The Government is considering setting up a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the acquisitions, allocation and use of public lands in Greater Accra.

President John Dramani Mahama said the Commission would work with chiefs, legal experts, historians and affected communities to produce a comprehensive report to guide and bring a lasting solution to a matter that had lasted for far too long.

The President made the disclosure in his remarks at the durbar of the Chiefs and People of the Greater Accra Region in Dodowa during his National “Thank You Tour” of the Region.

The National “Thank You Tour” is to enable the President express gratitude to Ghanaians for their massive support for him and the National Democratic Congress during the December 7, 2024 general election.

President Mahama noted that one issue that was repeatedly raised during engagements with communities across the Greater Accra Region was the matter of state lands and ancestral Ga-Dangme lands.

He reiterated that these concerns were valid and that he understood the historical injustices and emotional deaths tied to the matter.

He said as a result, one of the first directives he issued upon assuming office as President was to direct the Lands Commission to halt all sale and processing of all government lands, which was still in force.

President Mahama said following the receipt of the Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL) Committee’s report, the Attorney General initiated investigations into the alleged looting of prime government and Ga-Dangme lands that were sold to individuals with political influence, some for as low as GH₵45,000; saying “meanwhile, these are lands whose values run into millions of cedis”.

With regards to chieftaincy disputes, President Mahama said while governments constitutionally could not interfere in the internal matters of traditional institutions, they were deeply concerned by the impact of unresolved disputes on the development of traditional areas in Greater Accra.

“I therefore urge all traditional councils to utilize the structures of the national and regional houses of chiefs to resolve matters of chieftaincy with dignity, true dialogue and with mutual respect.”

The President said the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs was ready to support and facilitate any resolution mechanisms fairly and neutrally.

Oboade Notse King Professor Odaifio Welentsi III, the Nungua Mantse and President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, congratulated President Mahama on his historic election victory and come back.

He said President Mahama’s remarkable election signified two important things – the strong faith the majority of Ghanaians had in him and their dissatisfaction with his opponents.