Last updated: June 2026
You can buy a property in Accra from the UK without flying out. Appoint a licensed Ghanaian lawyer, grant a power of attorney (notarised in the UK and consularised at the Ghana High Commission in London), verify the title at the Lands Commission, and pay into a law-firm or escrow account. Prime Accra is priced in US dollars, and the UK-Ghana tax treaty helps you avoid being taxed twice.
The UK is home to one of the largest Ghanaian communities abroad, and more of them are turning the pull of home into an actual address in Accra. The good news for a London, Manchester or Birmingham-based buyer is that the whole purchase can be run remotely. This guide covers the parts that are specific to buying from the UK: the paperwork, the currency, and the tax.
Can you buy in Accra from the UK without flying out?
Yes. Nothing in the process requires you to be in Ghana. Developers run virtual viewings, your lawyer handles verification and signing, and funds move through formal banking channels. UK-based buyers complete purchases this way regularly, the key is structuring it correctly and verifying the land before you pay.
The mechanics are the same as for any overseas buyer, set out in our guide to buying property in Ghana from abroad. What follows focuses on the UK-specific details that trip people up.
Your legal standing as a UK-based buyer
Your tenure depends on citizenship, not where you live. If you hold a Ghanaian or dual passport you can take a 99-year lease; if you are a UK national without Ghanaian citizenship, you take a 50-year renewable lease. Either way you own the building outright and can let, sell or pass it on.
| Buyer | Maximum lease | What you own |
|---|---|---|
| UK-based dual citizen (Ghanaian passport) | 99 years, renewable | The building outright + a 99-year lease |
| UK national without Ghanaian citizenship | 50 years, renewable | The building outright + a 50-year lease |
So a UK-born child of Ghanaian parents who holds dual citizenship gets the 99-year terms; a UK national buying purely as an investor gets 50 years, renewable. Full detail is in can foreigners own property in Ghana.
The process from the UK, step by step
Five stages: define your goal and reserve the unit; appoint an independent Ghanaian lawyer; have them run a Lands Commission title search; sign the Sales and Purchase Agreement (in person or by power of attorney); pay into a law-firm or escrow account; then register. Allow about 5 to 14 working days for the search and 3 to 6 months for registration.
The single most important step is engaging a Ghana Bar Association-licensed property lawyer independently, not one introduced solely by the seller. They run the title search, review every document before you sign, and act as your registered representative under a power of attorney.
Power of attorney from the UK
If you cannot travel, a power of attorney lets your lawyer or a trusted person sign for you. Execute it in the UK, have it notarised by a notary public, then legalised at the Ghana High Commission in London. An apostille on its own is not sufficient, because Ghana is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, this catches many UK buyers out.
So the UK sequence is: draft with your lawyer, sign before a notary public, then consularise at the Ghana High Commission in London. Build that lead time into your plan so a document is not rejected at registration. More on this in power of attorney for a Ghana property purchase.
Money: pounds to cedis, and why dollars help
Prime Accra property is priced and transacted in US dollars, so convert your thinking to USD. The cedi was Africa’s best-performing currency in 2025, then stabilised, and inflation has fallen to a record low of around 3.2%. Because rates still move, pricing and financing in dollars is the steadier route for a UK-based buyer.
Practically, you transfer funds from the UK through formal banking channels, which creates a clean paper trail and satisfies the rules; transfers above USD 50,000 need supporting documentation. Pay only into a law-firm client account or escrow. For more on the currency angle, see the weak cedi and the diaspora advantage and earning USD rental income against cedi volatility.
Tax: will you be taxed twice?
Ghana taxes your rental income at around 25% as a non-resident and capital gains at 15% on the net gain. The UK and Ghana have a double-taxation treaty, so you can generally claim relief in the UK for tax paid in Ghana and avoid paying twice. Confirm the detail with a UK tax adviser, as personal circumstances vary.
