Mahama hints at Commission of Inquiry into public land use in Greater Accra

President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government is considering the formation of a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the historical and ongoing issues surrounding the acquisition, allocation, and utilization of public lands in the Greater Accra Region.

The proposed commission will include chiefs, legal scholars, historians, and representatives from affected communities, and will be tasked with producing a comprehensive report aimed at resolving decades of grievances linked to state and Ga-Dangme ancestral lands.

The President made the announcement during a durbar of chiefs and people of Greater Accra held at Dodowa, as part of his National “Thank You Tour” following his victory in the December 7, 2024 general elections.

President Mahama acknowledged that land-related issues had emerged as a dominant concern in engagements with communities throughout the region. He emphasized the emotional and historical weight of the subject and assured citizens that his government is committed to addressing it holistically.

"These concerns are legitimate," he said. "We cannot ignore the deep historical wounds caused by the loss and mismanagement of Ga-Dangme lands."

As part of his immediate response upon assuming office, Mahama revealed that he instructed the Lands Commission to suspend all ongoing sales and transactions involving state lands, a directive that remains in effect.

The President also referenced findings from the Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL) Committee, which exposed troubling cases of state and Ga-Dangme lands being sold off to politically connected individuals for amounts as low as GH₵45,000, despite market values running into the millions of cedis. The Attorney General, he said, has since launched investigations into these transactions.

On the issue of chieftaincy disputes, President Mahama acknowledged the constitutional limitations placed on government involvement in traditional leadership matters. However, he expressed concern over how unresolved chieftaincy conflicts hamper local development.

He encouraged traditional authorities to use the established frameworks within national and regional houses of chiefs to resolve such disputes through dialogue and mutual respect.

“The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs,” he noted, “is ready to assist in facilitating fair and neutral resolution mechanisms.”

During the durbar, Oboade Notse King Professor Odaifio Welentsi III, the Nungua Mantse and President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, commended President Mahama for his return to office. He described the President’s election as a reflection of Ghanaian confidence in his leadership and a clear rejection of his political rivals.