Accra, the capital of Ghana, is the city where the main economic activity happens in the country. With a tech scene on the rise, more and more multinational companies install hubs here, not to mention a growing amount of Ghanaian start ups. If you’re looking for jobs in Accra, in this article you will find the best platforms to job search, information on how to get an employment visa as well as some taxation rules.
Ghana: a stable country for business
Ranked as the second safest country in Africa, amongst other factors, we’re looking at a very stable country with a very competitive growing business environment. Many business sectors keep growing each year: hotels, restaurants, real estate, education, health services and shopping malls.
Expats are being sent to Accra by their employers (maybe you’re one of them), some come on volunteering experiences or even just on holiday and end up staying for a longer term because the Ghanaian lifestyle has grown on them.
Many others also choose to start a business in Ghana.
Jobs in Accra: Overview of the market
Just for you to get a general overview of the employment situation in Ghana, Statista statistics show that as of 2022, the total unemployed population in Ghana was estimated at close to 636 thousand, slightly decreasing from the preceding year, when around 645 thousand people were not in any form of employment.
To help push the generation of employment, an initiative called One District One Factory was initiated by current president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to “change the nature of Ghana’s economy from one which is dependent on import and export of raw material to one which is focused on manufacturing, value addition and export of processed goods”.
This situation of unemployment in Ghana has also encouraged a slow but promising growth of self-employment, mostly within the sectors of farming, craft and food processing. On the other hand, the country is one of the leading nations in Africa for startups accounting for 500 startups in 2020.
With some of this information in mind, employment opportunities for expats in Accra are available. Expat expertise is usually sought in general management positions, project management or financial control. It is believed by many employers that many of these positions will be handed over to locals through skill transfer from expats to Ghanaians.
Growing industries include mining, agriculture, online gambling, crude oil, and tourism. This doesn’t necessarily mean these are the only sectors you are likely to find a job in, there are many more opportunities you can even create yourself if you are good at networking.
Requirements to find jobs in Accra
The first (and easiest) requirement is for you to be able to speak English. This is the official language in Ghana and thus most companies operate/communicate in English. Also, having a legat work permit is another essential item. Check everything you need to know about the Ghana Visa application and the requirements for a work and resedence permit.
A work permit is also necessary for you to work in Ghana. If you have already been employed by a company BEFORE arriving in Ghana, it is mostly likely that your company will arrange all of this for you so you will not need to worry.
In some cases, especially if you look for a job after already arriving in Ghana, they may ask you to arrange your own work permit and this is where things may get a little trickier.
The work permit goes hand in hand with your residence permit. Getting all the documents together will be more time consuming than the actual process itself. Please follow this link which will provide you with a list of all the documentation you need for your application that must be submitted to the Ghana Immigration Service.
We suggest you try to network with other expats living in Ghana that already went through this process for some suggestions and advice.
Taxation in Ghana
The government body in Ghana responsible for taxation is The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). Tax must be paid if you earn an income that is above Gh¢365 per month. Individuals who are residents of Ghana are currently taxed according to a graduated scale (you can check the tax bands and rates here), while non-resident individuals are taxed at a flat rate of 25%.
Where to search for jobs in Accra?
The same way you would use an online job platform to job search back home, to look for jobs in Accra you should do the same. Here are the most popular job platforms you should use:
Linkedin is where you will mostly find managerial positions, very specific sector/experience requirements. Nevertheless, you will also find an array of positions available across various sectors.
All job sites we have given you, excluding LinkedIN, tend to publish jobs directed more towards Ghanaian nationals, nevertheless, these are the top job sites that are used in Ghana and are definitely worth a look.
Then of course, a great way to find a job as an expat is by networking with other expats. Most of the time, if you are part of a certain WhatsApp group with people from your own country or speaking language, Facebook groups, or any other expat organization, people within the circle will share job opportunities.
Additionally, once you start getting more acquainted with the city and find companies, organizations, places that you like, you should follow them on social media, and they also tend to post job opportunities when they look for people.
For example, The Ghana Food Movement, an action-driven network and agency that recognises Ghana’s indigenous food culture, tends to post some interesting job positions.
They also have a very good volunteering platform where they always search for specific expertise (and a very good place to network and make new friends as well!).
Another idea for places to look for work in Accra is to check the various co-working spaces. Impact Hub for example, has a career section on their website you can keep an eye on.
We also suggest having a search through the various existing NGO’s in Ghana. You may not find a paid job initially, but it may be a great way to occupy your time whilst looking for a job and who knows, it may turn into a job offer!
