Local authorities in Maryland County have issued an immediate “cease-and-desist” order suspending all unauthorized land sales, leases, surveys, and allocations.
The administration cited a surge in fraudulent transactions, and land-related conflicts.
The County Administrative Officer, Alex Suku-Toe Nyemah, in a directive signed on Friday, July 30, said, the action is to restore order, protect legitimate landowners, and stop criminal networks that have been profiting from illegal land deals.
According to the directive, county authorities have received multiple complaints about organized syndicates of fake land agents, and unauthorized surveyors operating in Harper and in other districts.
Officials allege these individuals have collected illegal fees for land that does not belong to them; they produced fake land title deeds, and sale agreements; conducted surveys without approval from the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy, and sold and allocated government, public, customary, and private lands without statutory authority.
“The practice infringes on legitimate property rights, threatens public peace, undermines state authority, and has fueled a sharp increase in land disputes.”
The county government declared that effective immediately, all unauthorized transactions are frozen, that any sale, transfer, lease, or allocation of government, public, customary, or private land done without legal approval, will be considered “illegal and nullify.”
Government and public lands are protected- Lands reserved for infrastructure, forests, reserves, schools, and public utilities cannot be sold, or leased by individuals, groups, or community leaders.
Customary land rules enforced that any transfer of customary land must have verified collective consent from the Community Land Management, and Development Committee (CLDMC), and must be formally registered by the state. Without this, the transaction remains “invalid.”
Private property protection rules that encroachment, fraudulent resale, or forced occupation of legitimately owned private property will face immediate legal action.
Surveyors are henceforth restricted to the extent that no surveyor is allowed to carry out boundary demarcation without valid legal documentation, and signed authorization from the appropriate county, or national authority.
The administration cautioned residents, and potential buyers to be on the alert.
“Do not purchase land from individuals, or groups, who cannot provide verifiable registered land titles, or legal claims. Anyone conducting financial transactions with fraudulent land sellers does so at their own risk,” the directive warned.
All individuals, land agents, and syndicates currently engaged in unauthorized land activities have been ordered to cease operations immediately.
County officials said, the measures are part of efforts to clean up land administration in Maryland County, curtail land related disputes in communities, and ensure that land is managed according to the law.
The directive has been circulated to traditional leaders, town chiefs, CLDMCs, the police, and other relevant institutions for enforcement.
Authorities say, violators will be investigated, and prosecuted in a competent court of jurisdiction in line with land right laws.
