As Ghana continues to cement its place as one of West Africa’s top study destinations, thousands of international students—particularly from across the continent—arrive each year to experience its universities, culture and warm social atmosphere.

But what does life in Ghana actually feel like for newcomers?

Drawing from real student experiences, including a recent viral vlog by Cameroonian student Sephy, here are 10 essential things every international student should know before making the move.

1. The Heat Will Welcome You First

Ghana is warm year-round, and for many first-timers, the heat feels intense—especially in southern cities like Accra and Kumasi. A handheld fan isn’t a luxury; it’s survival equipment.

2. Airport Costs: Budget for the 30-Day Visa Fee

If you’re from an African country, you typically don’t need a visa in advance. But most arrivals must pay around USD 150 for the short-stay entry permit. Factor this into your travel budget.

3. Accommodation for First-Years Is Easier on Campus—but Not Cheap

Most universities, including KNUST, place first-year international students in designated hostels such as Brunei or the International Students Hostel. They’re safe and convenient—but among the most expensive housing options in Ghana.

4. You May Struggle With the Ghanaian Accent at First

Ghanaian English has its own rhythm, directness and slangs. Many lecturers also switch between English and Twi during class. Don’t panic—you adjust faster than you think.

5. Learn to Eat Local: It Saves Money—and Time

Food options are abundant and diverse. Waakye, yam, banku, rice meals and street meals are affordable and student-friendly. Cooking is possible, but demanding courses make it tricky to do daily.

6. Transport Is Surprisingly Smooth

Free campus shuttles, taxis, Bolt, Uber and walkable campuses make movement easy. Most universities also have well-marked roads and late-night transport options.

7. Prepare for a Very Active Social Scene

From hall weeks to club nights, hostel parties, concerts and spontaneous games nights, Ghanaian campus culture is vibrant. Managing your social life is a skill—you can be distracted if you’re not disciplined.

8. Exposure Opportunities Are Real and Abundant

Ghanaian universities partner with international institutions for exchange programs, leadership fellowships, cultural events and internships. Many students graduate with strong CVs because they take advantage of these opportunities.

9. Ghana Is More Expensive Than You Might Expect

The cost of living is one of the biggest shocks. Tuition for international students ranges widely, with science programs like pharmacy, medicine and engineering priced among the highest in West Africa. Add accommodation, food, transport and personal expenses—and it adds up quickly.

10. The Experience Is Rich—But You Must Plan Ahead

Ghana offers safety, warmth, personal growth, cultural immersion and strong academic networks. But success depends on preparation: financial planning, mental readiness and realistic expectations.

Bottom Line

Ghana remains one of the most rewarding African countries to study in, combining academic rigor with cultural richness. For many students, the experience proves transformative—but only if they arrive informed and prepared.

When Mark Wilberforce boarded a plane from London to Accra at 16, he believed he was heading for a summer holiday.

Instead, his mother had orchestrated a radical intervention: he would not return to the UK until he “reformed” and earned enough GCSEs to rebuild his future.

Today, the freelance journalist—who divides his time between London and Accra—says that deception saved his life.

Wilberforce’s story mirrors a recent High Court case in London, where a British-Ghanaian teenager sued his parents for sending him to school in Ghana. While the boy argued the experience felt like “hell,” Wilberforce says that, in hindsight, he understands the parental fear—particularly of losing a child to violence on London’s streets.

From Brent to Dansoman: A Shock of Reality

In the 1990s, Wilberforce had been expelled from two high schools in Brent and was entangled with friends who later landed in prison for armed robbery. His mother feared he was next.

Ghana felt, at first, like punishment. Gone were the conveniences of London life; in Dansoman, he woke at dawn to sweep courtyards and wash dusty pickup trucks. He hand-washed clothes, cooked with relatives, and learned the patience required for traditional dishes like fufu.

