The Lands Commission has called on potential land purchasers to carry out thorough due diligence before finalising any transaction, warning that buyers may fall victim to fraud and ownership disputes if they skip essential checks.
Acting Deputy Executive Secretary in charge of Operations, Surveyor Raphael Hokey, spoke on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday, October 14, stressing that buyers must verify the land’s ownership and legal status before making any payments or signing agreements.
Hokey explained that some individuals sell state‑owned or vested lands without the authority to do so, exposing buyers to possible financial loss and prolonged legal battles. He urged prospective buyers to conduct searches at the Lands Commission, physically visit the property, and engage relevant parties to confirm ownership.
“Even before you buy a land, make sure you do the due diligence. I cannot overemphasise that word enough. What does the due diligence entail? Make sure you conduct a search at the Lands Commission, make sure you go to the land, make sure you engage people thoroughly to make sure that it is not state land,” Hokey said.
He added that even if the land appears to be state land, a search may reveal it is vested land, and buyers could be dealing with the wrong parties, leading to trouble.
Buyers who neglect these steps risk purchasing from individuals with no legal right to sell, particularly when the land belongs to the state or has been vested in the state.
Future purchasers are advised to follow Hokey’s guidance to protect themselves from costly disputes and ensure a legitimate transfer of ownership.
