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This weeks edition of Ghana in Focus looks at the hopes and aspirations for 2026 in the wake of the new NDC government's first year in power.  We take a close look at key aspects of life in Ghana that will be key this year.

The Economy:

We state how key indictors of the economy like inflation, interest rates , the cedi have ALL improved over the past 12 months signalling a reset of the Ghanaian economy.  In fact the local currency , the Ghana cedi, was the world's best performing currency in 2025 appreciating some 40% ageist the US Dollar.

In 2026 we expect the economy to continue to grow, which we hope in turn will create jobs, allow business to invest and flourish and create wider opportunities that will empower Ghana.

Unemployment:

This is a high state issue for the country as the consequences are stark like armed robberies, prostitution and internet scams.

We urge government to push for skills‑based training, not just degrees — welding, coding, logistics, renewable energy, agritech.

Expansion of remote‑work pipelines so Ghanaian youth can earn globally while living locally, growth of manufacturing, BPO, and creative industries to absorb the massive youth population.

A cultural shift toward entrepreneurship with structure — proper bookkeeping, market research, and scaling, not survival hustles.

Housing:

A key aspect of life in Ghana that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency as the majority of Ghanaians cannot to buy properties at their current prices.  We advise government to:

• create affordable, serviced housing with reliable water, roads, and electricity — not just buildings.
• Expansion of mortgage access, especially for middle‑income earners.
• Push for local building materials (compressed earth blocks, prefab systems) to reduce construction costs.

Health:

• Strengthening of primary healthcare, especially CHPS compounds and district hospitals.
• Aspirations for uninterrupted medical supplies, better diagnostics, and reduced out‑of‑pocket payments.
• Expansion of NHIS coverage and digital health records for efficiency and transparency.
• Investment in local pharmaceutical manufacturing to reduce dependence on imports.

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We offer a consultation session for those who wish to relocate to Ghana , do business in Ghana , buy land, buying a property or even starting  business in Ghana.  We offer professional support tailored on your needs and wants. 

We provide valuable information that can assist you in your relocation like the Ghana card how/where to register your business.

We can also signpost you to other agencies that can help in your relocation as well as business and investment opportunities.

We charge a rate of US$30 for an hour's consultation or US$20 for a 30 minute consultation briefing.
 
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The past year across Africa delivered sharp turns in politics, conflict, and economic strategy, challenging easy narratives and forcing a rethink of power and priorities. Tanzania’s election controversy reignited debates about democratic backsliding, as opposition figures were sidelined and protests met force. Kenya’s public anger over living costs swelled into nationwide demonstrations, putting President Ruto’s agenda under relentless pressure. Rwanda remained efficient and orderly yet authoritarian, prompting questions about what a post-Kagame era could look like. These stories are not isolated; they feed into a broader reckoning over legitimacy, accountability, and how governance aligns with the aspirations of young, restless populations who expect both stability and voice.

Amid these political shifts, two overlooked wars escalated with devastating human tolls. Sudan’s civil war morphed into one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, displacing millions while drawing scant sustained coverage. In eastern DRC, more than a hundred militias tangled across mineral-rich provinces, where coltan, cobalt, and gold make the region vital to smartphones, batteries, and clean-energy supply chains. This fusion of conflict and commerce highlights a central paradox of globalisation: high-tech progress is often underwritten by insecurity at the source. 

Southern Africa faced its own reckoning around land and legacy. More than three decades after apartheid, land ownership in South Africa still skews heavily toward a white minority, fuelling a renewed push for expropriation with limited compensation in specific cases like abandoned land. The policy debate drew international heat, sanctions, and polarised rhetoric, but it also rekindled essential questions: what does just redress look like, how do you avoid market collapse, and how can land reform promote productivity, not merely symbolism?

The most consequential geopolitical move came from the Sahel—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—where the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) signalled a decisive break from external reliance. With a joint command, shared doctrine, and overt security alignment, the bloc framed sovereignty as both message and method. Critics see risky militarisation; supporters call it overdue autonomy after years of interventions that didn’t deliver security. What gives the AES heft is not only posture but policy: Niger’s oil-led surge, Mali’s lithium opening, and Burkina Faso’s push to refine gold at home point to a development model aimed at retaining value.

