International human rights and anti-corruption advocate, Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu has criticized the government’s decision of lifting the ban on the sale and allocation of state lands.
Describing the decision as “unnecessary and potentially dangerous”, he explained that the ban on the sale and allocation of state lands was first introduced years ago to “safeguard and protect public property from indiscriminate disposal and misuse”.
“The policy seeks to ensure accountability, transparency, and proper management of state assets for the benefit of present and future generations”, Mr Ahenu also the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Media Foundation (GloMeF), an anti-corruption and media advocacy Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) stated in an interview “President John Dramani Mahama has recently announced a decision to lift the ban, paving the way for the allocation and sale of such lands once again”.
He cautioned that doing away with the ban and restrictions could open the door to corruption, indiscriminate allocation, and loss of key national assets meant to serve future generations.
“Lifting the ban is unnecessary now. What the nation urgently needs is a comprehensive audit of how state lands have been used and misused in the past. It’s only after that, that a clear policy can be put for reforms and subsequent lift of the ban”, Mr Ahenu stated.
He noted that presently the country was facing significant economic and governance challenges arguing that protecting state resources ought to be prioritized.
“The President’s directive undermines efforts to safeguard public property and ensure accountability in the land administration.
Instead of lifting controls, the government should strengthen systems, enforce transparency, and prevent abuse of power”, Mr Ahenu stated.
He called on the government to reconsider the lifting of the ban in the supreme interest of the nation and push for development, strengthen good governance and maintain public trust.
What we can add to the above is that a word to the wise, sometimes lies in the mouths of the crtics of our actions.
The Daily Searchlight is of the firm belief that the ban on the disposal of state lands should be in place. The fact is that we a rapidly increasing central bureaucracy and administration of public systems, Ghana is soon going to find itself in need of these same properties. It would be remise of us, a few years or decades from now, when we realize that we need these lands, to come to the realization that they have been sold to speculators and profiteers, which is exactly what has happened in the past.
The decision to lift the ban is not a good decision. It can be good only for the speculators, unless of course, it is to further the speculation and insider dealing, which would then make sense for those who would profit.
(Editorial of the Daily Searchlight of 5th September, 2025).
