Accra: The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is set to implement a new premium payment framework that mandates an upfront payment of 70 per cent of the assessed market value for public lands. The remaining 30 per cent will be spread over the lease duration as ground rent. This initiative is part of a series of reforms aimed at improving the management of public lands.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Deputy Lands Minister, Alhaji Yusif Sulemana, who also chairs the Public Land Review Allocation Committee, revealed these measures during a news conference in Accra. The reforms have been approved by the Cabinet following recommendations from the Committee, which assessed public land lease agreements. The primary aim of these reforms is to bolster transparency, accountability, and efficiency within the public land administration sector.
Key changes include an updated Public Land Application Form (Form 5), intended to standardize public land transactions nationwide and make them accessible electronically via the Lands Commission's website. Alhaji Sulemana emphasized that public land allocations would require prior written approval from the Lands Minister, ensuring alignment with national policies and stronger oversight.
To further support these reforms, a reliable land market value list for estates has been compiled and will be made available online. This is intended to facilitate fair assessments and ensure value-for-money allocations. Additionally, a public land protection task force has been established to prevent encroachment and unlawful development, operating within the country's constitutional and legal frameworks.
The Deputy Minister highlighted that these reforms are expected to enhance revenue generation for the state and ensure public lands are managed in accordance with Ghana's economic interests. In support of these objectives, 67 per cent of the internally generated funds from the Lands Commission will be allocated to the national digitalisation project, aimed at improving the efficiency of land services.
Alhaji Sulemana also referenced a past announcement by the Sector Minister, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, on February 16, 2026. The announcement detailed the review of 8,160 public land lease applications from 2017 to 2024, which led to the cancellation of incomplete, non-compliant, and suspicious transactions.