Government has announced a series of major reforms aimed at improving transparency, accountability and efficiency in the administration of public lands across the country.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Yusif Sulemana, said the reforms are part of directives issued by Cabinet and are currently being implemented by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, in collaboration with the Lands Commission to restore integrity and public confidence in the management of state lands.
A key component of the reforms is the introduction of a new premium framework for public land leases. Under the new arrangement, at least 70 percent of the assigned market value of public land must be paid up front, while the remaining 30 percent will be spread over the duration of the lease as ground rent.
According to the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, the policy is designed to enhance revenue mobilisation for the state and eliminate inconsistencies in land pricing that previously resulted in different individuals paying widely varying premiums for similar parcels of public land.
The Deputy Minister further announced the revision of the Public Land Application Form, popularly known as Form 5.
The updated form will now serve as the single mandatory application instrument for all public land transactions nationwide.
He explained that the revised Form 5 will be used for both new applications and reapplications by individuals whose earlier applications were cancelled during the recent review exercise.
To improve accessibility and streamline the application process, the Lands Commission has also been directed to publish the form on its official website. This will allow prospective applicants to download, complete and submit their applications electronically.
Dr Sulemana also disclosed that the Ministry has undertaken a comprehensive review of the internal processes used by the Lands Commission in allocating public lands. Under the new framework, each stage of the application process has been clearly defined, with stronger internal verification and monitoring mechanisms introduced to enhance transparency and traceability in decision-making.
As part of the reforms, no public land will be allocated without the prior approval of the sector minister. The Deputy Minister noted that this measure is intended to strengthen oversight and ensure that land allocations are consistent with national policy objectives.
Another significant initiative announced at the briefing is the standardisation of land market values for estates across the country. Dr Sulemana revealed that the Ministry and the Lands Commission have compiled reliable market values for several prime estates, including more than 30 estates within the Greater Accra Region.
He said these values will soon be published on the Lands Commission’s website to guide the assessment of land premiums and eliminate discretionary pricing, thereby ensuring fairness and value for money in all public land allocations.
The Deputy Minister also announced plans to establish a Public Land Protection Taskforce to safeguard state lands. The taskforce will be mandated to prevent encroachment on public lands, halt unauthorised developments and ensure that offenders are prosecuted in accordance with the law.
As part of efforts to promote transparency, Dr Sulemana disclosed that the list of all public land applications reviewed during the recent exercise—covering more than 8,000 cases—will soon be published on the websites of the Ministry and the Lands Commission. Publication will begin with applications in the Greater Accra Region before extending to other parts of the country.
He further indicated that the temporary suspension placed on public land transactions has now been lifted. However, all land administration services will operate strictly under the newly introduced reforms.
Yusif Sulemana also revealed that the Ministry has initiated the procurement process for the national digitalisation of Ghana’s land administration system.
The project, which will largely be financed through the internally generated funds of the Lands Commission, is expected to modernise land services, reduce human interference and improve efficiency in land transactions nationwide.
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The post Government Unveils Water-Tight Land Reforms To Boost Revenue appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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