2026 promises to be a fascinating year with key elections taking place , Tanzania and Kenya at serious crossroads and will THE AES survive another year or will external forces destroy it!! 

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We offer a consultation session for those who wish to relocate to Ghana , do business in Ghana , buy land, buying a property or even starting  business in Ghana.  We offer professional support tailored on your needs and wants. 

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We continue our review of 2025.

Health

We explain why healthcare is not just about building hospitals/ clinics but providing first class facilities such as prostate cancer screening and cancer diagnosis as well as giving guidance and support in improving health outcomes.

We state the obesity time bomb in Ghana and urge the need for a national policy framework on health to ensure Ghanaians can live long and healthy lives and contribute to nation building.  We urge the government to make the NHIS ( National Health Insurance Scheme) universal for ALL.

Agriculture:

Agriculture is the mainstay of life in Ghana. Ghana is blessed with rich, fertile land that is capable of producing high quality food. Despite this, agriculture in Ghana has been left to chance since General Acheampong, with no great deliberate  policy on agriculture .  This has caused, food shortages, rotten food and high food inflation affecting family budgets. That said we critique the NPP's planting for Food and Jobs and why we feel it failed.

While we commend the current governments EAT GHANA initiative , we explore the viability of this initiative and give our recommendations including providing soft loans to Ghanaians farmers, creating markets for Ghanaian farmers and putting tariffs on imported food stuff like rice, tomatoes etc.  We end by stating Ghana must consume what is produces and produce what it consumes!

Illegal mining (Galamsey)

The biggest issue facing the very survival of the country.  In the last 8 years illegal small scale mining has become a national emergency issue with polluted rivers, polluted water, toxic lands and a damaged environment.

The failure of the last government to deal decisively with Galamsey led in part to its defeat at last years polls as the pubic became agitated that nothing was being done to tackle this menace.

We critique the current government's approach to tackling head on this national emergency.  We advise that there are Kings, High ranking police and military officials plus politically exposed persons who are INVOVLED in this eco terrorism alongside the Chinese.  As a definite solution we call on government to call a state of emergency by the close of 2026,otherwise one can conclude the government is complicit in this and warn of the dire consequences' of inaction including the very REAL possibility of Ghana having to import water by 2030!!

NPP Opposition ------- Finally, we press the opposition NPP to move past slogans and present credible, measurable policies on health, education, the economy, housing etc —ideas that acknowledges past failures' and meets the urgency of now.

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We offer a consultation session for those who wish to relocate to Ghana , do business in Ghana , buy land, buying a property or even starting  business in Ghana.  We offer professional support tailored on your needs and wants. 

We provide valuable information that can assist you in your relocation like the Ghana card how/where to register your business.

We can also signpost you to other agencies that can help in your relocation as well as business and investment opportunities.

We charge a rate of US$30 for an hour's consultation or US$20 for a 30 minute consultation briefing.
 
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This week's edition of Ghana in Focus takes a look back at the year 2025 in Review,

We look at some of the key socio-economic indices that have affected the country this year.

The Economy:

John Dramani Mahama was sworn for a second and last term (there is talk of a third term) on 7th January promising key economic improvements like resetting the economy after the previous disastrous 8 years of the NPP,  removing nuisance taxes that were a burden on business and the flagship 24 hour policy.

We detail each of the above especially the 24 hour economy which is s good policy on paper but its implementation we detect relies to heavy on so called Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and NOT investing and/or giving incentives to indigenous Ghanaians owned companies and individuals'.

We warn that FDI results in low wages and Capital flight of profits back to the investor home countries leaving Ghana short changed.  

The advise here is for government to leverage on its raw rich mineral resources by getting more royalties and using this as investment seed money for the 24 hour economy.  Example is that right now Ghana gets 4% royally rate from Gold production.  Given the record prices for gold, this is outrageous.  We state the government needs to re negotiate the royalty rate with the gold mining companies just like Burkina Faso, Tanzania, Mali and Botswana (diamonds) have done and get a rate close to 30%.  

