Ghana Lands Commission reports 80% of land is customary-owned

The Lands Commission of Ghana has disclosed that approximately 80% of the country's land is held under customary ownership, leaving only 20% classified as public land. This public land is further divided into state-owned lands and vested lands.

Under the vested land arrangement, the state holds the legal interest while customary owners retain the beneficial interest. This split structure complicates land administration and management. Surveyor Raphael Hokey, the Commission's Deputy Executive Secretary in charge of Operations, noted that these complexities contribute to recurring issues such as family disputes, contested traditional leadership, and the sale of single parcels to multiple buyers.

Additional challenges include landowners selling plots without providing essential infrastructure, such as access roads or clearly defined boundaries. To address unauthorized developments, Hokey emphasized the need for cooperation between local assemblies and police to enforce regulations and seek court orders.