continuation of construction works.

He revealed that procurement was underway to engage a contractor for the next phase.

Prof. Owusu-Ansah further disclosed that 51 Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) had been established and observed as of September 2026 under an initiative involving the Lands Commission, the Licensed Surveyors Association of Ghana and a private-sector partner.

He said the network would improve the accuracy and reliability of surveying and geospatial data, while supporting cadastral surveying, infrastructure development, spatial planning and land administration nationwide.

The Executive Secretary also highlighted the Commission’s role in facilitating land acquisition and determining compensation for public infrastructure and strategic national development projects.

Among the projects are the Ashaiman Roundabout–Akosombo Road Project, Motorway Roundabout–Dawhenya Road Project, Kumasi Outer Ring Road Project, Suame Interchange and Local Roads Project, and land acquisition for the Ghana Grid Company Limited along the Accra–Kumasi Corridor.

The Commission is also involved in land acquisition for the Petroleum Hub Development Project at Jomoro and Phase III of the Appiatse Resettlement Project.

Prof. Owusu-Ansah said these responsibilities were undertaken within the legal framework established by the 1992 Constitution and the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036).

He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to building a modern, efficient and responsive land administration system that supports investment, sustainable development and national prosperity.

In order development, Prof. Anthony Owusu-Ansah acknowledged that some delays in land administration arise from the Lands Commission’s internal processes, but said many are caused by external factors, including applicants submitting documents to the wrong officers and presenting indentures granted by the wrong parties.

He explained that the Commission intends to reduce delays through digitalisation, improved staff performanc, and the implementation of the Strategic Land Administration Reform Project in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

He assured the public that these interventions would significantly reduce delays and stated that the head of the entity would be held accountable for delays attributable to the Commission.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith and Priscilla Dodoo