This increase is what will generate funds that would allow government to invest wholesale in its 24 hour economy ambitions and urge government to resuscitate key Nkrumah era factories like Komenda sugar factory, Jute factory and Bonsa tyre factory, instead of importing sugar, tyres and jute bags.

We end by stating the economy will grow further in 2026 but is caveated by the country leaving the current IMF programme in Spring 2026 ,the need to settle international creditors as well as international events.

The cost of Living:

We explain why the cost of living crisis in Ghana still affects many Ghanaian households' despite improvements in some macro economic indices and explain measures that need to be taken to ease the burden on Ghanaian families, many of whom have seen no increase  in their salaries but have had to contend with rapid increases in rent, transportation and food.

Unemployment.

We advise what needs to be done to tackle this canker that threatens the security of the country and warn of the dire consequences if concrete steps are not taken to reduce the estimate 1.3 million classified as unemployed.

Housing:

We provide solution on this most important social economic aspect which is beyond the means of many Ghanaians.

Support the show

Donate/Support the show:    https://www.buzzsprout.com/1793098/support

We offer a consultation session for those who wish to relocate to Ghana , do business in Ghana , buy land, buying a property or even starting  business in Ghana.  We offer professional support tailored on your needs and wants. 

We provide valuable information that can assist you in your relocation like the Ghana card how/where to register your business.

We can also signpost you to other agencies that can help in your relocation as well as business and investment opportunities.

We charge a rate of US$30 for an hour's consultation or US$20 for a 30 minute consultation briefing.
 
To book your consultation please email [email protected]

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Forget the usual holiday circuit. We head to Lagos, Nigeria, and show why Africa’s megacity delivers a richer, more alive trip than many popular global destinations. From the Atlantic shoreline to neon-soaked nights, Lagos blends business, creativity, and community into a city that moves at full volume—and invites you into the rhythm.

We start with the big picture: Lagos as Nigeria’s economic heartbeat, home to major ports, the stock exchange, and a fast-growing tech scene often called the Silicon Lagoon. Then we zoom into the streets—where the energy is loudest. Beaches like Takwa Bay, Elegushi, and Landmark offer everything from calm swims to day parties. 

Markets such as Balogun and the Lekki Arts and Crafts Market turn shopping into cultural discovery, with textiles, fashion, and contemporary crafts that travel home with stories. If you’re hungry, this is where Lagos wins hearts fast: suya smoke on night air, jollof that sparks friendly rivalry, and comforting plates of eba with egusi.

Culture in Lagos never waits. The Nike Art Gallery stacks floor after floor of contemporary African art and makes it easy to connect with creators. Fashion Week and major concerts amplify the city’s global voice, while clubs and live music spaces keep the night going until dawn. We also share practical tips to manage traffic, plan by neighbourhood, and make the most of rideshares and local transport.

There's also the world famous nightlife.  Lagos has a bustling and vibrant nightlife with various trendy bars and clubs vibrating to the sound of Afrobeats.

The goal is simple: spend less time stuck and more time soaking up the city’s pulse. What makes Lagos special isn’t a single landmark—it’s the blend. Beaches meet boardrooms, galleries meet street food, and late-night sets meet early-morning deals.

Come for the holidays and you’ll find a city that feels like a story in motion: bold, warm, and charged with possibility. If this guide helped, follow the show, share the episode with a friend, and leave a comment with the first Lagos spot you’d hit. Your tips might shape our next travel deep dive. Subscribe on YouTube and Spotify, and don’t forget to rate and review to help others find the show.

Sources:

Discover Lagos in Nigeria with a Local

Top 10 Things to Do in Lagos, Nigeria in 2025

What Can $100 Get in LAGOS, NIGERIA? (Africa's Craziest City)

Support the show

Donate/Support the show:    https://www.buzzsprout.com/1793098/support

We offer a consultation session for those who wish to relocate to Ghana , do business in Ghana , buy land, buying a property or even starting  business in Ghana.  We offer professional support tailored on your needs and wants. 

We provide valuable information that can assist you in your relocation like the Ghana card how/where to register your business.

We can also signpost you to other agencies that can help in your relocation as well as business and investment opportunities.

We charge a rate of US$30 for an hour's consultation or US$20 for a 30 minute consultation briefing.
 
