Ghana Government and Traditional Authorities Move to Secure Land for Development Amidst Calls for Stricter Mining and Infrastructure Oversight

Government officials and traditional authorities across Ghana are intensifying efforts to secure land for public infrastructure while simultaneously addressing the neglect of state-owned properties and the unregulated sale of land. In the Bono East Region, the Techiman Traditional Council has formalized a Deed of Gift for 310 acres to the government to establish ministries and public agencies. This initiative, combined with 40 acres already held by the state, aims to rectify infrastructure deficits and enhance service delivery. However, this progress is contrasted by significant neglect in nearby Wenchi, where a newly constructed Judicial Service bungalow remains unoccupied and overgrown with weeds. Assembly Member Eric Osei has decried this as a waste of public resources, noting that the High Court Judge and other key staff are currently forced to reside in rented private accommodation while state facilities sit empty.

Parallel to infrastructure management, the Ghanaian legislature is pushing for greater transparency in the extractive sector. Davis Ansah Opoku, Vice Chairman of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), has called on the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to publish a comprehensive register of all mining leases granted to local and foreign firms. This demand for an updated register, including concession locations and operational status, is intended to help distinguish legitimate operations from illegal mining. While Opoku commended the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minerals Commission for implementing most recommendations from recent audit reports, Deputy Minister for Lands Alhaji Yusif Sulemana is advocating for mandatory reclamation bonds to ensure mining operators fulfill their environmental restoration obligations.

Simultaneously, state agencies are launching aggressive enforcement actions against illegal encroachment on ecologically sensitive lands. TDC Ghana Limited has announced plans to demolish unauthorized structures and shipping containers on the Sakumono Ramsar Site starting July 15, 2026, to mitigate flooding risks and protect wetland ecology. This move is mirrored in the Ashanti Region, where Minister Dr. Frank Amoakohene has ordered the immediate demolition of illegal structures behind the COCOBOD building in Kumasi. The Minister emphasized that the government's 'reset mandate' necessitates action against unauthorized constructions on waterways, regardless of how long they have existed, to prevent urban disasters.

These developments have prompted calls for systemic policy reforms regarding land use and urban planning. Environmental specialist Dr. Kofi Anokye has urged the government to criminalize the sale of unplanned land, arguing that traditional landowners must be held accountable for the indiscriminate sales that lead to obstructed drainage systems and perennial flooding. As the government seeks to balance development with environmental protection, the collaboration between traditional councils, local assemblies, and national regulators remains critical in ensuring that public land is utilized effectively and that infrastructure projects do not fall into disrepair.