The Ghanaian job market runs on networks more than on job boards. A large share of positions are filled before they are ever advertised, which makes who you know a practical matter rather than a cynical observation.

Where jobs are advertised

Job boards — Jobberman Ghana, Ghanaweb Jobs, JobsInGhana, and MyJobMag carry the bulk of advertised roles.

LinkedIn is widely used by Ghanaian corporates, NGOs and the international sector, and it is where recruiters look.

Company websites, particularly for banks, telcos, mining companies and the larger corporates.

Newspapers — the Daily Graphic still carries public sector and formal vacancies, and the public sector in particular still advertises there.

Public Services Commission and individual ministry websites, for government roles.

NGO and development sector — ReliefWeb, Devex, and the sites of the UN agencies, the World Bank and the larger international NGOs, of which Accra has many.

Word of mouth. Genuinely the largest channel. Tell people you are looking.

Sectors that hire

  • Banking and financial services — a large sector, concentrated in Accra
  • Telecoms — MTN, Telecel, AT and their vendor ecosystems
  • Technology — a real and growing startup scene, plus outsourcing and offshore development
  • Oil and gas — mostly Takoradi and the Western Region
  • Mining — Ashanti and Western regions
  • NGOs and development — Accra hosts a large number of regional offices
  • Education — international schools, private universities
  • Agribusiness and processing
  • Hospitality and tourism

Your CV

Ghanaian CV conventions differ from British or American ones.

  • Two to three pages is normal. A one-page CV reads as thin here.
  • Include a personal profile at the top — a short paragraph on who you are and what you do.
  • Referees are expected, usually two or three, with names, positions and contact details. Ask permission first; they will be called.
  • Include your qualifications in detail, with institutions, classes and years. Formal credentials carry weight.
  • Photograph — sometimes included, and not unusual. Optional.
  • Date of birth and marital status still appear on many Ghanaian CVs. You are not obliged to include them.

Write a proper cover letter. It is expected and it is read.

Interviews

  • Dress smartly. Ghanaian professional dress is formal, and underdressing is noticed.
  • Arrive early, allowing for Accra traffic. Being late to an interview because of traffic is not accepted as an excuse, because everyone knows about the traffic.
  • Greet everyone — reception, the person who shows you in. It is noticed.
  • Expect panel interviews, particularly in the public sector and at larger organisations.
  • Salary comes up directly. Know your number and the market range before you walk in.

Understanding the offer

This is where the real money is decided, and where Ghanaian packages differ from what you may be used to.

Basic salary vs allowances. Ghanaian packages are commonly split into a basic salary plus transport, rent, fuel and responsibility allowances.

This split matters a great deal:

  • SSNIT is charged on basic salary only — 18.5% in total, 5.5 points from you.
  • PAYE is charged on basic plus allowances.

So an employer offering a low basic and large allowances reduces their SSNIT bill and shrinks your eventual pension, without reducing your tax at all. Two offers with the same gross figure can be worth materially different amounts.

Ask for the split, in writing, before you accept.

Work out your take-home pay

What else to check

  • Is there a written contract? Required for six months or more.
  • The basic-to-allowance split
  • Probation length — 6 months is the common maximum
  • Notice period — 1 month for contracts of three years or more
  • Annual leave — at least 15 working days by law
  • Sick leave — there is no statutory minimum, so whatever the contract says is what you get. Ask.
  • Health insurance — is private cover provided, and does it include dependants?
  • Tier 2 provider, and whether Tier 3 is offered
  • Overtime rate, if the role involves it — the Act sets no multiplier

Employment contract checklist Your rights as an employee

Salaries

Rough monthly gross for an entry-level graduate role in Accra runs from about ₵1,500 to ₵4,000, varying enormously by sector.

Banking, telecoms, oil and gas, and the international development sector pay substantially more than the public sector, education or retail.

The daily minimum wage is ₵19.97, roughly ₵519 a month.

Remember to compare net, not gross.

If you are not Ghanaian

You need permission to work, separately from a visa and separately from a residence permit. Your employer usually obtains it.

Work permits

Alternatives

Ghana has a large and active self-employment sector, and going independent is a common path — though nobody deducts your pension for you.

Freelancing in Ghana Registering a business