Last updated: June 2026
A power of attorney lets a person you trust, usually your lawyer, sign and register a property purchase on your behalf so you can buy in Ghana without travelling. Keep it specific to the transaction, not general. Because Ghana is not in the Hague Apostille Convention, the document must be notarised at home and then legalised at a Ghanaian diplomatic mission before it is valid in Ghana.
If you are buying from abroad, the power of attorney is the single document that makes a remote purchase possible. Get it right and the rest of the transaction runs smoothly; get it wrong and signing stalls at exactly the wrong moment. This guide sits alongside our full diaspora buying guide and goes deep on the POA itself.
What a power of attorney does, and why you need one
A power of attorney authorises someone to act for you on a defined matter. In a property purchase that means signing the sales and purchase agreement, handling registration at the Lands Commission and completing the deal. Without one, every signature would need you physically present in Ghana.
It is not a transfer of ownership. The property is still bought in your name; the attorney simply acts on your instructions for the steps that have to happen on the ground. That is why it pairs so well with virtual tours and staged remote apartment purchases.
Notarising and legalising it for Ghana
The document is first notarised in the country where you sign it, then legalised at a Ghanaian diplomatic mission. An apostille on its own will not be accepted, because Ghana is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Build a few weeks into your timeline for this chain.
| Where you sign it | Step 1 | Step 2 (because Ghana is not in the Apostille Convention) |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Notarise before a UK notary | Legalise at the Ghana High Commission in London |
| United States | Notarise before a US notary | Legalise at the Embassy of Ghana in Washington DC or the consulate in New York |
| Canada | Notarise before a Canadian notary | Legalise at the Ghana High Commission in Ottawa |
| Elsewhere | Notarise locally | Legalise at the nearest Ghanaian diplomatic mission |
This is the step most buyers underestimate. Missing it means the document is rejected in Ghana and signing is delayed, so start it early, in parallel with your title search rather than after it.
Specific or general: keep the scope tight
For a single purchase, use a specific or limited power of attorney that names the property and the exact acts authorised. It does the job while keeping the holder boxed in. A general power of attorney grants broad authority over your affairs and is rarely needed for one transaction.
| Type | What it covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Specific (limited) POA | Only the named transaction: this property, these acts | Almost every diaspora purchase. Lower risk. |
| General POA | Broad authority over your affairs in Ghana | Rarely needed for a single purchase, and harder to control |
The narrower the mandate, the less can go wrong. Name the development and unit, list the acts such as signing the agreement, paying from the designated account and registering the title, and state an expiry. A good lawyer will draft it this way as a matter of course.
Buy on a tight, clear mandate
Imaani buyers complete from abroad on a specific power of attorney, against a registered title and a 100% on-time delivery record. See the homes you can buy this way.
View available apartmentsWho to appoint as your attorney
Most diaspora buyers appoint the lawyer handling their purchase, sometimes alongside a trusted family member. The test is accountability: choose someone professional you can hold to account, and never hand broad authority to someone you cannot supervise.
Where a family member is involved, it often works best to give the power of attorney to the lawyer for the legal acts and let the relative help with practical matters like access and inspection. That keeps the legally binding authority with a regulated professional.
The risks, and how to contain them
The main risks are an over-broad mandate, an attorney who acts beyond your wishes, and a document left open after completion. Contain all three by keeping the POA specific, paying only into a law-firm or escrow account, and revoking or expiring the mandate once the purchase is done.
Combined with an official title search and a developer that has a delivery record, a tightly drafted power of attorney is a safe tool, not a risky one. For the wider list of pitfalls, read how to avoid property scams in Ghana from abroad.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is a power of attorney in a Ghana property purchase?
It is a legal document in which you authorise someone you trust, usually your lawyer, to act for you on a defined transaction. They can sign the sales and purchase agreement, handle registration at the Lands Commission and complete the purchase while you stay abroad.
Does a power of attorney need to be legalised for Ghana?
Yes. Ghana is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone is not enough. The document is notarised in your country and then legalised at a Ghanaian diplomatic mission before it will be accepted in Ghana.
Should I give a specific or a general power of attorney?
For a single purchase, a specific or limited power of attorney is safer. It authorises only the named acts on the named property, so the holder cannot act beyond the transaction. A general power of attorney grants much broader authority and is rarely necessary.
Who should I appoint as my attorney?
Most buyers appoint the lawyer acting for them on the purchase, or a trusted family member working alongside that lawyer. Choose someone accountable and professional, and avoid handing broad authority to anyone you cannot hold to account.
Can I cancel a power of attorney?
Yes. A power of attorney can be revoked in writing, and it is good practice to set an expiry or to limit it to the transaction so it lapses naturally once the purchase completes. Tell the holder and any relevant parties when you revoke it.
Setting up a power of attorney?
Tell us your purchase plans and we will point you to the right wording and the legalisation steps for your country, so signing never holds you up.
Talk to our diaspora teamImportant 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.