🇬🇭map Ghana [Overview]

Ghana — written as Ghana in English — sits on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, bordered by Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Togo. Its capital, Accra, is the country’s commercial heartbeat and a lively coastal gateway for travelers and professionals alike. With a fast-growing population of over 30 million people, Ghana blends youthful energy with deep tradition, making it feel both ambitious and welcoming. The country is home to Lake Volta, one of the largest human-made lakes in the world, which shapes local livelihoods and transport across a vast inland waterway.

Ghana’s cities feel globally connected while remaining distinctly West African in character. Accra and Kumasi buzz with creative industries, tech startups, and regional trade, while coastal towns spotlight fishing, cacao, and palm oil. Inland, you’ll meet communities whose roots go back centuries, yet who are quick to adopt new ideas and tools. As a base for work or remote life, Ghana offers a friendly on-ramp to West Africa, with good English proficiency, a dynamic arts scene, and a reputation for social warmth that makes settling in easier.

Economy

Most people work in services, small commerce, and agriculture, with cocoa, gold, and oil anchoring national exports. Cocoa farms are a familiar sight in the south, while gold mining and bauxite shape parts of the interior; new investments in gas and renewables are slowly diversifying the energy mix. Urban professionals tap into roles in banking, telecoms, logistics, and a growing digital economy that’s pulling talent into Accra’s co-working spaces and incubators. For expatriates, opportunities often cluster around infrastructure, agribusiness value chains, fintech, and development projects.

Ghana trades actively across West Africa and with Europe, China, India, and the United States, supported by major ports at Tema and Takoradi and an international airport in Accra. It’s a member of ECOWAS and the African Continental Free Trade Area, and Accra hosts the AfCFTA Secretariat—signals of its region-facing outlook. Subsea internet cables and widespread mobile money use make daily business surprisingly smooth, even outside the biggest cities. While inflation and currency swings can affect costs, the overall market remains entrepreneurial, open to partnerships, and eager for skills transfer.

Culture

English is the official language, and you’ll hear it everywhere from boardrooms to buses. Many Ghanaians are proudly multilingual; Twi (Akan), Ewe, Ga, Dagbani, and others are widely spoken, and learning a few greetings goes a long way. The country’s major ethnic groups include the Akan, Mole-Dagbani, Ewe, and Ga-Dangme, each with distinctive festivals, textiles, and customs. From ancient Akan states and northern savannah kingdoms to the crossroads of Atlantic trade, the land’s history is visible in traditional chieftaincy, craft markets, and coastal forts that invite reflection.

Ghanaians love football, highlife and Afrobeats, and bold fashion—think kente cloth and inventive streetwear. Christianity is the majority religion, with Islam and indigenous beliefs also central to community life; interfaith coexistence is a notable social strength. The calendar features Independence Day on March 6, Farmers’ Day in early December, Homowo in Accra, Hogbetsotso in the Volta Region, and the vibrant Akwasidae festival among the Ashanti. December in Accra has evolved into a season of concerts, art fairs, and homecoming events, drawing the diaspora and newcomers into the city’s creative rhythm.

Amara
Amara is a business strategist and cultural liaison originally from Nairobi, Kenya, with over 12 years of experience in African markets and international corporate development across the continent. Having worked for major multinational corporations and regional organizations including the African Development Bank and East African Community, Amara has extensive experience facilitating the relocation of international talent to Kenya, South Africa, and other key African markets, as well as helping African professionals navigate assignments abroad.