Grant of public lands for development not inherently wrong — Lands Minister

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has stated that the grant of public lands by the government for development purposes is not wrong in itself.

Addressing the press in Accra on Wednesday, August 14, on the state of Ghana's public lands, Abu Jinapor sought to address claims that the current government is indiscriminately selling off public lands.

He cited a previous Supreme Court ruling which established that "once the use to which the land is to be put is not restricted to any personal or individual interest, but one to which the general public will have a benefit or the benefit of the project will inure to the entire country either directly or indirectly, the public interest purpose will be deemed to have been adequately catered for."

The Damongo lawmaker explained, "As population grows, with competing needs for land, it becomes necessary to change the use of some of these lands to meet the developmental needs of the nation."

He cited how lands originally acquired for coconut plantations and livestock farming in Accra have since been developed into prime residential areas that now serve the broader public.

The Lands Minister assured the public that the Akufo-Addo government has taken stringent measures to protect public lands, including directives to the Lands Commission and all public institutions.

However, he maintained that converting the use of public lands for development projects in the national interest is a legitimate practice.

"The overarching question should be, what use was the land put to?" Abu Jinapor asked, reinforcing that developing public lands is acceptable as long as it is for public benefit rather than private or individual interests.

The press briefing aimed to set the record straight on several contentious land issues and reassure Ghanaians that their public lands remain secure under the current administration.