Gov’t To Compile, Release List Of Public Lands Transferred To Private Persons Since 1993 – Lands Minister
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, has disclosed that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has ordered the compilation of a detailed list of all public lands that have been transferred since the inception of the Fourth Republic on January 7, 1993.
He noted that this detailed list, once compiled, would be made public, demonstrating the government’s commitment to managing national resources to enhance transparency and accountability.
At a press briefing on Wednesday in Accra, the Minister explained that making this information public would help clear any misconceptions and reaffirm the government’s commitment to accountability and public land protection.
He acknowledged the circulation of misinformation regarding the government’s role in certain land transactions and stressed the importance of addressing these issues directly.
He stated, “One such case is the land formerly occupied by the Bulgarian Embassy, which has been the subject of recent controversy. The land in question was part of a larger parcel acquired by the state in 1920 and leased to Theophilus Kofi Leighton in 1977 for a 99-year term. This lease, which expires in 2073, leaves the government with no direct control over the land’s use until that time.”
The Minister further gave details of the legal history surrounding the Bulgarian Embassy’s occupancy, noting that the government played no part in the lease arrangements or the subsequent demolition of the building, which was carried out by a court order.
The government’s involvement, he said, was limited to diplomatic engagements to resolve the matter, including negotiating compensation for the Bulgarian Embassy.
The Minister also addressed concerns about other lands, including the Roman Ridge property, leased to a private developer in 2005, and the Parks and Gardens land at Cantonments, leased in 2016. He clarified that the Parks and Gardens land was leased following a 2012 request from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to sell part of the land to fund the department’s operations.
“However, despite the lease being granted in 2016, the anticipated improvements such as a new office complex for the department are yet to materialise,” he added.
The Minister detailed several measures implemented by the government to safeguard public lands.
He said, “In 2021, a policy directive was issued requiring that all transactions involving public land receive prior approval from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, with the authority of the President. Any deed executed without such approval is deemed void.”
The measure, he noted, was part of the government’s broader strategy to ensure that public lands are used in the national interest.
“The Ministry has taken steps to recover encroached public lands and prevent further encroachments, working closely with the Lands Commission and the Ghana Police Service,” he added.
He cited the recent recovery of encroached lands in the Northern Region as evidence of the government’s proactive stance and further disclosed the government’s ongoing efforts to digitise land records and streamline land service delivery across the country.
Mr Jinapor noted that the Lands Commission has made significant progress in migrating manual operations to a digital platform, with several services now available online.
Plans to further expand these digital services and fully integrate regional offices into the system were also outlined.
“The public lands of our country are safe. We are committed to their protection and judicious use, and we will continue to act in the best interest of the people of Ghana,” he noted.
