Appeal Court judge slams weak enforcement of Land Act as land disputes dominate court cases

Ghana is facing worsening land disputes. Over 70% of court cases involve land litigation. The Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036) seems to have little effect.

Justice Alexander Osei Tutu, a Court of Appeal judge, questions the law's effectiveness. He cites poor enforcement and lack of public awareness as major issues.

At the "Law for Society" seminar in Accra, he expressed disappointment with the government's actions. He highlighted the failure to enforce key provisions of the Act, especially the ban on land guards.

“I don’t see significant progress with the Land Act,” he said. “The issues it aimed to solve are getting worse.” He noted that Section 12 criminalizes land guard activities, yet they continue freely.

“How many people know about this law?” he asked. “We need more public education on it.”

Justice Osei Tutu also criticized Ghana’s chaotic land system. Multiple ownership claims and flawed government practices contribute to the problem.

He explained that one piece of land can be sold to several buyers, causing disputes. “Identifying true landowners is a major issue,” he stated.

He added that public lands taken for projects often remain unused. Instead of returning them to original owners, they are sold to private investors.