Real estate agents play a critical role in Ghana's property market — connecting buyers with sellers, tenants with landlords, and investors with opportunities. But the sector has historically been unregulated, creating space for fraudsters and incompetent operators. The Real Estate Agency Council (REAC) now licenses agents, transforming the industry. Here's what buyers and sellers need to know.
The Real Estate Agency Council (REAC)
REAC was established under the Real Estate Agency Act, 2020 (Act 1047) to regulate real estate agency practice in Ghana. From 2022, practising as a real estate agent without a REAC licence is illegal.
REAC's functions:
- Licensing real estate agents and brokers
- Setting professional standards
- Investigating complaints
- Disciplining and delicensing agents who breach standards
How to Verify an Agent's REAC Licence
- Ask to see their REAC licence certificate
- Check the REAC register online (reac.gov.gh)
- Confirm the licence is current — not expired
Do not work with any agent who cannot produce a valid REAC licence.
What a Licensed Agent Can Do for You
- Find suitable properties matching your requirements
- Arrange viewings
- Provide market price information
- Negotiate between buyer and seller
- Facilitate introductions between you and lawyers, valuers, and other professionals
What they cannot do: Conduct the legal title search, verify the title, prepare the transfer documents, or give legal advice. That is a lawyer's job — regardless of what the agent tells you.
Agent Commission: What's Standard
Standard real estate agency commission in Ghana:
- Sale: 5–10% of the sale price (typically paid by the seller, though sometimes split or negotiated)
- Letting: 5–10% of total rent for the tenancy period, or 1 month's rent
- Commercial letting: Negotiable, typically 5–8%
Commission should only be paid on successful transaction completion — not upfront for "searching." Any agent demanding large upfront fees for property searches is a red flag.
Red Flags: Dodgy Agents
- No REAC licence
- Cannot produce actual title documents for any property shown
- Shows you a property but "needs" to collect a fee before you can view it
- Rushes you to pay a deposit before any legal checks
- Their "office" is just a mobile phone
- Properties shown are not in the agent's area of apparent operation
- Pressure to bypass lawyers ("you don't need a lawyer for this")
Using an Agent Safely
- Get all promises from an agent in writing
- Never pay deposits through the agent — pay directly to the seller's documented bank account
- Always engage your own independent lawyer — the agent's lawyer is not your lawyer
- Do your own title search regardless of what the agent tells you about the property
Use our free Land Deal Risk Check on any property an agent shows you. Read about buying safely from abroad and the full transfer process.
Need Help?
Always check land documents yourself, regardless of what an agent tells you.
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