The Lands Commission has collected GH¢40.7 million in ground rent as of August 2026, representing 90.4 per cent of the annual target of GH¢45 million.
The Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, Prof. Anthony Owusu-Ansah, explained that the amount surpassed the GH¢32 million collected in 2025 largely because the commission developed a digital platform to facilitate the mobilisation of ground rent on state and vested lands.
He made this known at the Progress Report Series held at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in Accra yesterday.
The Progress Report Series is an initiative of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources that gives an opportunity for agencies under the ministry to provide updates on their performance and programmes.
The maiden edition held on Tuesday, October 22, saw the National Anti-illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) appear to brief the media on its operations.
Consolidation
To consolidate the gains made in ground rent collection, Prof. Owusu-Ansah stressed the need for all lessees of state and vested lands to fulfil their obligations in terms of the payment of ground rent and the renewal of expired leases.
"In this regard, I wish to emphasise that all lessees are reminded of their obligation to pay ground rent annually in accordance with the terms and conditions of their respective leases.”
"This obligation is not dependent on the issuance or receipt of a rent demand notice from the Lands Commission. Lessees are, therefore, expected to ensure that their payments are made when due," he stressed.
Prof. Owusu-Ansah added that the Lands Commission had initiated the necessary legal procedures against lessees who defaulted in the payment of ground rent.
He said those measures were expected to be fully rolled out next year.
"The commission, therefore, urges all defaulters to take immediate steps to settle their outstanding obligations to avoid potential legal proceedings and other consequences in accordance with the applicable laws," he stressed.
Again, he said the Lands Commission had started updating lease records, requiring all government lessees to visit the commission’s official website and complete an online form for the process to progress smoothly.
The Lands Commission Executive Secretary also urged lessees whose leases had expired to contact the Lands Commission to initiate the renewal of the lease.
"Failure to initiate the renewal process may attract legal consequences in accordance with the applicable laws and the terms of the lease," he stressed.
Other highlights
Prof. Owusu-Ansah highlighted some key programmes and policies being undertaken by the Lands Commission, including the development of a new land policy and the enactment of a legislative instrument to operationalise the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036).
The presentation also covered the state of the Strategic Land Administration Reform Project (SLARP) and the Enterprise Land Information Systems (ELIS) being implemented to enhance land administration.
He said the commission was facilitating the review of the land policy to make it reflect current challenges in the land sector.
Accountability
The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Dr Alhaji Yusif Sulemana, said the Progress Report Series had been rolled out in the interest of accountability to citizens.
He stressed that all heads of agencies under the ministry must adhere strictly to ethical standards in the discharge of their duties for the benefit of the country.
