Minority Urges Government to Reverse President Mahama’s Ban on State Land Transactions

 

The Minority Caucus in Parliament, led by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is calling for the immediate reversal of President John Mahama’s recent directive halting all transactions involving public and state-owned lands.

President Mahama issued the suspension in an effort to address what he described as rampant allocation of public lands to politically connected individuals. The directive instructed the Lands Commission to cease all ongoing sales, leases, or transfers of state lands to both individuals and organizations.

However, the NPP Minority strongly opposes the move. During a parliamentary sitting on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, Subin MP Kofi Obiri Yeboah criticized the decision, warning that its broad application could negatively affect law-abiding landholders and slow down economic growth.

“While the President’s intention may be to protect public property, the all-encompassing nature of the directive risks undermining those who have legally acquired interest in these lands,” Mr. Obiri Yeboah stated.

He argued that the ban contradicts the government’s own commitment to fostering private sector-led development, cautioning that it could erode investor confidence and hinder economic progress.

“If we truly consider the private sector the engine of our economy, then this measure directly opposes that vision,” he added. “The government must urgently review and lift this directive.”

Mr. Obiri Yeboah also pointed to the financial impact of the ban, emphasizing the Lands Commission’s role in generating government revenue through stamp duties, lease processing fees, and consent charges—all of which feed into the Consolidated Fund.

“Delaying or halting these transactions will directly affect the Fund and disrupt critical revenue streams,” he noted.

The Minority is urging the administration to adopt a more measured and transparent approach—one that protects public lands without stifling legitimate economic activity or jeopardizing the rights of law-abiding stakeholders.

Source: gbcghanaonline.com