A rising levels of urbanisation in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have brought in its wake massive land use conversions most of which do not follow formal urban land development and governance protocols. While the literature is replete with studies on these unauthorised land use conversions, little research seems to have been carried-out on the possible revenue that could be generated from ground rent if these land use conversions are properly documented and managed. This study is a precursor to a proposed study on the implications of unauthorised land use conversions on ground rent revenue in SSA. Based on a review of the relevant literature, the study brings to the fore the potential for revenue to be generated from ground rents through effective and efficient management of the on-going land use conversions in the developing world. This presents opportunity for the development of a full scale research proposal to explore the phenomenon based on empirical data.