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Send money to Ghana
What steps to take once you find the quickest and most secure money transfer option for your needs.
Top pick for
Large transfers
Top pick for
Small transfers
Top pick for
Fast transfers
Top pick for
Cash transfers
Top picks are our selection of some of the best money transfer products and services, based on our extensive research and market experience. Our top picks are displayed at the top of some pages to help you make decisions faster, but our top pick may not be the best pick for you.
Read our full methodology here to find out more.
Compare services that send money to Ghana from the UK
Table: sorted by a combination of service offering and the amount your recipient will receive
Disclaimer: Exchange rates change often. Confirm the total cost with the provider before transferring money.
What's in this guide?
What’s the best way to send money to Ghana?
Online money transfer providers typically offer the strongest exchange rates and lowest fees when you want to send money to Ghana. Some offer cash pickup in as little as few minutes, while others seamlessly transfer to bank accounts. Banks, PayPal and other options are available, but come with high fees, weak rates and longer turnaround times.
Digital money transfer services
Companies like XE and CurrencyTransfer specialise in foreign currencies, making them some of the most cost-effective transfers. Most offer transfers directly to your recipient’s Ghana bank account, often in as little as a day or two.
Digital money transfer services often let you send money to Ghana through mobile money accounts. These accounts, also known as mobile wallets in Ghana, allow recipients to receive and spend money directly from their mobile phones without having to visit an agent location or bank.
Cash transfers
Services like MoneyGram let you transfer cash for pickup at a local branch in Ghana – often in 15 minutes. While it’s a fast way to send money, you’ll pay for the convenience in weak exchange rates and high fees. If a cash pickup is necessary, look to digital services like WorldRemit or Remitly when possible.
Banks
Ghanaian Cedis aren’t a popular currency, so your local bank probably won’t be able to exchange them. If your bank does support Ghanaian Cedis, beware of high fees and wide margins on the exchange rate compared to digital and other options.
Let’s crunch the numbers: Sending £1,000 to Ghana
Let’s say you need to send £1,000 to family in Ghana. Here’s what you might face as far as fees and exchange rates as of 23 September 2020.
| Digital money transfer service | Cash transfer | Bank transfer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | £2 | £3.99 | £20 + additional correspondent bank fees |
| Exchange rate | 1 GBP = 7.34 GHS | 1 GBP = 7.16 GHS | 1 GBP = 7.01 GHS |
| Transfer speed | 1-2 day | Minutes | 2-5 days |
| Amount received | GHS$7,345 | GHS$7,165 | GHS$7,017 |
| Verdict |
|
|
|
The bank option ends up being the slowest way to send money to Ghana and getting the smallest amount of money to your recipient. If you go with the digital money transfer, your recipient can receive 328 Ghanaian cedis more than the bank.
How to send money to Ghana online
Sign up and send money with a digital money transfer specialist in four steps:
- Sign up for a free account. Pick a provider and sign up for a free online account using your contact information, proof of ID and preferred payment method.
- Provide transfer details. Submit your recipient’s contact information and pick a delivery method. If transferring to a bank, you’ll need their Ghanaian bank account details.
- Confirm transfer details. Double check your payment method, expected fees and destination.
- Save your receipt. Record your receipt’s confirmation number to track the progress of your transfer to Ghana. Some money transfer providers send a text or email when your transfer is complete.
How to get the most out of your money transfer to Ghana
Weigh costs and fees against convenience, and learn how to compare providers that send money to Ghana to meet your needs:
- Exchange rates. The GBP-GHS relationship fluctuates often, so using a service that allows you to lock-in exchange prices may help you save money down the line.
- Transfer fees. Transferring money overseas nearly always requires fees, but they might be hidden in the exchange rate. When sending large amounts, it may be cheaper to pay a flat fee to secure a stronger exchange rate.
- Transfer limits. How much you can send varies by company, and different amounts can attract higher or lower fees. Shop around for the best deal on the number of Ghanaian cedis you’re sending.
- Turnaround. Transferring money through a local bank can take a business week or longer. If you need the funds delivered quickly, seek out a digital specialist that offers instant transfers to Ghana.
- Minimum limits. Average incomes vary widely between the UK and Ghana, which means companies with high minimum transfers may not be your best choice.
- Transfer methods. Whether you want to send money to Ghana via a bank account or have it picked up as cash at a local agent, narrow down a company that matches your preferred delivery method.
How to send an emergency cash transfer
When it’s more important to send money to Ghana quickly, look for money transfer companies that support cash pickup in minutes. You can pay with a credit or debit card for fast pickup, but fees are higher than other methods.
How to send money to Ghana without a bank account
If you don’t have a bank account, you can still use cash transfer services to send money to Ghana. Similarly, a recipient can get the money with a cash transfer if they don’t have a bank account. These services are widely available around the world and although they’ll typically not be the cheapest available, they can be fast and convenient.
Ghana’s exchange rates explained
The exchange rate determines how much one country’s currency is worth in another country’s currency. When a country’s currency is strong, it yields more money when exchanging it in a country with a weaker currency. Ghana’s exchange rate is flexible compared to the pound sterling, which means it shifts daily, if not more. Factors that influence the exchange rate include interest rates, economic stability and inflation.
Track how the Ghanaian cedi trades against the pound sterling in our historical rate chart.
Documents needed for sending to and receiving money in Ghana
To send money to Ghana from the UK, you’ll need government-issued ID and other documents, while documents needed to pick up money in Ghana may be different by company.
Documents to send money from the UK
To send money to Ghana from the UK, you’ll need documentation and details that include:
- Identification. Most services require a driver’s licence, passport or other government-issued ID.
- Payment method. Your service may accept credit or debit cards, cash, bank accounts or personal cheques.
- Recipient information. Submit your recipient’s name as it appears on their ID, along with their phone number, Ghanaian bank account and routing number.
Documents to receive money in Ghana
To pick up money in person, documentation can include:
- Transfer number. The person sending you money can forward the transfer’s confirmation details – called a PIN, a MTCN, a reference number or a tracking number, depending on the company.
- Government-issued ID. A Ghanaian passport, Ghanaian driving licence or a similar government-issued ID is typically required to pick up cash.
- Amount sent. You may need to know how much was sent, usually within 10% of the total.
- Sender’s information. Take along your sender’s full name, the sending country and their address, if known.
What to watch out for
Look out for money scams. Some of the most common ones involving Ghana typically include:
Read our guide on how to keep your money safe from money transfer scams- Disbursement of money from wills.
- Contract fraud (CD of goods or services).
- Purchase of property.
- Conversion of hard currency.
- Transfer of funds from over invoiced contracts.
- Sale of crude oil at below market prices.
- Sale of gold at below market prices.
- Advance fees or ‘gifts’ requested to enable UK companies to be awarded lucrative tender.
- Advance fees to finalise an offer of employment.
Bottom line
It shouldn’t cost a fortune to send money to Ghana. Compare money transfer companies that specialise in foreign transactions for the strongest rates, lowest fees and flexible delivery. For transfers to other countries, rely on our country specific guides the next time you need to make a transfer.
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