"No public land will be allocated without prior approval of sector Minister" – Deputy Lands Minister

The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Alhaji Dr. Yusif Sulemana, has announced that no public land will be allocated in Ghana without the prior approval of the sector Minister, as part of new reforms aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in public land administration.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, Hon. Sulemana said the directive forms part of sweeping reforms introduced by government to restore integrity and improve efficiency in the management of public lands.

According to him, the new measure will ensure stronger ministerial oversight and guarantee that all public land allocations align with national development priorities.

He explained that the reforms, which are being implemented by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in collaboration with the Lands Commission following Cabinet directives, are intended to address longstanding challenges associated with the administration of public lands.

“One of the key measures is that no public land will be allocated without the prior approval of the Minister. This is to ensure greater accountability and proper supervision in the allocation process,” the Deputy Minister stated.

Hon. Sulemana further disclosed that the Ministry has undertaken a comprehensive review of the Lands Commission’s internal processes for allocating public lands, introducing clearly defined stages and stronger verification mechanisms to improve transparency and traceability in decision-making.

He noted that government has also introduced a new premium framework for public land leases which requires applicants to pay at least 70 percent of the assigned market value upfront, while the remaining 30 percent will be spread over the tenure of the lease as ground rent.

The Deputy Minister explained that the new payment structure is aimed at enhancing revenue generation for the state and eliminating disparities where individuals previously paid significantly different premiums for similar parcels of land.

He also revealed that the Ministry has revised the Public Land Application Form, commonly known as Form 5, which will now serve as the single mandatory application instrument for all public land transactions across the country.

The revised form will apply to both new applications and reapplications by individuals whose earlier applications were cancelled during the recent public land review exercise.

As part of efforts to improve accessibility, the Lands Commission will publish the application form on its official website to enable applicants download, complete and submit their applications electronically.

Hon. Sulemana further announced that the Ministry and the Lands Commission have compiled standardised market values for several estates across the country, including more than 30 estates in the Greater Accra Region.

These values will be published online to guide the assessment of land premiums and eliminate discretionary pricing.

In addition, a Public Land Protection Taskforce will soon be inaugurated to prevent encroachment on state lands, halt unauthorised developments and prosecute offenders.

He added that the temporary suspension on public land transactions has now been lifted, with all services expected to operate strictly under the newly introduced reforms.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith