Govt set to publish list of public lands leased since 1993

The Lands Commission, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, is set to publish the list of public lands leased to individuals and private entities by the State since the inception of the Fourth Republic Constitution on 7th January 1993.

The government is in the final stages of auditing all public lands to ensure that none have been wrongfully acquired or misappropriated.

Audit underway
Once the audit is complete, the comprehensive list of public lands will be made available to the public, including details of any transactions involving public lands.

This move is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of national assets.

Importance of public trust
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Samuel Abu Jinapor, announced this during a news briefing in Accra.

He stated, “The publication of this list will not only enhance transparency but also build public confidence in the management of our national assets. We are determined to show that this government has nothing to hide and that all public lands are being managed for the benefit of the people of Ghana.”

Addressing accusations of land grabbing
According to Mr. Jinapor, the decision to publish the list became necessary to address perennial accusations and counteraccusations of land grabbing by some government appointees.

He explained that it would also enable the Commission to update its records on State lands leased to private individuals and organizations.

Govt commitment to protecting public lands
Mr. Jinapor emphasized that this initiative is a testament to the Akufo-Addo administration’s commitment to protecting public lands from encroachment and misuse.

“The Akufo-Addo government has been unwavering in its resolve to protect public lands. We are not only committed to preserving these lands but also to ensuring that the public is fully informed about their status. This is why we are in the process of compiling and publishing a detailed list of all public lands across the country,” he said.

Responding to allegations of state capture
The Minister’s announcement comes in the context of recent allegations made by North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who accused the government of engaging in state capture and unlawfully reallocating public lands to private entities.
These allegations have stirred public concern, leading to calls for increased transparency in the management of state lands.

Minister provides clarity on transactions
In response to these allegations, Mr. Jinapor categorically refuted them, labeling the accusations as unfounded and politically motivated.

He stressed that all transactions involving public lands have been conducted with the highest levels of transparency, in strict adherence to the law, and with the nation’s best interests at heart.

He assured the public that all state-controlled lands are safe and that the government has been meticulous in safeguarding these valuable assets.

Clarification on high-profile land transactions
The Minister provided detailed information about several high-profile land transactions that have been under scrutiny.

For instance, regarding the Cantonments Civil Aviation Land, he explained that this land was reallocated for the development of national infrastructure, including a new headquarters for the Civil Aviation Authority.

He emphasized that the reallocation followed a competitive bidding process, with the land being valued at market rates.

Prime lands at Ridge, Airport Residential Area
The Minister clarified that the Ridge Prime Land was leased to a private developer through an open and transparent process.

The lease agreement, he noted, includes strict conditions to ensure the land is used for public benefit, including commercial and residential development aimed at job creation.

Regarding the Airport Residential Area Lands, Mr. Jinapor said these lands were sold or leased at rates determined by independent valuers.

He further assured that all proceeds from these transactions have been fully accounted for by the Lands Commission.

Govt initiatives to safeguard public lands
Mr. Jinapor highlighted that the government has initiated processes to safeguard its lands, pointing to initiatives like the digitization of land records and the establishment of a special task force to prevent illegal encroachments.

He also mentioned that some State lands, which were leased by the Mahama-led government in 2015 and 2016 to private developers, included public lands belonging to the Judicial Service and Parks and Gardens at Cantonments.

New directive to the Lands Commission
On 17th August 2021, with the approval of the President of the Republic, a policy directive was issued to the Lands Commission, pursuant to Article 258(2) of the National Constitution, to “refer all transactions relating to the grant of any interest in public land to the office of the Minister for prior approval,” the Minister explained.

This directive ensures that the President, in whom these lands are vested, discharges his constitutional duty in an informed manner.

Reversal of unauthorized leases in Northern Region
In the Northern Region, for example, Mr. Jinapor stated that the Regional Lands Commission was directed to reverse a few leases over public lands granted to private developers without the prior approval of the President.

This followed a report from a three-member committee constituted by the Ministry to investigate allegations of the transfer of public lands in the region.

Ongoing efforts to protect public lands
Apart from the above directive to the Lands Commission, Mr. Jinapor said there had been a series of letters written to all public institutions to utilize public lands granted them for the purposes for which they were granted only and not to create any third-party interest in such lands without the express prior approval of the President.

New cabinet directive on public land transactions
“Just a couple of weeks ago, Cabinet issued a further directive to all public bodies, public institutions, and public corporations (including public universities) not to lease, sublet, assign, transfer, dispose of, or otherwise create any third-party interest in any public land granted or allocated to them without the prior written approval of the President of the Republic,” the Minister pointed out.

This directive, subsequently published in the dailies on Thursday, August 8, 2024, applies to all public lands that have been granted to public institutions, whether by way of freehold, leasehold, or any other form of grant.

A new era of accountability
The Minister stated that the days of public institutions entering into public-private partnership agreements with public lands without the approval of the President are obviously over, and any person who enters any such transaction does so at his/her own risk.

All these measures have been put in place to ensure the protection of public lands and to regulate their utilization, he stated.