Mahama reopens state land transactions after sweeping review of Land Administration System
President John Dramani Mahama has officially lifted the eight-month ban on the sale and lease of state lands, a measure his administration imposed earlier this year to address long-standing challenges in the land administration system.
The moratorium, announced on January 10, 2025, halted all transactions involving state and public lands.
NDC Government officials at the time explained that the suspension was necessary to allow for a comprehensive audit of land allocation processes, amid concerns over corruption, opaque dealings, and widespread disputes surrounding state land ownership.
Speaking at the swearing-in of the newly constituted Lands Commission Board in Accra on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, President Mahama said the review had exposed serious gaps that required urgent reforms.
According to him, the exercise revealed inefficiencies in record-keeping, inconsistencies in contract documentation, and loopholes that allowed for abuse of authority in the allocation of public lands.
“My government imposed a temporary ban on the sale of state lands to enable a thorough review of contracts.
The exercise has revealed valuable insights into our current system and the reforms that are required,” Mahama said.
The president assured Ghanaians that the reopening of state land transactions would be guided by a new framework aimed at restoring public trust.
He emphasized that all future allocations and leases would now undergo a transparent, digitally verified process under strict institutional oversight.
“The lifting of the ban does not signify a return to business as usual. It signals a new disciplined era of land management. We are embarking on a reset that prioritises transparency, fairness, and justice in land administration,” he declared.
The Lands Commission, which has often been criticized for inefficiency and lack of accountability, will now play a central role in enforcing the new reforms. Its freshly inaugurated board has been tasked with ensuring that digital systems for land tracking and contract verification are operational and free from political interference.
The decision to lift the ban is expected to provide relief to individuals and businesses whose land applications had been on hold since January.
However, it also reignites public debate over the management of state assets.
Critics have in the past accused successive governments of using state land sales to reward political allies and enrich party financiers.
By insisting on a transparent digital system, the Mahama administration hopes to draw a line under such practices.
The issue of state land management has long been contentious in Ghana, with previous administrations facing backlash over questionable allocations and encroachments.
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