- Digitization and task force reduce land administration fraud.
- Minister Jinapor denies state capture allegations, citing adherence to land laws.
- Judiciary urged to expedite land-related cases for public land integrity.
- Minister refutes claims of judicial land sales under Akufo-Addo administration.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has highlighted the digitization of land records and the establishment of a special task force as key initiatives that have enhanced transparency and reduced fraud in land administration. During a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, August 14, Jinapor emphasized the government’s commitment to safeguarding Ghana’s public lands.
He called on the Judiciary to expedite land-related cases, stressing the need for swift legal action to maintain the integrity of public lands. Jinapor denied allegations of state capture made by some individuals against the government, stating that these claims are not supported by facts or data available at the Lands Commission.
He emphasized that all land transactions under the Akufo-Addo-led administration have strictly adhered to the land administration law. Jinapor expressed his personal view that public appointees should not be involved in acquiring public lands to avoid conflicts of interest.
He challenged anyone with evidence of public appointees engaging in inappropriate land transactions to come forward, promising to investigate such cases. The Minister also addressed claims that lands belonging to the judicial service were sold under the Akufo-Addo administration, describing these allegations as “palpably false”.
According to Jinapor, the available facts and data at the Lands Commission indicate that the lands were sold under the Mahama administration in 2016, not in 2026 as alleged. Jinapor stated that if any lands were granted improperly, the government would take steps to retrieve them, but noted that canceling leases or contracts governed by law can be complex.
