The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has inaugurated a 20-member Greater Accra Public Lands Protection Taskforce to strengthen efforts aimed at safeguarding public lands and recovering state properties that have been unlawfully occupied.
The taskforce, inaugurated in Accra on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, comprises representatives from key institutions including the Lands Commission, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Armed Forces and the private sector.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Minister described the protection of public lands as a critical national responsibility, stressing that public lands remain valuable assets reserved for national development, infrastructure projects and the provision of essential public services.
According to him, increasing incidents of encroachment and illegal occupation of state lands have deprived the country of valuable resources and hindered development efforts.
“Public lands are not meant for individual exploitation or unlawful occupation. They are national assets that must be preserved for the development of our country and for public use,” he stated.
Mr. Buah explained that the newly inaugurated taskforce has been mandated to monitor, inspect and protect public lands across the Greater Accra Region.
The team will also respond to reports of encroachment, support enforcement actions and ensure compliance with directives relating to public land protection.
He urged members of the taskforce to execute their duties with professionalism, fairness and integrity, emphasizing that their actions would play a vital role in preserving state assets for future generations.
The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Yusif Sulemana, also charged members to uphold the highest standards of accountability and transparency in the discharge of their responsibilities.
He cautioned against any conduct that could undermine the credibility and effectiveness of the taskforce and assured members of the Ministry’s full support, while noting that their activities would be closely monitored.
On behalf of the taskforce chairperson, Mr. Raphael Hokey, a representative of the committee expressed gratitude to the Ministry for the confidence reposed in the team and pledged their commitment to the assignment.
He assured government and the public that members would carry out their mandate diligently and work in the national interest to protect public lands from encroachment and unlawful occupation.
The inauguration forms part of a broader national strategy to strengthen public land management and enforcement. Similar public lands protection taskforces are expected to be established in the remaining regions of the country in the coming months.
SOURCE: MAVIS FANTEVI