To book your consultation please email [email protected]

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AFCON returns with a point to prove, and we’re opening the playbook on everything that will shape the tournament in Morocco. From media narratives to matchday realities, we break down why this competition is more than a mid-season inconvenience and how it embodies continental pride, history, and elite football. The timing debate and player-release drama make headlines, but the real story is the football itself—and the communities it represents.

We start with the host: Morocco. Fresh off a World Cup semi-final run and backed by heavy investment in stadiums across Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakesh, Agadir, and Fez, Morocco have built a platform worthy of champions. We examine the format, the venues, and the stakes of a tournament that doubles as a rehearsal for the 2030 World Cup. Then we move to the contenders: Senegal’s championship pedigree with Sadio Mané, Egypt’s hunger with Mohamed Salah, Nigeria’s attacking depth, and Côte d’Ivoire’s champion resilience. We also flag dangerous outsiders—Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, South Africa—who can tilt the bracket with one ruthless performance.

Our group-by-group guide highlights the tactical hinges that decide who advances: set pieces, midfield control, rotations, and game-state management under pressure. We call the likely qualifiers, the third-place scrambles that matter, and the match-ups that could define the knockouts. Throughout, we challenge the old club-first narrative, spotlighting AFCON as a stage where players reconnect with their roots and fans witness a football culture that doesn’t need European validation to be world-class. Our final call? Morocco have the form, the squad, and the home surge to go all the way.

If you enjoy smart football talk with an African lens, follow and share the show. Subscribe on YouTube or Spotify, leave a review to help others find us, and tell us your pick for champions—who lifts the trophy and why?

Support the show

Donate/Support the show:    https://www.buzzsprout.com/1793098/support

We offer a consultation session for those who wish to relocate to Ghana , do business in Ghana , buy land, buying a property or even starting  business in Ghana.  We offer professional support tailored on your needs and wants. 

We provide valuable information that can assist you in your relocation like the Ghana card how/where to register your business.

We can also signpost you to other agencies that can help in your relocation as well as business and investment opportunities.

We charge a rate of US$30 for an hour's consultation or US$20 for a 30 minute consultation briefing.
 
To book your consultation please email [email protected]

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Trade the usual winter wander for a city that fuses origins, diplomacy, and nightlife in one sweep.

 Addis Ababa doesn’t whisper its story—it sings it across museum halls, cathedral aisles, market lanes, and skyline bars, and we built a listener’s guide to make every hour count.

We start with the big promise: why Addis rivals and often outshines familiar European stops. As Africa’s diplomatic capital, the city houses the African Union and UNECA, bringing a unique energy you feel on the streets. Then the timeline stretches back millions of years at the National Museum, where Dinknesh—known globally as Lucy—anchors a narrative about human beginnings. From there, the Holy Trinity Cathedral adds imperial memory and Orthodox artistry, inviting a slower pace before the city speeds up again.

Navigation gets easier with our curated picks. Wander Merkato, one of the continent’s largest open-air markets, to read Addis through trade—spices, coffee beans, and textiles moving in a rhythm of their own. Settle into a coffee ceremony where beans are roasted and ground to order, a ritual that turns caffeine into culture. 

For food, we highlight trusted favourites—Yod Abyssinia, 2000 Habesha, and modern rooms with panoramic views—so you can choose between cultural shows and contemporary dining. When night falls, the city keeps going: lounges and clubs stay open to 4 or 5 a.m., making it simple to flow from dinner and dance to rooftop conversations under the lights.  

Addis is also a launchpad. With Bole International connecting the dots across Ethiopia, day trips to the Rift Valley lakes, the Simien Mountains, and Lalibela’s rock-hewn churches become easy additions. 

The result is a break that feels bigger than a city visit; it becomes a journey through layers—heritage, policy, markets, music—stitched together by warmth and hospitality. 

Sources: 

The Africa You Don't See On TV!(Ethiopia🇪🇹)

You Won't Believe this In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia .

THE 10 BEST Restaurants in Addis Ababa (Updated December 2025)

Addis Ababa Nightlife Guide 2025: Must-Try Activities for You

Addis Ababa Nightlife: 10 Unforgettable Experiences

Support the show

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We offer a consultation session for those who wish to relocate to Ghana , do business in Ghana , buy land, buying a property or even starting  business in Ghana.  We offer professional support tailored on your needs and wants. 

