Ghana's Public lands intact, secure- Minister

The government has been actively acquiring new land to expand public holdings for the country’s development needs, according to Samuel A. Jinapor, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources. 

Speaking on Wednesday, Mr. Jinapor also emphasized that the government has implemented strategies to safeguard existing public lands.

During a public address on the status of these lands, Mr. Jinapor highlighted several significant acquisitions made in 2018. 

These include a 13,230-acre tract at Afienya and Dawhenya earmarked for an Industrial Enclave and Urban Development, a 509-acre area between Afienya and New Akrade for railway development, and a 237-acre site in Tamale designated for the University for Development Studies. 

He dismissed claims of mismanagement or improper allocation of public lands, assuring the public that the government is committed to protecting these lands and ensuring they serve the interests of all Ghanaians.

Mr. Jinapor further elaborated on various initiatives undertaken by the government to make productive use of public lands, mentioning ongoing projects in residential areas like Kumasi's Ridge, Danyame, and Nhyiaeso, as well as in Cape Coast and Tamale.

He also addressed accusations of land misappropriation under the current administration, explaining that the government has taken concrete steps to prevent the misuse of public lands. This measure aims to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public lands.

Additionally, a recent Cabinet directive now prohibits public institutions and corporations, including universities, from entering into contracts involving public lands without explicit authorization from the President and renders any unauthorized agreements invalid, signaling the end of unchecked transactions involving public lands.

The Minister also disclosed that the Lands Commission, following the President's orders, is currently conducting an inventory of all public lands, including those leased or sold to private entities since the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1993.

The issue of public land sales and leases has been a contentious topic in Ghana for years, with allegations often surfacing that such transactions benefit government officials, private individuals, and their associates. 

Mr. Jinapor, however, refuted these claims, labeling them as politically motivated misinformation. He clarified that the lands in question were not leased under the current administration. For instance, he pointed out that the lands allocated to the Prisons Service were granted during the Kufuor administration in 2005, and the land for the Du Bois Centre has not been sold, contrary to allegations.

He also provided details on the history of other disputed land leases, such as those for the Parks and Gardens and the Judicial Service, which were granted during the Mahama administration in 2016 and 2015, respectively. He noted that the Parks and Gardens lease was intended to finance a new office for the department, a promise that remains unfulfilled.