The Minority in Parliament is calling on President John Dramani Mahama to lift the moratorium placed on the sale and lease of state and public lands, warning that the directive could expose the nation to a string of legal suits and costly judgement debts.
The presidential directive, which was announced shortly after President Mahama took office, halted all processes involving the sale, lease, or transaction of public lands across the country.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Monday, July 14, the Member of Parliament for Subin, Kofi Obiri Yeboah, cautioned that although the decision may have been motivated by a desire to preserve public assets, it could have far-reaching implications for private individuals and businesses who have acquired lands through legal means.
“Although the President’s directive may be well-intentioned, its implications are concerning. This move effectively denies private individuals and corporate entities the ability to leverage their legally acquired state lands as collateral to access financing,” Mr. Yeboah argued.
He warned that the continued enforcement of the ban could damage investor confidence and restrict economic activity, particularly in the real estate and banking sectors.
He further urged the government to reconsider the policy if it remains committed to its stated belief that the private sector is the engine of national growth.
“If this is not reversed, the government risks exposing the state to numerous lawsuits and the possibility of judgment debts that could burden the national purse,” he stated.
Adding to the Minority’s concerns, the MP for Weija Gbawe, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, raised alarm over the increasing activities of landguards on state properties, a development he said is being exacerbated by the current freeze on official land transactions.
He pointed out that in the absence of active oversight and legal transfers, encroachers have been emboldened to seize public lands, complicating efforts to enforce land tenure laws.
The MPs also flagged the potential revenue loss associated with the ongoing suspension, emphasizing that the Lands Commission is a major contributor to the Consolidated Fund through revenue generated from stamp duties, consent fees, and lease documentation processes.
They contend that halting land transactions undermines one of the Commission’s core functions and could further tighten government’s already constrained fiscal space.
