Land in Ghana

Land in Ghana is controlled by tribal chiefs.  While there are some exceptions, for the most part, you don’t buy land.  Instead, you enter into long-term leases with local chiefs to use land and property; the duration of a long-term lease is typically 99 years.

We worked hard during our first 10 weeks here in Ghana to launch the building of a new home for parentless children.  Step one in the process…find land.  We looked at different parcels near Kasoa ranging in size from 2 to 5 acres and ranging in cost from $20,000 to $40,000.  We got especially excited about a particular piece of land about 6 miles west of Kasoa (where we are staying).

The land was beautiful and it was near a junior high school, but it was off the main road quite a ways and it did not have any electricity.  Nevertheless we tried to make it work.  I met with the electric company to see what it would take to pull electricity to the area.  I met with the prince (the son of the village chief) to discuss payment and our building plans.  We almost had ourselves talked into buying the land when several people helped us realize that some chiefs will donate land to use for a children’s home.  So we hit the brakes and began networking.