By Issah Olegor
A fresh political storm is brewing in Parliament following President John Dramani Mahama’s sweeping directive halting all sales and lease transactions involving state lands, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from the Minority New Patriotic Party (NPP).
President Mahama’s ban, announced earlier this year, is part of a broader initiative to curb what the Presidency describes as rampant and often questionable allocation of public lands to politically connected individuals and corporate entities.
The President directed the Lands Commission to immediately stop processing any documentation related to the sale, lease, or transfer of state lands, pending a comprehensive audit and policy reform.
The executive order, however, has been met with stern opposition from the Minority, who argue that the directive, though well-intentioned, is overly broad and threatens to stall legitimate land-based economic activity across the country.
Economic and Legal Concerns Raised
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, the Member of Parliament for Subin in the Ashanti Region, Kofi Obiri Yeboah, led the charge against the directive, warning that it could inadvertently impact private sector players and individuals who have legally acquired interest in public lands through formal channels.
“While we recognize the President’s intention to sanitize public land administration, this ban has far-reaching consequences on businesses and private citizens who have secured land legitimately,” Obiri Yeboah said.
“Such a blanket suspension could disrupt real estate developments, stall investments, and damage confidence in land tenure security.”
He further stressed that the private sector, often touted as the engine of national growth, relies heavily on land access for productive ventures, and any prolonged suspension of transactions would undermine this principle.
Impact on National Revenue
The Subin MP also pointed out the financial implications of the directive, noting that land transactions are a significant source of government revenue. Fees collected by the Lands Commission — including stamp duties, consent charges, and processing fees — contribute directly to the Consolidated Fund.
“Withholding these services will deprive the state of much-needed revenue. We are not only stopping development but also choking a vital revenue stream,” he added, calling on the President to reconsider the policy or at least create exceptions for pending and duly vetted transactions.
