How difficult is the property purchase process in Ghana?
Foreigners are not restricted from purchasing property in Ghana. There are, however, various types of land, some of which cannot be privately owned. In Ghana, there are four different types of land: government land, vested land, customary/stool land, and family/private land.
Ghana real estate
An application must be filed with the Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission or the Regional Lands Officer, depending on the location of the land, to acquire Government Land or Vested Land.
Customary land in Ghana is owned by various Stools, each of which has the authority to grant the specific customary land for which they are responsible. According to the 1992 Constitution, no freehold interest in land may be granted.
Prior to the 1992 Constitution, customary land granted to private individuals or families was considered private land. In this case, the buyer must approach the landowner directly.
Acquiring property necessitates the services of a real estate agent and a lawyer. A title search is essential for determining who owns and what type of land the buyer is interested in. Once all agreements have been reached, the lawyer will draught a Deed of Conveyance or an appropriate instrument of transfer (indenture). The title is transferred to the buyer upon signing, and the buyer pays for the property at the same time.
The title is registered with the Secretariat of the Lands Commission. Property registration takes about 48 days and involves five procedures.
The Ghana Bar Association regulates legal fees. Legal fees for conveyance are set at the following amounts:
