By Valentia Tetteh
The Minister-Designate for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has taken a strong stance against the undervaluation and sale of public lands, vowing to enforce market-rate transactions to safeguard the interests of Ghanaians.
During his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, January 27, 2025, Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah criticized the current practices that allow public lands to be sold at significantly lower rates. He described the situation as detrimental to national development and pledged to address it decisively if his nomination is approved.
“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, with the rest paid through ground rent,” he explained. “That will not happen anymore. First of all, public lands should not be sold. But if there is a need to sell, it should be done at the current market value so that Ghanaians are not shortchanged.”
Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah’s comments come amid concerns over the sale of public lands to Politically Exposed Persons. Over the years, there have been numerous reports of influential individuals, including politicians, government officials, and their associates, acquiring prime public lands at heavily discounted prices, often below market value.
Critics argue that such transactions lack transparency and are often conducted without competitive bidding or public oversight.
The Minister-designate emphasized his commitment to ending these practices, stating that the current system not only undervalues state assets but also undermines public trust. His assurance to reform the process aligns with broader calls for accountability and fairness in managing Ghana’s public lands.
“If we are serious about national development, we cannot continue to sell our public lands at such undervalued rates. This is about protecting the public interest,” he added.
Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah made a firm stance on the issue and promised to ensure equitable and transparent management of Ghana’s natural resources.
