Ghana Begins Review Of 1999 National Land Policy, Targets New Framework By 2027
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Ghana has launched a comprehensive review of its 1999 National Land Policy to address multiple land sales, boundary disputes and tenure insecurity, with a new framework due by the end of 2027.
Ghana has begun a comprehensive review of its 1999 National Land Policy as the government seeks to align land governance with emerging economic, social, environmental and technological demands.
The review is being undertaken by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in collaboration with the Lands Commission and the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL). The process commenced with a two-day inception workshop in Accra.
Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Yusif Sulemana, speaking on behalf of the sector minister, said the 1999 policy provided an important foundation for land administration reforms, including the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036), which consolidated about 13 separate land laws into a single legal framework.
He noted that significant challenges continue to affect land administration, including delays in service delivery, land and boundary disputes, encroachment on public lands, multiple sales of land, tenure insecurity and competing demands for land.
Sulemana said rapid population growth, urbanisation, economic transformation and technological advancement, together with the growing effects of climate change, had created circumstances that were not fully anticipated when the existing policy was developed.
The workshop was held under the theme “Shaping the future of land governance: Inclusive, sustainable and responsive policies.” The new National Land Policy is expected to be completed and submitted to Cabinet for consideration and approval by the end of 2027.