Your rental income and eventual sale proceeds can be repatriated to the UK in convertible currency through an authorised bank, net of taxes, under the GIPC framework. The mechanics are in how to repatriate income from Ghana.
Strong pound, prime Accra
With apartments priced and rented in USD, a UK-based buyer can turn today’s exchange rate into a hard-currency yield that holds its value back home. See the numbers.
Explore the investment caseFinancing from the UK
Three routes: pay cash by transfer, take an interest-free developer payment plan (10% to 30% down, the balance over the build), or use a diaspora mortgage (about 20% down, USD rates roughly 10% to 14%). Borrowing in dollars rather than cedis keeps your repayments steady against currency swings.
| Route | Typical upfront | Interest | Notes for UK buyers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash (transfer from the UK) | Full price | None | Strongest negotiating position; send via formal banking channels |
| Developer payment plan | 10% to 30% deposit | None | Spread over the build, 12 to 36 months; priced in USD |
| Diaspora mortgage | About 20% deposit | USD roughly 10% to 14% | Some banks (e.g. Absa) lend to diaspora buyers; borrow in USD, not cedis |
Compare the options in detail in mortgages and financing for property in Ghana, and if you are buying off-plan, the staged structure is explained in milestone payment plans for off-plan in Accra.
Buy from a developer with a track record
From 5,000 miles away, the developer’s record is your real protection. At Imaani Homes we have delivered four developments in Accra since 2019, every one on time, with two fully sold out, JAK Royale and The Ivy. Alexis Residence in Tesano is over 90% sold, and our flagship Regalia in the Airport Residential Area is open for reservations.
For a UK buyer who cannot pop in to check progress, that delivery history, not a glossy brochure, is what tells you the home will be handed over as promised. It is the difference between a stake in Accra and a stalled project.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a property in Accra from the UK without travelling?
Yes. The reservation, title search, signing and registration can all be handled remotely. Most UK-based buyers appoint a licensed Ghanaian lawyer and grant a power of attorney so documents are signed on their behalf.
How do I sign documents from the UK?
Through a power of attorney. You execute it in the UK, have it notarised by a notary public, then legalised (consularised) at the Ghana High Commission in London. An apostille alone is not enough, because Ghana is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention.
Will I pay tax in both Ghana and the UK?
Ghana taxes a non-resident’s rental income at around 25% and capital gains at 15%. The UK and Ghana have a double-taxation treaty, so you can generally claim relief and avoid being taxed twice. Confirm your position with a UK tax adviser.
Should I think in pounds or dollars?
Prime Accra property is priced and transacted in US dollars, so think in USD. The cedi was Africa’s strongest currency in 2025, and rates move, so pricing and financing in dollars is the steadier approach for a UK-based buyer.
How do I send the money safely?
Through formal banking channels (a bank wire), which creates a clean paper trail and complies with the rules. Pay only into a law-firm client account or escrow, never a personal account. Transfers above USD 50,000 need supporting documentation.
About Imaani Homes
Imaani Homes is an Accra-based luxury real estate developer, established in 2019, building investment-grade apartments in Ghana’s most prestigious addresses. Across four developments we have delivered every project on time, with two fully sold out: JAK Royale, our debut development, and The Ivy. Alexis Residence in Tesano is over 90% sold, and our flagship Regalia, in the Airport Residential Area, is open for reservations. Our standard is simple: the right property, in the right address, delivered exactly as promised.
Based in the UK?
Tell us the neighbourhood and unit size you have in mind and we will set up a viewing for your next trip home, or a virtual walkthrough before it.
Arrange a viewingImportant notice. The figures in this article, including yields, prices, costs, tax rates, and timelines, are indicative estimates based on current market conditions and public sources, and are provided for general information only. They are not guarantees, forecasts, or financial, legal, or tax advice. Actual figures vary with circumstances and change over time. Before making any decision, seek independent professional advice. All purchases are governed solely by the terms of the relevant Sales and Purchase Agreement.