President John Dramani Mahama has indicated that his government plans to seek parliamentary approval for the sale and lease of public property, as part of efforts to curb the trend of acquiring government lands at undervalued rates and later selling them at inflated prices.

Speaking to the Ghanaian community in Zambia on February 4, 2026, President Mahama revealed that his administration had uncovered troubling cases where state lands were sold at low prices and subsequently resold at exorbitant values.

“We have seen situations where people acquire government land for as little as GH¢150,000 and then turn around to sell the same land for as much as $2 million,” President Mahama said.

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“These are prime properties, yet the prices at which they are initially sold and later resold simply do not add up,” he added.

He disclosed that a committee has been set up to review the status of public lands in Accra and other parts of the country.

According to President Mahama, transactions involving lands whose titles have not been finalised have been suspended and the lands reclaimed, while owners of already developed properties will be required to pay their true market value.

“I intend to bring a bill before Parliament on the divestiture of public property,” he said.

“Any sale of public assets must have the approval of the representatives of the people. Going forward, no public land transaction will be processed by the Lands Commission unless it has been ratified by Parliament. This will put an end to the unchecked sale of government assets,” he added.

The proposed legislation is expected to strengthen oversight, improve transparency, and enhance accountability in the management and disposal of state-owned property.

SO/VPO

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