We provide valuable information that can assist you in your relocation like the Ghana card how/where to register your business.

We can also signpost you to other agencies that can help in your relocation as well as business and investment opportunities.

We charge a rate of US$30 for an hour's consultation or US$20 for a 30 minute consultation briefing.
 
To book your consultation please email [email protected]

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Ghana’s housing crisis did not arrive overnight. It is the product of rapid urban growth, stalled public building, and a market skewed toward luxury that prices out the average Ghanaian. Accra and Kumasi pull people in with jobs and services, but the supply of affordable homes has lagged for years. Estimates suggest a deficit of four to five million units, even as more than a million homes sit empty. 

A core driver is a rental system that functions more like a barrier than a bridge. Legally, Ghana caps advance rent at six months, but lax enforcement lets landlords demand two or three years up front. Consider a one‑bedroom in a prime Accra neighbourhood priced at 1,500 dollars a month. The tenant must find around 36,000 dollars before moving in, often for an unfurnished space. This practice forces overcrowding, pushes families to informal areas, and erodes mobility. It also leaves thousands of units idle because few can meet the demands.

Mortgage penetration remains under one percent of GDP, and cedi loans carry interest rates near 27–31 percent. Dollar‑denominated mortgages may advertise around 13 percent, but they push currency risk onto households paid in cedis. Currency volatility discourages long‑term borrowing, and banks serve only the top tier. When households cannot access safe credit, they build incrementally over decades or abandon the dream entirely. 

The inequality gap makes everything worse. Typical annual earnings of 50,000–70,000 cedis—roughly 4,000–6,000 dollars—cannot support homes listed from 300,000 dollars upward in prime Accra. Developers go where margins are highest, building for elites and overseas buyers. History shows it need not be this way. From Nkrumah’s Tema Development Corporation to Acheampong’s state housing estates, deliberate public building once anchored affordability and urban order. 

The way forward:

A credible national housing policy should set binding annual targets—for example, 200,000 affordable units a year—and tie incentives, land, and finance to low‑ and middle‑income supply rather than empty luxury. Cooperative builders, unions, and community developers can deliver incremental, expandable homes if given serviced land, streamlined permits, and transparent tenders. Urban planning must return to basics: protect waterways, enforce zoning,

Enforcement and accountability are the hinge. Advance‑rent limits need real penalties, monthly payment schemes must be easy to adopt, and procurement should be open to public scrutiny. Pair state‑led mass housing with private mixed‑income projects and keep the focus on quality and maintenance. The Singapore HDB model offers lessons: scale, standardisation, and a clear social mission. 

Support the show

Donate/Support the show:    https://www.buzzsprout.com/1793098/support

We offer a consultation session for those who wish to relocate to Ghana , do business in Ghana , buy land, buying a property or even starting  business in Ghana.  We offer professional support tailored on your needs and wants. 

We provide valuable information that can assist you in your relocation like the Ghana card how/where to register your business.

We can also signpost you to other agencies that can help in your relocation as well as business and investment opportunities.

We charge a rate of US$30 for an hour's consultation or US$20 for a 30 minute consultation briefing.
 
To book your consultation please email [email protected]

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Prices have been biting, businesses have been leaving, and confidence has felt fragile. Now a new budget promises a reset: six nuisance taxes abolished, inflation pulled into single digits, and a growth path built around food security, infrastructure, and a 24-hour economy. 

We unpack what actually changes for families at the market, entrepreneurs battling red tape, and diaspora investors weighing property and agribusiness in Ghana.

We start with the macro turn: debt reined in through restructuring, a steadier cedi to cool import costs, and a growth outlook that leans on services, agriculture, and ICT. Then we get practical. What does the removal of e-levy and other charges mean for cash flow and hiring? How do farm-to-market roads and contractor arrears payments translate into lower food inflation and faster delivery? And can a 24-hour economy thrive without fixing power sector arrears and reliability?

