President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to introduce legislation requiring parliamentary approval for all government land transactions, addressing concerns over undervalued disposal of state property.
Speaking to Ghanaians in Lusaka, Zambia, on Wednesday, President Mahama said investigations revealed troubling instances where public lands were sold at significantly low prices and later resold at vastly inflated values.
The President disclosed that some buyers acquired government land for as little as GHS150,000 and subsequently sold the same properties for as much as $2 million, raising serious questions about the initial valuations and approval processes.
President Mahama revealed that a committee has been established to review the status of public lands in Accra and other parts of Ghana. According to the President, transactions involving properties whose titles had not been finalised have been suspended and the lands reclaimed. Property owners who have already developed their sites will be required to pay their true market value.
The proposed legislation will mandate that all sales and leases of public assets receive parliamentary ratification before the Lands Commission can process them. This measure is designed to end what the President described as the unchecked disposal of government property.
President Mahama temporarily halted state land transactions in January 2025 to allow for a comprehensive review of land administration systems. The ban was lifted in September 2025 following the inauguration of a new Lands Commission Board and the adoption of enhanced accountability measures.
The new bill, once passed, will create an additional layer of oversight by requiring elected representatives to approve any disposal of state property. The government expects the legislation to improve transparency and restore public confidence in land management.
Ghana’s land sector has faced persistent criticism over allegations of improper allocations, undervaluation of properties, and lack of accountability in transactions involving state lands. The proposed reforms seek to address these longstanding governance challenges.
President Mahama is currently on a three-day state visit to Zambia at the invitation of President Hakainde Hichilema. The visit, which runs from February 4 to 6, 2026, includes bilateral talks on trade, investment cooperation, and opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
