President John Dramani Mahama says government will not demolish completed buildings found on improperly acquired public lands, but will instead compel occupants to pay the true value of the land.
Speaking on reforms in land administration during meeting with the Ghanaian diaspora community in Lusaka, Zambia, the President disclosed that a committee established by government has already submitted a report on the status of public lands across the country.
He said several leases that were still being processed have been cancelled, describing them as “public lands that were just distributed and looted.”
President Mahama cited cases where some individuals allegedly acquired prime government lands in Accra for as little as GH¢150,000 and later resold them for as much as $2 million.
However, he explained that where structures have already been completed and occupied, government may not take the demolition route.
“It would be difficult to say, look, we’re going to break this house and take the land back,” he said.
Mahama said government will rather enforce payment based on the actual market value of the land.
“And so in those cases where they have processed the title… we’re asking them to pay the true value of the land,” he added.
The President also announced plans to introduce blockchain technology to digitise records at the Lands Registry, noting that Ghana continues to face widespread cases of double sales involving family and stool lands.
He explained that digitisation would allow buyers to verify ownership and track the history of land transactions.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
