Last updated: June 2026
To verify a land title in Ghana, have your lawyer run an official search at the Lands Commission before any money changes hands. It confirms ownership and any encumbrances, costs roughly GHS 500 to 1,500, and takes about 5 to 14 working days. The Lands Commission’s online portal lets you track it remotely, so it works from abroad. It is the single step that stops most property scams.
If you do only one thing before buying land or property in Ghana, do this. An official title search is cheap, quick and decisive, and skipping it is how buyers lose money to fraud. This guide explains exactly how it works. It underpins our advice in how to avoid property scams from abroad.
Why the title search matters most
The biggest fraud in Ghana is a property sold more than once. An official title search exposes that before you pay, by confirming who actually owns the land and whether it carries any disputes or charges. No other single check does as much to protect your money.
It is the foundation the whole purchase sits on. Everything else, the agreement, the payment plan, the handover, assumes the title is sound, which is why the search comes first.
How the search works
Your lawyer submits a search to the Lands Commission, which returns the ownership position and any encumbrances. It typically costs around GHS 500 to 1,500 and takes about 5 to 14 working days, and the Commission’s online portal lets the search be tracked remotely.
| Detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| What it is | An official search at the Lands Commission confirming ownership and any encumbrances |
| Cost | Roughly GHS 500 to 1,500 |
| Time | About 5 to 14 working days |
| How | Through your lawyer; the Lands Commission also has an online portal to track it |
| When | Before any money changes hands |
The online portal matters for diaspora buyers in particular, because it means you can follow the process from abroad rather than relying on word of mouth. Your lawyer drives it; you can see it.
Verifying from abroad
You do not need to be in Ghana. Your lawyer conducts the search on your behalf and the portal lets it be tracked remotely, which is why it fits a remote purchase. Pair it with a power of attorney so signing can also happen without you flying in.
This is the same pattern as the rest of a remote purchase: a lawyer acting for you on the ground, and you overseeing from a distance. The power of attorney guide covers the signing side.
Buy on a verified title
Every Imaani apartment sits on a registered title your lawyer can verify at the Lands Commission, backed by a 100% on-time delivery record. Ask us for the title details on a unit.
View available apartmentsThe timing rule
Run the search before any money changes hands, never after. Money should only move once the title is confirmed clean and the agreement is signed, and it should go into a law-firm or escrow account, not a personal one. Order is everything here.
A developer or seller who pressures you to pay before the search is complete is showing you a warning sign. A legitimate counterparty will expect the search and wait for it.
What to check alongside it
For a development, also confirm the building and planning permits and that you are dealing with a licensed, established developer. The title search, a proven developer, and payment into an escrow or law-firm account together remove most of the risk in a Ghana purchase.
Think of it as a short checklist rather than a single test. Each item is quick, and together they turn a risky market into a manageable one, as set out in our diaspora due-diligence checklist.
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
How do I verify a land title in Ghana?
Your lawyer runs an official search at the Lands Commission, which confirms who owns the land and whether there are any encumbrances such as existing charges or disputes. It is the single most important check, and it must happen before any money changes hands.
What does a title search cost and how long does it take?
A search typically costs around GHS 500 to 1,500 and takes about 5 to 14 working days. The Lands Commission also operates an online portal, so the search can be tracked remotely, which is useful for diaspora buyers.
Can I verify a title from abroad?
Yes. Your lawyer in Ghana conducts the search on your behalf, and the online portal lets the process be tracked remotely. You do not need to be in Ghana for it, which is why it fits a remote purchase well.
What does the search protect me from?
Mostly from buying land that is already owned by someone else or is subject to a dispute or charge. The biggest fraud in Ghana is a property sold more than once, and an official search is the main thing that exposes it before you pay.
What else should I check alongside the title?
For a development, also confirm the building and planning permits, and that you are dealing with a licensed, established developer. The title search plus a proven developer and payment into an escrow or law-firm account together remove most of the risk.
Want a title checked before you commit?
Send us the property you are considering and we will point you to the Lands Commission search and the documents your lawyer should see first.
Talk to our 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.