Omanghana
The Lands Commission has urged prospective land buyers to verify ownership and the legal status of properties before making payments, warning that unauthorised sales of state-owned and vested lands could expose purchasers to financial losses and lengthy disputes.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, Surveyor Raphael Hokey, the Commission’s Acting Deputy Executive Secretary responsible for Operations, said buyers must establish whether sellers have the authority to transfer the land.
He advised prospective purchasers to conduct official searches, visit the property and make enquiries from relevant people before committing funds. Such checks, he explained, have helped some buyers discover that parcels offered by private individuals were actually state or vested lands.
Hokey also outlined an online search service intended to make land information more accessible. Applicants can visit onlineservices.lc.gov.gh, upload the site plan for the property and pay the prescribed search fee through the platform’s mobile money option. The completed report is then delivered by email.
He said the service covered 10 regions, including the six newly created regions, Greater Accra, Volta, Eastern and Western. Its extension to the Ashanti Region was expected during the week.
Explaining the wider challenges facing land administration, Hokey said an estimated 80% of Ghana’s land is under customary ownership, with public lands accounting for approximately 20%.
He explained that customary owners retain beneficial interests in vested lands while the state holds the legal interest, making it particularly important to establish who is authorised to transact.
Disputes over family representation and traditional leadership, together with multiple sales of the same parcel, remain persistent problems, he added. These competing claims can complicate transactions and leave buyers facing ownership challenges after payment.
Source: Omanghana
