Buying land in Ghana while based abroad removes the two things most buyers rely on without realising it: being able to walk the boundary yourself, and being able to ask around the neighbourhood about the seller's reputation. Neither is optional — they just have to be done by someone you trust on your behalf.
Before you send any money
- Get the seller's full name and ID, and the parcel's exact location — GPS coordinates if possible, not just a description.
- Request copies of the indenture and site plan before committing to anything, not after.
- Never rely solely on photos or video calls to confirm boundaries — have someone independent measure them physically.
What to verify, and who should verify it
A Lands Commission title search confirms the registered owner and whether the title is encumbered. An independent lawyer — not the seller's lawyer, and not a family friend doing you a favour — should review the ownership chain and any litigation history. A licensed surveyor should physically confirm the boundary matches the site plan. Each of these is a different professional for a reason: a lawyer isn't measuring boundaries, and a surveyor isn't qualified to give a legal opinion on ownership disputes.
Power of attorney, carefully
If you need someone to sign or act on your behalf in Ghana, a properly drafted and registered power of attorney is the correct tool — not an informal verbal arrangement with a relative, however well-intentioned. Have your own lawyer draft it, not the seller's or the agent's.
After the purchase
Don't treat due diligence as the finish line. Registration — stamp duty and Lands Commission submission — is what actually converts your purchase into a legally protected title. An unregistered purchase, however clean the due diligence, has weaker protection against a later, registered competing claim.
The honest version of the advice
Nothing here is unique to diaspora buyers — it's what any careful buyer should do. The difference is that distance removes your ability to catch problems informally, so every one of these steps has to be done deliberately and by someone independent, rather than assumed.