Acting Deputy Executive Secretary in charge of operations at the Lands Commission, Raphael Hokey, has cautioned prospective land buyers to conduct thorough due diligence before purchasing property to protect themselves from fraud, competing ownership claims and costly legal disputes.

He said buyers must take the necessary steps to verify the ownership and status of a property before making any financial commitment.

Speaking at the launch of the Republic Bank JoyNews Habitat Fair on August 11, Mr Hokey said the process should include physically inspecting the land, obtaining and verifying the site plan, conducting an official search at the Lands Commission and confirming that the person offering the property for sale has the legal authority to do so.

Mr Hokey also advised prospective buyers to make enquiries within the community, particularly in situations where the seller is unable to provide sufficient documentation or records at the Lands Commission.

“The key thing to do is to make sure you carry out due diligence,” he said, stressing that buyers must be certain they are dealing with the rightful owner or an authorised representative.

He explained that land transactions require greater caution because land is a long-term investment and, unlike ordinary commodities, cannot simply be replaced once a problem emerges.

“Buying land is not like just buying a perishable product like tomatoes. Buying land is something that is fixed in location that you are going to depend on for a long time. So, you need to make sure you get it right,” Mr Hokey said.

He noted that land acquisition also involves substantial financial commitments, making it important for buyers to establish the ownership history and legal status of a property before paying for it.

Mr Hokey further pointed to Ghana's predominantly customary land ownership system as one reason prospective buyers must be particularly careful, since multiple individuals or families may sometimes lay claim to the same parcel of land.

He warned that neglecting basic due diligence could leave buyers with disputed property and expose them to lengthy and expensive litigation.

Mr Hokey therefore urged anyone seeking to acquire land to resist pressure to complete transactions hastily and instead take the time to verify all relevant documents, conduct the necessary searches and establish the legitimacy of the transaction before making payment.