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President John Dramani Mahama has issued an immediate directive to the Lands Commission, imposing a comprehensive halt on all sales, leases, and processing of transactions involving state and public lands throughout Ghana.
The presidential directive, conveyed in an official letter dated January 10, 2025, emphasizes the government's commitment to protecting public lands for both present and future generations. The communication was addressed directly to the Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission and signed by Dr. Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President.
"This directive has been issued to protect and preserve State and Public Lands for the collective benefit of the citizenry and future generations," the letter stated, underlining the administration's focus on sustainable land management.
The sweeping order encompasses several key elements: an immediate suspension of all ongoing land transactions, a halt to new applications, and a freeze on the processing of pending cases. This comprehensive approach aims to facilitate a thorough review of existing policies governing public land management.
As part of the directive, the Lands Commission has been given a strict 14-day deadline to submit a detailed report to the Office of the President. This report must provide comprehensive information about all recent and ongoing transactions involving state lands, suggesting a move toward greater transparency in land administration.
"Your immediate attention to this matter is required," the presidential secretary emphasized in the letter, highlighting the urgency of the situation and the administration's determination to address potential irregularities in land management.
The directive is expected to have significant implications for Ghana's land sector, paving the way for a systematic re-evaluation of current land management practices. This review process aims to establish more robust systems that ensure accountability and equitable distribution of public lands.
This presidential intervention comes at a time when concerns about the management of state lands have been growing. The freeze on transactions is seen as a decisive step toward addressing these concerns and implementing more sustainable land management policies.
The move is likely to affect various stakeholders in the real estate and development sectors, though it's viewed as a necessary measure to protect public interests and ensure more transparent management of state lands for future generations.
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