How to live in Ghana, West Africa
Ghana is a democratic republic in West Africa with a population of about 20 million, 2 million of whom reside in the capital city of Accra. It is bordered to the west by Ivory Coast, to the north by Burkina Faso, to the east by Togo and to the south by the Atlantic Ocean. Though the official language is English, as many as 70 dialects and languages are spoken in the country, with Twi and Fanti being the most prominent. Emigrating to Ghana requires an understanding of the culture and the financial requirements necessary to live comfortably.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Challenging
Instructions
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Obtain a multiple-entry tourist visa. You will need your U.S. passport valid for at least six months past the date you apply, four passport photographs, a copy of your itinerary and a bank statement that shows you have sufficient funds during your stay. You must also obtain yellow fever immunization. A multiple-entry tourist visa lets you stay in Ghana for 12 months. You can renew the visa before it expires. If you are being sponsored by a company to work in Ghana, apply for a multiple-entry business visa.
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Research Ghanaian culture before you arrive. Visit a bookstore or online bookseller and purchase a comprehensive guide on Ghana such as the "Bradt Travel Guide" for Ghana by Philip Briggs or "Ghana - Culture Smart!" by Ian Utley. You can also browse the Internet for cultural facts about Ghana. Familiarize yourself with the cuisine, customs and businesses of Ghana. Websites such as Kwintessential and No Worries Ghana have a number of tips and resources to help newcomers to Ghana.
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Determine what items you are shipping and what items you can purchase when you arrive. Ghana has several large modern cities with a number of retail shops and malls, but prices for some items such as furniture and electronics are more expensive than if you buy them in the United States. For example, clothing styles in Ghana vary from traditional "kente" material, which is made in the country and more affordable, to regular cottons and fabrics, which are often higher-priced because they are imported from manufacturers in the United Kingdom and the United States.
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Visit the Internet to obtain the names and contact information for companies that ship to Ghana. A number of these companies ship furniture, trucks, cars, boxes of clothes and other times by sea and by air.
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Research the kind of work you want to do. Ghana has a diversified economy, with a growing service and financial sector that attracts significant foreign investment. However, obtaining a job is sometimes dependent on your insider contacts. Visit the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre in Accra if you are interested in establishing your own business in Ghana. You should also visit the U.S. embassy in Accra to inquire about the services they provide to help you set up a business.
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Find a place to live. Ghana has many apartments and houses for rent, or homes you can purchase. Visit a real estate agent to help you find accommodations. Two of the biggest estate agencies are Domani Ltd and Express Property Management Co. Ltd., both located in the capital city of Accra.
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Familiarize yourself with the grocery stores and department stores in your area. If you live in Accra, there are two main shopping malls: Accra mall and A&C shopping mall. Accra mall offers more than 40 shops and also has restaurants and movie theaters. Visit the website at AccraMall.com. If you live in another large city such as Kumasi, check with the American embassy or with your real estate agent who can provide you with shopping districts that are nearby.
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Open a bank account. Big cities such as Accra or Kumasi have a number of local and foreign banks available for your financial needs. Many of these banks let you deposit foreign currency into your account and exchange American dollars for the Ghanaian cedi or other currencies such as the Euro and the Pound Sterling. These banks include Prudential Bank Ltd, Ghana Commercial Bank Ltd and Barclays Bank of Ghana.
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Determine if you want to buy a new or used vehicle in Ghana, ship your vehicle from abroad or rely on local transportation. Used cars are plentiful and are either sold by private owners or through car lots that often display the vehicles just off the main roads. Ensure that you have a used car inspected by a mechanic before you buy it. New cars are also available, but may cost more than what you would normally pay in the United States. Shipping your vehicle from the United States is an option, but it will incur import duties which can cost you thousands of dollars without factoring additional costs to register the vehicle. Local transportation is dominated by taxis, which do not have meters and therefore charge depending on traffic. The other local transportation is the "tro-tro," a minivan or small bus that is very inexpensive, but requires a full load before taking you to a general area in the city, from which you can walk to your specific destination.
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