Ghana Lands Commission initiates legal action against ground rent defaulters

The Ghana Lands Commission has launched legal proceedings against lessees of state and vested lands who have failed to pay ground rent. Executive Secretary Prof. Anthony Owusu-Ansah stated that all lessees are obligated to pay annual ground rent regardless of whether they receive a formal demand notice. As of August 2026, the Commission collected GH¢40.7 million, reaching 90.4 per cent of its GH¢45 million annual target.

In addition to debt recovery, the Commission is implementing reforms to modernize land administration and improve accountability. This includes the expansion of the Enterprise Land Information System (ELIS), which has reduced land search turnaround times from approximately one month to seven working days in operational areas.

Broader structural changes are also underway, including a review of the 1999 National Land Policy, with a new policy expected in 2027. Proposed regulations for the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036) are currently before Parliament. The Strategic Land Administration Reform Project (SLARP) aims to address long-standing issues such as fragmented records, outdated maps, and manual processes.