Land ownership in Ghana is a combination of public lands and traditional lands. Land Administration in Ghana has therefore been guided by both customary practices and enacted legislation. Since most of the land is owned by the stools and skins, customary practices continue to play a dominant role in providing access to land.
There are five categories of land ownership in Ghana. These are:
- State Lands
- Stool and skin lands
- Vested stool and skin lands
- Family/Clan lands
- Private/Individual lands
State lands
State lands consist of those areas formally/compulsorily acquired by the state in the public interest, usually by powers conferred on the state under the State Lands Act, 1962 Act 125. Title is vested absolutely in the state.
Stool and skin lands
These are lands that are exclusively owned and managed by the stools/skins themselves. The absolute ownership is vested in the stool as a trustee for its people. In accordance with S.267 of the 1992 constitution, ‘All stool and skin lands in Ghana shall vest in the appropriate stool on behalf of and in trust for the subjects of the stool in accordance with customary law and usage’. Managerial functions of these lands are vested in the stools/skins. Any disposition or development of these lands must however receive the concurrence of the Lands Commission office in that region. The disposition must also be consistent with an approved development plan for the area concerned.
Vested stool and skin lands
These are lands that are owned by stools but which by legislative enactments are administered directly by the state. The management is vested in Government on behalf of the land owning stool. The stool is entitled to the beneficial rights arising from the management by the state.
Family/Clan lands
These are lands whose freehold interest is vested in a family or clan and who enjoy the full benefits of such ownership
Private/Individual lands
These are lands that have been acquired outright from a stool, family or the state.
