Lands Commission Targets GH¢45m Ground Rent, New National Land Policy for 2027
The Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, Prof. Anthony Owusu-Ansah, has outlined sweeping reforms being undertaken by the Commission to modernize land administration and boost revenue mobilization in Ghana.
Speaking at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources Media Engagement today, Prof. Owusu-Ansah said the Commission is focused on policy reforms, digital transformation, infrastructure expansion and decentralization to support government’s development agenda.
New National Land Policy for 2027
Prof. Owusu-Ansah disclosed that government is developing a new National Land Policy to replace the 1999 policy which is now outdated.
“It is our commitment that the new policy reflects current national priorities and responds effectively to emerging land governance challenges,” he said.
He revealed that an inception workshop was held on October 6 and 7, 2026, with Traditional Authorities, MMDAs, MDAs, Civil Society, Academia, Development Partners and the media, adding that further stakeholder consultations will follow with completion expected in 2027.
On the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036), he said processes towards a Legislative Instrument (L.I) to operationalize the Act are at an advanced stage. The revised draft has been forwarded to Parliament after consultations and approval is expected before the end of 2026.
Digitization Cuts Land Search to 7 Days
On digitization, the Executive Secretary said significant progress has been made through the Enterprise Land Information System (ELIS).
As of September 2026, ELIS has been enhanced in Greater Accra and extended to nine additional regions: Eastern, Western, Volta, Western North, Oti, Bono East, Savannah, North East and Ahafo.
“Members of the public can now apply for official land searches online… reducing the turnaround time for official searches from approximately one month to an average of seven working days,” Prof. Owusu-Ansah stated.
He announced that ELIS will be launched at the Ashanti Regional Office before end of November 2026, with full rollout across all regions expected by end of 2027.
Decentralization and Infrastructure
The Commission is decentralizing services by establishing district offices in selected MMDAs, with 36 facilities currently being renovated and furnished.
On surveying, 51 Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) have been established as of September 2026 in collaboration with LiSAG and a private partner to improve accuracy of surveying and geospatial data.
Construction of regional offices in Savannah, Upper East and Western Regions is about 50% complete, while the Central Regional Office project has resumed. All are expected to be completed by 2027.
The final phase of the Greater Accra Regional Office Complex has been completed and is being furnished, while procurement is underway for the Tema District Office after receiving Commitment Authorisation from the Ministry of Finance.
GH¢40.7m Ground Rent Collected
On revenue, Prof. Owusu-Ansah said the Commission has collected GH¢40.7 million in ground rent as of August 2026, representing 90.4% of the annual target of GH¢45 million. This surpasses the GH¢32.02 million collected for the whole of 2025.
A digital platform for ground rent mobilization is being piloted in selected estates in Greater Accra to improve collection.
He issued a stern warning to lessees of State and vested lands:
“Ground rent must be paid annually even without demand notice. Legal procedures against defaulters will be fully rolled out in 2027. Lessees should update records via KYC Form on the Commission’s website. Expired leases must be renewed to avoid legal consequences.”
Support for National Projects
The Commission is also facilitating land acquisition and compensation for key national projects including the Ashaiman Roundabout – Akosombo Road, Motorway Roundabout – Dawhenya Road, Kumasi Outer Ring Road, Suame Interchange, GRIDCo’s Accra-Kumasi Corridor, Petroleum Hub at Jomoro, and Phase III of the Appiatse Resettlement Project.
“The Lands Commission remains committed to delivering on its mandate and contributing to government’s vision of a modern, efficient and responsive land administration system,” Prof. Owusu-Ansah concluded.
