Thousands of acres of lands belonging to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) valued at more than GH¢851 million have been illegally encroached across multiple locations in Ghana.
A total of 3,161.25 acres of SSNIT lands have been taken over by private individuals and developers.
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These properties—spread across the country—are collectively valued at over GH¢851 million (GH¢851,283,444.14).
This revelation is detailed in the Report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Ghana: Public Boards, Corporations and Other Statutory Institutions for the Period Ended 31 December 2024.
Inspections carried out by the Auditor-General’s team at Bortianor near West Hills and Odupong in the Kasoa area confirmed widespread encroachment.
The report states that these lands, originally acquired by SSNIT for strategic investment purposes, have been “fully occupied,” with little room for recovery unless decisive legal steps are taken.
In the Ashanti Region, the audit discovered that SSNIT had not registered a parcel of land at Adum in Kumasi in its name as of May 2024.
This failure to regularise ownership presents yet another vulnerability in the Trust’s land portfolio.
Legal and financial risks loom
The Auditor-General warned that continued encroachment on these lands could expose SSNIT to significant financial losses and legal liabilities.
Attempts to reclaim the encroached lands could result in substantial litigation costs, which in turn would place further strain on the Trust’s cash flows and long-term investment plans.
The report urged SSNIT to protect its remaining lands from further intrusion.
SSNIT responds with land protection strategy
In response to the audit findings, SSNIT Management acknowledged the extent of the problem and gave assurances that a comprehensive land protection strategy is already underway.
This includes efforts to register unregistered lands, fence existing properties, install boundary pillars, and construct security posts where necessary.
The Management noted that this strategy has received approval from its Board of Trustees during the Trust’s 364th and 365th Board Meetings held on 28 March and 25 April 2023, respectively. The plan is being implemented in phases and is intended to secure SSNIT’s land holdings for future development and investment.
This revelation adds to growing concerns over land encroachment in Ghana, particularly involving state institutions.
SSNIT, which manages pensions and retirement benefits for millions of Ghanaian workers, maintains an extensive portfolio of real estate investments intended to support its financial sustainability.
The Auditor-General’s report calls for immediate and decisive action—not only to protect SSNIT’s assets but also to set a precedent for safeguarding public lands from abuse and neglect.
