Ghana Lifts 14-Month Ban on Public Land Sales with New Safeguards

Ghana has lifted its temporary ban on the sale and transaction of public lands after a period of approximately 14 months. The ban was originally imposed in January 2025 by President John Dramani Mahama to allow for a comprehensive review of land administration processes amid concerns over irregularities and lack of transparency.

The suspension covered all allocations, leases, and sales of state and public lands managed by the Lands Commission. It aimed to address issues such as procedural lapses, potential undervaluation, and instances of improper dealings that had undermined public trust in the system.

In September 2025, President Mahama announced the end of the ban during the inauguration of a new governing board for the National Lands Commission. He emphasized that the pause had provided valuable time to develop stronger reforms. With the adoption of robust accountability measures, transactions can now resume under strict guidelines designed to ensure integrity.

Key new safeguards include mandatory use of transparent and digitized verification systems for all land dealings. No allocations, leases, or sales are permitted without proper oversight and compliance with reformed processes. These steps seek to eliminate backdoor arrangements and restore confidence among citizens and investors.

The decision reflects the government’s commitment to modernizing land administration while protecting public assets. By implementing these protections, Ghana aims to balance the need for economic activity with safeguards against misuse of state resources. The move is expected to support development projects and property markets under a more accountable framework.