I don’t see any significant progress with the Land Act, land issues are getting worst — Judge

Justice Alexander Osei Tutu of the Court of Appeal has expressed dissatisfaction with how successive governments have managed land acquisitions, arguing that their actions have fueled unnecessary legal disputes.

According to him, the government’s takeover of lands from individuals, families, and clans has led to widespread litigation that could have been avoided.

"A single piece of land can be sold to multiple people, creating confusion and disputes. Government acquisition of land is also a problem.

"Public lands are taken for development projects, but when they are not used, instead of returning them to the original owners, they are sold to private investors,” he bemoaned.

Speaking at the fifth edition of The Law for Society seminar in Accra, themed “Land Acquisition in Ghana: The Law, Policy, and Practice,” Justice Osei Tutu also raised concerns about the effectiveness of land laws, particularly the challenges of enforcement and public awareness.

“I don’t see any significant progress with the Land Act. The very issues it sought to address are not only persisting but getting worse. Section 12 of the Act criminalizes land guard activities, yet they continue to operate freely.

"How many people are even aware of this law? We don’t organise enough public education on it. A lot more needs to be done,” Justice Alexander Osei Tutu quizzes.