Prez. Mahama inaugurates newly constituted governing board of National Lands Commission

President John Dramani Mahama has inaugurated the newly constituted Governing Board of the National Lands Commission, signaling the start of what he described as a "bold national reset" of Ghana's land governance system.

The President used the occasion to announce sweeping reforms, including the lifting of the temporary ban on state land transactions and the immediate commencement of a comprehensive audit of public land allocations between 2017 and 2024.

Delivering a powerful address at the inauguration ceremony, the President underscored the urgent need to rebuild public trust in Ghana’s land administration framework.

He described the current state of land management as one marred by corruption, impunity, and institutional decay.

“No area of our national life is in greater need of a reset than our land administration system,” he declared.

“Successive years of mismanagement, political interference, and weak accountability have left the system broken and vulnerable.

Ban on Land Transactions Lifted

The President announced that the temporary ban placed on all state land transactions has been lifted, following the completion of a government review.

However, he emphasized that future transactions must be conducted under strict new guidelines to prevent abuse.

“This is not a return to business as usual,” he said.

“All allocations, leases, or sales of public lands must now comply with transparent, digital, and accountable processes.”

Audit of State Lands from 2017–2024

As part of the reforms, the President has directed the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Lands Commission to conduct a full audit of all state lands allocated, leased, or sold between 2017 and 2024.

The audit will focus on lands originally acquired for schools, hospitals, public institutions, and ecological zones.

He warned that transactions found to be tainted by abuse of power, conflict of interest, or illegality would be reversed, stressing that the exercise was not a witch hunt but a matter of fairness and justice.

“Those who have acquired lands legally through the right processes need not fear,” he added.

Digital Transformation and Decentralization

The President announced plans to digitize all land records nationwide through the Enterprise Land Information System and to introduce blockchain technology to protect data integrity.

As part of decentralization efforts, the Commission will establish operational land offices in all 261 metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies.

Over 300 qualified young professionals will be recruited and deployed to support these district offices, which will serve as frontline points for land service delivery.

“No land document should take more than 30 working days to process, and no Ghanaian should have to pay bribes or rely on connections to register their land,” the President said.

Tackling Corruption and Promoting Equity

The President issued a stern warning against corruption within the Lands Commission, calling for strict internal accountability and an end to absenteeism, bribery, file manipulation, and revenue misappropriation.

He also emphasized the need for gender inclusion, criticizing the lack of women in recent board nominations and calling for legislative action to enforce affirmative action mandates in public appointments.

“We must pass a law that makes it mandatory that 30% of board positions are reserved for women,” he said, noting that the only woman on the newly inaugurated board appears to be present merely by virtue of her position as Executive Secretary of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Traditional Authorities and Customary Lands

Recognizing that over 80% of lands in Ghana are under customary tenure, the President called for a new partnership between the state and traditional authorities.

He said customary land transactions must be digitized and made publicly accessible, and that traditional leaders would receive technical support to ensure fair access and revenue sharing.

A Generational Mandate

Addressing the new board directly, the President described their assignment as a “generational” responsibility, urging them to uphold integrity, transparency, and constitutional values

“We do not inherit the land from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children,” he said. .

“Let this Commission be remembered as one that transformed Ghana's land sector—not just in policy, but in practice.”.

The President called on the board to act boldly and selflessly in reforming Ghana’s land governance system and restoring public confidence.

Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Yusif Sulemana, raised concerns over the lack of gender balance on the newly constituted Governing Board of the Lands Commission, revealing that only one woman has been appointed to serve on the 23-member board.

The Deputy Minister noted that despite following all constitutional and legal procedures in constituting the board, the outcome reflected a disturbing lack of female representation.

“This board that Your Excellency is about to inaugurate has only one female,” Hon. Sulemana revealed.

"We wrote to the relevant institutions and bodies mandated by law to nominate representatives. Unfortunately, most of them submitted male nominees, and when it came to electing regional chairpersons democratically, no women were elected.”

The Deputy Minister cited Article 256(5)(8) of the Constitution and the Lands Commission Act (Act 767) as the guiding frameworks for the board’s formation.

He explained that every effort was made to ensure transparency and inclusiveness in the selection process, with regional representation from various stakeholder institutions, including the Farmers Association, Ghana Bar Association, and the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA).

However, he acknowledged that the democratic process of electing regional chairpersons — many of whom automatically serve on the national board — led to an all-male outcome at the national level.

“We believe this is an issue that needs serious attention moving forward,” he said.

"If we are to ensure meaningful gender equity in governance, especially in key sectors like land administration, then some form of legislative or structural intervention may be necessary.”

Hon. Sulemana’s comments echoed the President’s own remarks earlier in the ceremony, where he lamented the recurring trend of all-male nominations whenever agencies are left to propose candidates, despite the existence of an Affirmative Action Act mandating a minimum of 20% representation for women in public offices.

The Deputy Minister officially presented the full list of board members to President stating that all had been properly vetted and nominated, with only one member absent due to travel outside the country.

Chairman of the National Lands Commission, Dr. Wordsworth Odame Larbi, pledged the Commission’s full commitment to implementing President a GH havĝbold reset agenda for Ghana’s land governance, vowing to tackle long-standing inefficiencies, corruption, and land-related conflicts with innovation and integrity.

Dr. Larbi expressed profound gratitude to the President and government for the trust reposed in them, describing their mandate as a “solemn national duty” to overhaul Ghana’s land administration system in line with the President’s reform vision.

“We accept this responsibility with a profound sense of duty, recognizing that land is central to Ghana’s socio-economic development,” Dr. Larbi said.

“We do not see the challenges before us as insurmountable, but as urgent calls for innovation, collaboration and decisive leadership.”

Focus Areas: Efficiency, Integrity, and Equity

Dr. Larbi identified key focus areas for the Commission’s work over the next four years, including:

Modernization of land service delivery

Enhanced collaboration with traditional authorities

Accelerated digitalization of land records

Improved client satisfaction and turnaround times

Accountability and protection of public lands

Revised National Land Policy

Greater transparency in land transactions

He acknowledged the challenges plaguing the land sector — including disputes, delays, corruption, and encroachment — and said the Commission would work with stakeholders including the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Metropolitan and District Assemblies (MDAs), traditional authorities, and civil society to address them holistically.

“We will uphold the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and accountability in the discharge of our mandate,” he assured.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith