The Lands Commission has launched an aggressive ground rent collection and compliance enforcement exercise across some of Accra’s most expensive neighbourhoods, marking one of its boldest moves yet to boost state revenue and restore discipline in land administration.
The ongoing operation is covering prime enclaves including Airport Residential Area, East Legon, Tema Motorway Industrial Area, and the North Industrial Area, where teams from the Greater Accra Regional Lands Commission are personally delivering ground rent demand notices to property owners and lessees.
Led by the Acting Greater Accra Regional Lands Officer, Surv. Dr. Pius Asumadu, and supervised by Surv. Owusu Peprah, Regional Head of the Public and Vested Lands Management Division (PVLMD), the exercise is part of a nationwide effort to ensure that individuals and corporate entities occupying state lands honour their lease obligations.
Preliminary findings from the exercise have revealed widespread irregularities in the use and management of public lands in the capital. Officers identified numerous instances of unauthorized land use changes, unapproved subletting, illegal redevelopment of properties into apartments, and non-payment of ground rent for several years.
Dr. Asumadu described these activities as “a worrying trend that undermines the integrity of Ghana’s land administration system.”
He explained that some lessees have turned residential plots into commercial facilities without seeking the Commission’s consent, while others have subdivided and resold lands contrary to lease covenants.
In response, the Commission has announced tough compliance measures, including a comprehensive review of leases, variation of terms to reflect current land use, and upward revision of ground rents.
Persistent defaulters risk having their names published in national newspapers and forfeiting their lands through lawful re-entry, in line with the provisions of the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036).
The Lands Commission is urging all lessees whether or not they have received a demand notice to voluntarily visit the nearest Lands Commission office to verify their payment status and settle arrears.
The Commission says the ground rent collection drive is a crucial part of its broader reform agenda to streamline land administration, protect public lands from encroachment, and improve revenue generation for national development.
Officials have hinted that similar exercises will soon be extended to other regions, with a focus on high-value government lands in Kumasi, Takoradi, and Tamale.
The Lands Commission’s renewed enforcement posture reflects its determination to promote responsible land stewardship, enhance public trust, and strengthen institutional integrity in Ghana’s land sector.
