Accra: what to see and whether to move there

What the city lives on and who it suits

Accra is the capital of Ghana on the Atlantic coast, with about 5.5 million people in the Greater Accra region. It is a business hub of West Africa: banks, telecoms, trade, oil and gas, gold and cocoa, offices of international companies and startups. Ghana is considered one of Africa's most stable democracies, and the city one of the safest and friendliest in the region.

Accra suits entrepreneurs and professionals working with West Africa, staff of international organisations and people of African descent whom the country invites to return to their ancestral homeland. It suits less those seeking cheap imported goods, stable electricity and advanced healthcare.

History

Ghana, the former British Gold Coast, became on 6 March 1957 the first colony in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence. Its first president, Kwame Nkrumah, became a symbol of the continent's liberation, and his memorial and Black Star Square are Accra's main monuments. In 2019 the country held the Year of Return, inviting people of African descent from around the world, and many diaspora members have moved to Accra since.

Districts

• Osu - a lively district with restaurants, bars, shops and nightlife.
• Cantonments and Airport Residential - embassies, villas, offices and international schools, the most prestigious areas.
• East Legon - an affluent residential district near the airport with houses and malls.
• Labone - a quiet residential district next to Osu.
• Jamestown - the old port quarter with a lighthouse and fishing boats, atmospheric but poor.

Money and prices

The currency is the Ghanaian cedi. In 2022 Ghana defaulted on its external debt and went through an International Monetary Fund programme, and the cedi's exchange rate fluctuated noticeably. Local food, markets and transport are inexpensive, while imported goods, cars, international schools and housing in prestigious districts are expensive: rents for foreigners are often quoted in dollars and payable a year in advance.

Taxes

Income tax is progressive, with a top rate of 35%. Corporate tax is 25%, and separate health and education levies are added to VAT. A person becomes tax resident after more than 183 days in Ghana within 12 months.

Practicalities

• Entry. Most foreigners, including Russian citizens, need a visa obtained in advance and a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
• Health. Malaria risk all year, so prophylaxis and insurance are needed. Accra has good private clinics.
• Electricity. Outages happen, and many homes and offices run generators.
• Transport. Traffic is heavy; people use ride-hailing and cars, and Kotoka International Airport is almost in the city.
• Language. English is official; Twi and Ga are widely spoken.

Moving and legal status

Foreigners live in Ghana on a residence permit issued for work, business, investment or marriage, with the work permit arranged by the employer or company. People of African descent have special programmes for residence and citizenship. A foreign company must contribute minimum capital, the amount of which depends on the type of activity and the involvement of Ghanaian partners.

Culture and leisure

Accra is a city of music, fashion and street food: highlife and Afrobeats, kente cloth, jollof and fried plantain. At weekends people go to the beaches of Kokrobite and Ada, to the coastal castles of Cape Coast and Elmina, which bear witness to the history of the slave trade, and to waterfalls in the Volta hills.

Work and business

Most opportunities are in finance, telecoms, gold and oil, trade, construction and services for a growing middle class. Accra is a convenient base for entering West African markets, and the country hosts the secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area. Companies are registered with the registry, and employing foreigners requires immigrant quotas and work permits.

Is Accra worth considering for life

Pros: a stable democracy, English, friendly people, a growing economy and access to West African markets, and the ocean. Cons: expensive imported goods and housing, cedi fluctuations, malaria, traffic and power cuts. Accra suits business in the region and work on international projects. Write in the chat and we will choose a country and a basis for your move.