Food sovereignty takes centre stage with the Feed Ghana programme targeting grains, vegetables, and a major push to raise poultry self-sufficiency toward 75 percent. We map investable niches across cold chains, feed mills, hatcheries, storage, and processing, and explain how better logistics can stabilise prices and widen margins.

For the diaspora, we outline how stabilising policy, tax reform, and local banking platforms could shift money from remittances to real investments with community impact.

Not everything hits the mark. We challenge the case for a women-only investment bank versus investment in a local solar car manufacturing venture  that could fuse women's empowerment with export potential and the 24-hour economy drive . 

Finally we call out the glaring omission from the budget: no credible plan to ease a housing deficit in the millions, with prices far beyond 95% of Ghanaians. 

The stakes are clear—deliver on execution as well as implementation and post-IMF discipline, and Ghana’s “open for business” mantra gains traction.

If this breakdown helps you plan your next move, follow and subscribe for more grounded analysis, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review with the question you want answered in our housing deep dive next week.

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We offer a consultation session for those who wish to relocate to Ghana , do business in Ghana , buy land, buying a property or even starting  business in Ghana.  We offer professional support tailored on your needs and wants. 

We provide valuable information that can assist you in your relocation like the Ghana card how/where to register your business.

We can also signpost you to other agencies that can help in your relocation as well as business and investment opportunities.

We charge a rate of US$30 for an hour's consultation or US$20 for a 30 minute consultation briefing.
 
To book your consultation please email [email protected]

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This week's episode of Ghana in Focus introduces a new segment called UK Black.  We explore topics affecting the Ghanaian/Afrikan diaspora.  In this first episode we tackle a controversial subject, sending money back home or as it has become known as the Black tax . The so‑called black tax—monthly transfers to parents, siblings, extended family, or shared projects—emerges from a noble ethic of communal care. Yet the reality on the ground in the UK, US, Canada, and across Europe has shifted. Costs have surged since 2020, wages have lagged, and diaspora households are absorbing rent, transport, energy, food, and childcare increases at once. When expectations back home remain fixed while living costs in host countries skyrocket, the outcome is stress, burnout, and shrinking savings that erode any path to financial stability.

At its core, black tax is not a policy but a social contract: success is shared, not individual. Many of us were raised to see progress as a collective victory that must be repaid. There is also history behind this—colonial underdevelopment, stalled local opportunity, and the absence of intergenerational wealth. Diaspora earnings can feel like a bridge over those structural gaps. But bridges must rest on firm foundations. If the sender is juggling two or three jobs, missing their children’s bedtimes, and still dipping into credit to wire £200 home, the bridge is cracking. 

We analyse that In places like London, New York, and Toronto, rent consumes frightening shares of take-home pay. Add transport fares that approach a weekly food bill, energy costs that doubled, and the fixed band of council tax or local rates. Even £100,000 in London can feel thin once rent, utilities, and commuting are paid. For workers earning £40–60k—a common range for many in the diaspora—net pay often barely covers essentials. The maths gets tighter if you tithe, support kids, or pursue a part-time qualification to advance your career. Each transfer home may be an act of love, but repeated monthly, it becomes a plan that quietly cancels your future plans.

None of this argues against generosity. It argues against automaticity. Replace unexamined monthly remittances with transparent, time‑bound agreements linked to verifiable outcomes. Prioritise stabilising the sender household first: build a three‑month emergency fund, clear high‑interest debt, and put a standing order into a long-term investment vehicle. If support is still needed, schedule it quarterly and cap it at a sustainable percentage of net income.   We end by stating that although sending money beck home is commendable, times have changed and Europe and America is not  what it used to be!!

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We offer a consultation session for those who wish to relocate to Ghana , do business in Ghana , buy land, buying a property or even starting  business in Ghana.  We offer professional support tailored on your needs and wants. 

We provide valuable information that can assist you in your relocation like the Ghana card how/where to register your business.

We can also signpost you to other agencies that can help in your relocation as well as business and investment opportunities.

We charge a rate of US$30 for an hour's consultation or US$20 for a 30 minute consultation briefing.
 
To book your consultation please email [email protected]

Subscribe on Youtube - just look for the Ghana/Afrika in Focus podcast on Youtube and click the notification bell so that every time I upload a new podcast it automatically comes to your feed.

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