Member of Parliament for Subin Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Mr Kofi Obiri Yeboah, has voiced strong concerns over President John Dramani Mahama’s recent directive halting all transactions involving state and public lands, warning of significant economic and legal implications.

The directive, issued on January 10, 2025, is aimed at safeguarding public lands for the benefit of current and future generations.

It also mandates the Lands Commission to submit a comprehensive report on all recent and ongoing state land transactions to the Office of the President within 14 days.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Mr Obiri Yeboah acknowledged the importance of protecting public lands but stressed the need to balance that goal with the rights of legitimate landowners and investors who have acquired interests in such lands through due legal processes.

“While the protection of public lands is commendable, we must also consider the plight of private individuals and businesses who have followed all due procedures to acquire land.

These people now face great uncertainty,” he said.

He warned that the blanket embargo has already disrupted land registration and related processes, especially in areas like the Osu Mantse layout, where landowners and developers are unable to proceed with their documentation and investments.

The MP further noted that the halt in transactions is affecting key sectors of the economy, as land is a critical asset used for investment and securing loans.

“Private investors who legally acquired state lands are now unable to use these lands as collateral, effectively stalling potential business growth,” he added.

Mr Obiri Yeboah emphasised that the directive, though well-intentioned, risks causing unintended harm to law-abiding citizens and businesses and could stagnate land administration and economic activity across the country.

He therefore called on the government to immediately lift the ban or, at the very least, provide clear guidelines to exempt transactions involving verified, legitimate landowners.

“The government must act swiftly to clarify its position and protect the integrity of legitimate land transactions to prevent long-term economic setbacks,” he urged.