Buying Land in Ghana Through a Lawyer: Checks Before You Pay

Short answer: Before you pay anyone for land in Ghana, check that the lawyer is a real practising lawyer, check that the seller really has the right to sell, check the papers before the deposit, and never send money to a personal account or a number you have not verified. Do these checks from the US or the UK, not after the money has gone.

Why land from abroad is a target

Scammers know that buyers living overseas cannot easily visit the plot, walk the boundary or sit in the lands office. The usual patterns are a seller who does not own the land, the same plot sold to two or three buyers, family land sold without the whole family agreeing, and a 'lawyer' who is not on any professional list. A friendly video call or a smart office does not prove any of this.

Step 1: Check the lawyer first

• Ask for the lawyer's full name, chambers address and professional membership number.
• Confirm membership with the Ghana Bar Association using contact details you find yourself, not the ones the lawyer sends you.
• Search the lawyer's phone and WhatsApp number on TrustCheck to see whether others have reported it.
• Ask for a written engagement letter that says what the lawyer is paid for, what they will check and what they will not do.

A real lawyer will not mind these questions. If they get angry or rush you, treat that as a warning sign.

Step 2: Check the seller really owns the land

Ask the seller, through the lawyer, for every document they claim to hold. Then find out who else might have a claim. For family land, ask who the family head is and whether the whole family has agreed to the sale. For land linked to a traditional authority, ask for written confirmation from that authority. Ask whether anyone else has paid a deposit on the same plot.

If you are asked to sign a power of attorney, do not sign it until an independent lawyer, chosen by you and not by the seller or the agent, has read it and explained every clause. Never sign something you do not understand because someone says it is a formality.

Step 3: Check the papers before you pay the deposit

The proper land search at the Lands Commission should happen before any deposit, not after. We cover how to do that in our guide on the Lands Commission search, so read that next. Here, the key rule is order: papers first, money second.

Also get someone you trust to visit the plot in person. A relative, a neighbour you know or a local lawyer you have checked can walk the boundary, compare it with the documents and speak to people living nearby. Photos sent by the seller are not enough.

Step 4: Follow the money

• Never pay into a personal MoMo number or a personal bank account of someone you have not verified.
• Ask exactly whose name the account is in and how that name matches the seller or your lawyer.
• Get a written receipt for every payment, with the date, the amount and what it is for.
• Be wary of 'commitment fees', 'processing fees' or 'urgent stamp money' demanded by people who are not your lawyer.
• Be wary of pressure. 'The plot will be sold by tomorrow' is a classic tactic.

Red flags to walk away from

• The seller refuses to show original documents or says they are at another office.
• The price is far below what similar land sells for nearby.
• The lawyer talks only on WhatsApp and never gives a physical office address.
• Someone you have never met says they are a family member and asks for money.
• You are asked to keep the deal secret from your family or your bank.

How TrustCheck can help

Use check a number, handle or website to search the phone number, WhatsApp account or website of anyone involved, and see what others have reported. If a payment message came from a MoMo number and you are not sure, paste it into Is this MoMo message real?. If you find a scam, report it at report a scammer. Every report is checked by a person before it is published. TrustCheck does not show who owns a number, so use your MoMo provider or your bank to confirm names and do not rely on us for that.

If you have already paid

Stop sending money. Keep every message, receipt and document. Contact your bank or your MoMo provider straight away and ask them what they can do. You can also report to the Ghana Police Cybercrime Unit, and the Cyber Security Authority can be reached on 292. Acting quickly gives you the best chance, but we cannot promise that money will come back.