Accra, Tuesday, September 2, 2025 — President John Dramani Mahama has lifted the temporary ban on state land transactions, unveiling a sweeping package of reforms aimed at strengthening land governance and transparency in Ghana.
Speaking at the inauguration of the newly constituted Governing Board of the National Lands Commission at the Presidency, President Mahama stressed that the lifting of the ban marks the beginning of a “disciplined new era” in land administration.
“Today, with the inauguration of the new commission and the adoption of robust accountability measures, I’m pleased to announce that the ban on land transactions has been lifted,” he declared.
Not Business as Usual
The President made it clear that the reform is not a return to old practices.
“The lifting of this ban must not signal a return to business as usual. It is a signal that a new disciplined era of land management has begun,” he said.
Moving forward, he announced that all allocations, leases, or sales of state lands will strictly comply with transparent procedures, digital verification, and strong oversight mechanisms.
Why the Ban Was Imposed
President Mahama explained that the ban, introduced earlier this year, allowed his government to identify weaknesses in existing land management systems.
“In pursuit of this reform agenda, my government placed a temporary ban on all state land transactions to enable a thorough review of existing processes.
That exercise has yielded valuable insights into the weaknesses of our current system and the urgent reforms that are required,” he said.
He assured Ghanaians that legitimate landowners have nothing to fear:
“We’re not on a witch hunt. Those who have legally acquired land through proper processes need not fear. This exercise is about fairness and justice.”
Ambitious Service Targets
The President also announced new benchmarks for the Lands Commission, including faster processing times and zero tolerance for corruption.
“Our goal is clear: no land document should take more than 30 working days to process, and no Ghanaian should have to pay bribes or know someone at the top to register their land,” he declared.
A New Stewardship Ethic
Concluding his address, President Mahama urged a renewed sense of responsibility over land use.
“We do not inherit land from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. It belongs to our children, and we are using it for the meantime. We must therefore know how to guard it,” he reflected.
The President described the reforms as part of “a comprehensive national reset” designed to modernize Ghana’s land governance system and ensure that it meets the needs of citizens in the 21st century.
