Public lands must not be sold at cheaper prices – Armah-Kofi Buah

Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister-Designate for Lands and Natural Resources, has strongly opposed the sale of public lands at undervalued rates, insisting that any future transactions must reflect prevailing market prices to safeguard the interests of Ghanaians.

Speaking during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, January 27, Armah-Kofi Buah criticised the current practice where public lands are sold significantly below their actual value, calling it a detriment to national development.

He explained the existing guidelines used by the Lands Commission, which allow public lands to be sold at 25 percent of their market value, with the remaining amount collected through ground rent.

“As we speak, the guidelines for the sale of public lands according to the Lands Commission is that it is valued at 25 percent and the 25 percent of the value is what is sold, and the rest is paid through ground rent.

“That will not happen anymore, and first of all, it should not be sold, and if there is a need to sell, it should be done at the current market value so that Ghanaians are not shortchanged,” he stated.

The sale of public lands to Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) has been a contentious issue in Ghana, with allegations of influential individuals, including politicians and government officials, acquiring prime public lands at heavily discounted prices.

Critics have long raised concerns about the lack of transparency and public oversight in these transactions, with some highlighting that prime lands in urban centres are often sold without competitive bidding processes.

Armah-Kofi Buah’s comments signal a strong stance toward reforming land administration and ensuring that public lands are managed in a manner that benefits the nation as a whole.

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