• by George

The best areas to buy an apartment in Accra are Airport Residential, Airport West, Cantonments, Labone, Ridge and East Legon, with Osu and Dzorwulu worth a look. Each area suits a different goal. Pick the area by the job your apartment must do, then judge the building, the developer and the paperwork before the postcode.

Key points

• Airport West and Airport Residential suit frequent flyers and executive tenants.
• Labone and Osu suit buyers who want restaurants and nightlife within walking distance.
• Higher rent does not mean higher yield. Premium areas often return less per dollar invested.
• Non-citizens hold leases of up to 50 years per grant. Ghanaian and dual citizens qualify for up to 99 years.
• Developer track record and building management matter more than prestige.

Who is this guide for?

You live in London, Houston or Toronto. You hold a dollar budget, a two-week window to visit, and a family WhatsApp group full of advice. You want an apartment to use on visits and rent out the rest of the year.

Your fear: buying in the wrong area, from the wrong developer, without seeing the site.

What does the Accra apartment market look like in 2026?

Rents in Accra’s core neighbourhoods produce modest yields. The Africanvestor’s May 2026 listings model puts gross apartment yields in these areas between 5.8% and 7.3%, and net yields between 3.6% and 4.7%.

Two numbers stand out:

• A 2-bedroom in Cantonments lists at about GH₵15,500 a month for a 6.2% gross yield. A 2-bedroom in Osu lists at about GH₵10,700 for a 7.3% gross yield.
• Ownkey’s Q3 2026 report found Airport Residential listings took about 135 days to sell, and Cantonments about 128. Spintex listings sold in 42 days.

The lesson: a premium address costs more to enter and takes longer to resell.

Where are the best areas to buy an apartment in Accra?

Area	Best for	2-bed rent (GH₵/month)	Gross / net yield	Check before you buy
Airport Residential	Executives, airport access	14,000	6.2% / 3.9%	High entry price, slow resale
Airport West	Lock-up-and-leave owners, corporate tenants	11,200	6.6% / 4.1%	Exact address, newer supply
Cantonments	Diplomatic tenants, privacy	15,500	6.2% / 3.8%	Price against equal units elsewhere
Labone	City living, cafés, Osu access	12,000	6.4% / 4.0%	Busy strips versus quiet side streets
Ridge	Central offices, ministries	13,200	6.1% / 3.7%	Office streets go quiet at night
East Legon	Families, schools, malls	9,700	7.1% / 4.5%	Listings using the name for distant areas
Osu	Nightlife, short stays	10,700	7.3% / 4.7%	Noise, parking, building rules on short-lets
Dzorwulu	Value near the centre	10,100	6.9% / 4.4%	Mixed residential and commercial roads

Rent and yield: median listing estimates from The Africanvestor, May 2026 data. Asking rents, not achieved rents. For a closer look at one corridor, read our Airport Residential Area guide.

How do you choose the right area for your plan?

Follow these five steps in order.

1. Name the job. Decide between a home, a long-let investment, a short-let, or a mix of visits and rental.
2. Set an all-in budget. Add legal fees, service charges, furnishing, vacancy months and rent tax from the Ghana Revenue Authority.
3. Map your routes. Time the drive to Kotoka International Airport, your office and any school. Do this at 7.30am, not on a Sunday.
4. Check the tenure. Under Section 10(6) of the Land Act 2020 (Act 1036), a non-citizen holds a lease of up to 50 years per grant. Ghanaian and dual citizens qualify for up to 99 years. Hire your own lawyer and order a Lands Commission search.
5. Judge the developer. Ask which projects the developer finished, who manages the building after handover, and how you receive construction updates from abroad.

Which mistakes cost diaspora buyers the most?

• Buying the postcode and ignoring the building, the street and the management.
• Budgeting on advertised rent instead of achieved rent.
• Leaving out service charges and two to three vacant months a year.
• Asking a relative to “check the land” instead of hiring a lawyer.
• Paying deposits into personal bank accounts.

Why did Landmark Homes choose Airport West?

