Buying Land from a Chief or Family in Ghana – What You Need to Check First
Did you know, many prime lands in Ghana belong to stools (chiefs), skins, or families? Section 9 of the Land Act 2020 makes it clear: chiefs and families hold this land in trust for the community, and they cannot just convert it into freehold for someone else.
As a diaspora buyer, this means you must do extra due diligence. Always ask:
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Does the chief or family have the right authority to lease the land?
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Is the transaction recorded at the Customary Land Secretariat?
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Are all necessary family heads and principal elders in agreement?
These steps protect you from buying land from the wrong person — something that happens too often in Ghana.
Pro tip: Never rely only on a handwritten receipt. Always make sure your grant is formally documented and can be registered.
Takeaway: When buying stool or family land, paperwork is your protection. Don’t skip the process. If you are unsure, then go for a ready built house where the land situation has already been resolved.
Yaba