The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR), Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has outlined an ambitious reform agenda aimed at sanitizing public land administration, reforming the mining sector and restoring degraded river bodies, as the Ministry charts its priorities for 2026.
Addressing a ministry retreat held last Friday in Ellembelle, in the Western Region, Mr Buah admitted longstanding weaknesses in the management of public lands, particularly the abuse of lands acquired for state purposes but later diverted for private gain.
He disclosed that government has submitted a comprehensive report on public land allocations to Cabinet, detailing past irregularities and recommending corrective measures.
According to him, Cabinet has since issued clear directives to halt the sale and misuse of state-acquired lands, stressing that firm action is underway to restore integrity in the system.
The Lands Minister described decentralization and digitalization of land administration as a major pillar of the reforms, noting that technology such as digital mapping would drastically reduce human interference in land allocation.
He announced that, for the first time, the Ministry of Finance has granted the Lands Commission 100 per cent retention of its internally generated funds to accelerate the digitization of land services.
Mr Buah who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle constituency further revealed that government has begun developing land banks, starting in the rainforest belt, with plans to secure over 200,000 hectares of land for large-scale oil palm production to boost commercial agriculture and create jobs.
The MLNR retreat is the first of its kind since Minister Buah assumed office exactly a year ago.The retreat, which was attended by Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), Heads of Agencies and Department under the Ministry was to take stock of the past and plan for the year 2026.
On decentralization, the Minister said 35 new district lands offices were established in 2025 when he assumed office, with plans to open between 100 and 110 additional offices across metropolitan and municipal areas this year, alongside four new regional offices.
He added that government is reviewing the national lands policy and operationalising the Land Act, including provisions for customary land demarcation to significantly reduce land litigation involving families and traditional authorities.
Turning to boundary issues, the Ellembelle Legislator noted that while Ghana has resolved its maritime dispute with Côte d’Ivoire, emerging challenges exist along the eastern boundary with Togo, which government is addressing at the highest diplomatic levels to safeguard the country’s territorial and maritime integrity.
The Minister devoted significant attention to the fight against illegal mining, describing pollution of rivers such as the Ankobra, Pra, Tano and Bia as one of the gravest environmental threats facing the country.
He cited alarming turbidity levels in river bodies, severe health risks, and the inability of the Ghana Water Company to treat polluted water.
He disclosed that the Ministry inherited a system with a prosecution rate of just four per cent for illegal mining offences, prompting the adoption of a five-pronged strategy that includes public education, regulatory reforms, land reclamation, alternative livelihoods and responsible mining practices.
As part of enforcement efforts, the Lands Minister said more than 250 excavators and over 700 mining machines have been seized, with plans to deploy about 400 soldiers permanently to protect water bodies.
He added that excavators are now being registered, tracked and geo-fenced, a move that has reduced unregistered equipment drastically.
On sector reforms, the Minister announced that a revised Minerals and Mining Act (Act 703) was ready to be submitted to Cabinet, following nationwide consultations with traditional authorities. The proposed law will introduce district mining committees, strengthen community participation in licensing, and revoke Legislative Instrument 2462 to protect forest reserves from mining activities.
Minister Buah also highlighted the Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme as a key alternative livelihood initiative, with 10 cooperative mining sites expected to be established within six months to promote responsible small-scale mining.
In the forestry and wildlife sector, the Minister said government plans to plant 20 million trees this year, create 1,000 additional jobs under the Forest World Champions Programme, strengthen forest guard protection, and complete consultations on a new Wildlife Resources Management Bill.
Looking ahead, he disclosed plans to unlock Ghana’s iron and steel potential, signaling a shift towards value-added industrial development beyond gold.
Mr Buah described the lands, forestry and mining sector as the “heartbeat of the nation,” assuring that ongoing reforms are aimed at ensuring that Ghana’s natural resources ultimately serve the long-term interests of its people.
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