Landmark Homes built two apartment projects in Labone, The Sapphire (41 units) and The Madison (27 units). Both sold out before construction finished.

For the third project, the team chose Airport West. Landmark Homes calls the area “proven ground, not speculation” in the Deiterra brochure.

The rent data supports the choice. A 2-bedroom in Airport West rents for about GH₵2,800 less a month than in Airport Residential, yet earns a higher gross yield, 6.6% against 6.2%. You keep the same airport corridor and pay a lower entry price.

Our view: for an owner abroad, management decides the return. A vacant, badly kept unit in Cantonments earns less than a well-run unit one district over.

What does Deiterra offer a diaspora buyer?

Deiterra apartments in Airport West sit in a twin-tower development by Landmark Homes. The brochure lists:

• 16 residential floors with studios, 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom units, plus 2- and 3-bedroom hybrids.
• Rooftop pool, rooftop gym, rooftop lounge, executive lounge and an indoor children’s play area.
• 24-hour security, CCTV, controlled entry, backup power and backup water storage.
• Kotoka International Airport about 5 minutes away and Airport City about 3 minutes, per the developer.
• Privé Property Management, Landmark’s sister company, for tenant sourcing, rent collection and upkeep.

The illustrative payment plan runs as a $5,000 reservation fee, 25% within 30 days, 65% during construction and 10% at handover. Ask the sales team for the current price list.

How does a real buyer decide? A London example

This scenario is hypothetical.

Ama works in London. She visits Accra four weeks a year and wants rental income for the other 48. She shortlisted a 2-bedroom in Cantonments and a 2-bedroom at Deiterra.

Cantonments offered higher rent. Deiterra offered a lower entry price, a five-minute airport run and a manager under the same group as the developer. The staged payment plan matched her savings over the build period.

She chose Airport West. Her deciding factor: who looks after the apartment while she sits in London.

Key takeaways

• Choose the area by the job your apartment does.
• Compare net yield, not headline rent.
• Confirm your tenure under the Land Act 2020 with your own lawyer.
• Check the developer’s finished projects and the management plan.
• Airport West gives airport access at a lower entry price than Airport Residential.

Your next step

Request Deiterra floor plans, the service charge estimate and the ownership documents. Then book a viewing or a live virtual tour. Call Landmark Homes on +233 501 622 422 or visit landmarkhomesgh.com/deiterra.

The right area matches your budget, your routes and your plan for the unit. Start there, then compare buildings.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best areas to buy an apartment in Accra?

No single area wins for every buyer. Airport Residential and Airport West suit frequent travellers. Cantonments suits diplomatic tenants. Labone and Osu suit city living. East Legon suits families. Match the area to your budget, daily routes and rental plan.

Is Airport West the same as Airport Residential?

No. Airport West sits next to Airport Residential and shares the airport corridor. The Africanvestor’s May 2026 data puts a 2-bedroom in Airport West at about GH₵11,200 a month and in Airport Residential at about GH₵14,000.

Are foreigners allowed to own an apartment in Accra?

Yes, as leaseholders. The Land Act 2020 caps a non-citizen lease at 50 years per grant, with renewal possible. Ghanaian and dual citizens qualify for up to 99 years. Confirm your position with a licensed Ghanaian lawyer.

Which Accra area gives the best rental yield?

Among the areas in this guide, Osu and East Legon show the highest gross yields in The Africanvestor’s May 2026 model, around 7.1% to 7.3% for 2-bedrooms. Premium areas such as Cantonments and Ridge show lower yields because purchase prices run higher.

How do I buy an apartment in Accra from abroad?

Hire a Ghanaian lawyer, order a Lands Commission search and pay only into the developer’s company account. Grant power of attorney to a trusted person for signing. Ask the developer for regular construction updates and a written management plan.

Is buying off-plan in Accra safe?

Off-plan carries construction risk. Reduce the risk by checking the developer’s finished projects, paying in stages tied to construction milestones and reading the sale and purchase agreement with your own lawyer before you pay a deposit.