Buying property in Ghana: what to check before you commit

Start with a clear buying brief

Decide what the property needs to do for you. A home for your family, a rental apartment and land for a future build need different comparisons. Write down your preferred location, total budget, timing and essential features before arranging viewings. Include the costs of making the property usable, such as fit-out, professional fees and ongoing charges.

Compare properties against the same brief. A lower advertised price may become less attractive once access, unfinished work or the cost of ownership is understood. Keep a record of what has been confirmed and what remains a question.

Confirm who you are dealing with

Record the seller's legal identity and ask your independent Ghanaian lawyer to establish their authority to transfer the interest offered. A representative should be able to explain whom they represent and provide the relevant authority. Keep the developer, landowner, selling agent and eventual management company distinct in your records.

Where a broker or agent is involved, check their current licence through the Real Estate Agency Council's Public Registry. A licence check is one part of your enquiries; it does not establish the property's title or replace transaction-specific checks.

Match the paperwork to the property

Ask your lawyer to identify the appropriate official searches and examine the seller's documents. A licensed surveyor can help establish whether the site plan, boundaries and land being shown correspond. Investigate inconsistencies before proceeding.

The Lands Commission's title-registration requirements include an approved plan, consistent ownership and site information, properly executed documents and, where applicable, supporting consent or concurrence. The exact requirements depend on the transaction. Ask your lawyer what interest you will receive, its remaining term and any restrictions on its use or transfer.

Inspect the property and its intended use

Visit the site or appoint an independent professional to inspect it. Check access, drainage, utilities, condition and the surrounding area. For an unfinished development, ask to see the agreed specification, work completed, delivery programme and process for documenting changes.

Check relevant planning and building approvals with the assembly responsible for the location. Accra Metropolitan Assembly's guidance distinguishes development permission from building permission; an attractive building or a land document does not answer every planning question.

Understand the commitment before paying

Have the reservation and sale documents reviewed before making a commitment. Confirm the exact property, payment milestones, what the price includes, cancellation terms, completion obligations and approach to defects. Ask who bears each professional fee and ongoing charge.

Verify the receiving account through an established contact channel, particularly if payment instructions change. Obtain a reference and receipt for every payment. Keep sales conversations alongside the signed documents, and make sure material promises are included in the agreement.

Plan for completion and ownership

Agree a completion file with your lawyer: executed documents, official search results, payment evidence, registration submissions and the next steps still outstanding. Arrange a documented handover and a clear contact for defects or maintenance. Your buying process should leave you with both the keys and an understandable record of the property interest you have acquired.