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Abstract This article examines Ghana's land development and planning laws from a historical perspective. The methodology involves a documentary study of historical records to explore the evolution of these laws, spanning from the colonial period to the present. Through this approach it sheds light on significant milestones such as the 1988 local government changes, the land use decree's implementation by military juntas, and the identified deficiencies in the decree pertaining to physical planning. The expositions from this study show that Ghana has over the years adopted many land development and planning laws, that there is a visible demand for land among people and a desire by developers to use their land. The topic of planning is thus a significant area for stakeholders in Ghana. The study, therefore, recommends that, given the fact that land development and planning laws are here to stay, and that people are the primary drivers of social change, these laws should respect the culture and norms of the people, and should as well always incorporate active public engagement for stakeholders to feel a sense of ownership and belongingness in the entire process.
Zakaria et al. (2024) studied this question.