A near-disastrous moment—stealing his aunt’s car and crashing into a soldier’s Mercedes—marked a turning point. Faced with threats of being taken to Ghana’s fearsome Burma Camp, he says he abandoned recklessness for good.

A New Education—and a New Identity

Wilberforce didn’t attend Ghana’s elite schools as many expatriate students do. His uncles instead enrolled him in private tuition at Accra Academy and later Tema Secondary School, pushing him to engage without distraction.

He quickly discovered that Ghana’s education system was far more rigorous than he expected. Students were ahead in maths and science; catching up required discipline he had never previously embraced.

By 21, he had achieved five GCSEs—an outcome he once considered impossible in London.

A Cultural Reset With Lifelong Impact

Beyond academics, everyday Ghanaian life rebuilt his character. Respect for elders was non-negotiable; faith and community were omnipresent. Rough clay pitches in neighbourhood parks sharpened both resilience and football skills. Social immersion taught him to speak Twi, Fante and Pidgin fluently.

Most transformative was a sense of belonging. Food, music, neighbours, and Sunday church rituals reoriented his worldview. His favourite dish became waakye, which he describes as “the ultimate comfort food” in a Ghana that had ceased to feel like exile.

A Second Chance That Others Never Had

Reflecting after his mother’s recent passing, Wilberforce credits her bold decision with rescuing him from the path that consumed his former peers.

“It turned a misguided menace into a responsible man,” he writes in a widely-circulated feature article published by the BBC.

After returning to the UK, he studied media in college and eventually joined BBC Radio 1Xtra. Many of the friends he left behind never escaped the criminal justice system.

A Story With Global Resonance

As debates grow among diaspora families about whether “sending kids back home” is discipline or trauma, Wilberforce’s journey reflects a more nuanced reality: forced relocations can be painful, but also profoundly transformative—depending on support systems, culture, and personal context.

For him, Ghana was not a detour. It was a rebirth.

A sweeping FBI-backed crackdown on crime-funded luxury in Ghana has intensified calls for a lifestyle audit law designed to expose unexplained wealth and curb illicit financial flows in the country.

According to reporting by Africa Report, the heightened call for such a law follows discoveries made by joint operations between the FBI and Ghanaian security agencies that grabbed national headlines.

The operations uncovered luxury cars, homes and assets were tied to romance scams, multimillion-dollar internet fraud and other criminal enterprises. The joint investigations also exposed how proceeds of crime are being laundered into high-end lifestyles in Accra and beyond.

Lawmakers move toward a “reverse onus” law

Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament Alban Bagbin confirmed that legislators are drafting a bill that would require politicians, public officials, and private citizens to justify their wealth.

“We will legislate and stop this impunity of people flaunting ill-gotten wealth in the face of poor Ghanaians,” Bagbin said.

High-profile cases such as that of Ghanaian socialite Hajia4Reall, who was sentenced in the U.S. for her role in a $2 million romance scam is among the high-profile triggers for the renewed advocacy for the lifestyle audit law.

In a separate operation, the FBI and Ghana’s EOCO seized a Lamborghini Urus linked to $4 million in alleged fraud involving a Ghanaian national jailed abroad.

Debate deepens over necessity of new laws

Advocates say lifestyle audits—requiring individuals to prove their assets were legally obtained—are essential for accountability. Ghana’s Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng argues that prevention is far more effective than slow, costly prosecutions.

Opponents counter that Ghana already has adequate legal tools. Legislator Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah told Africa Report that enforcement, not new laws, is the real problem.

Legal experts warn that any new system could disproportionately affect lower-level offenders while wealthier perpetrators exploit offshore gaps. Yet former Auditor General Daniel Domelevo insists lifestyle audits are necessary to catch corruption that typically evades conviction.

Illicit finance takes a heavy toll

A 2020 UNECA report estimates Africa loses $88.6 billion each year to illicit financial flows—equivalent to 3.7% of the continent’s GDP—through tax evasion, corruption and trade misinvoicing. Ghana, previously flagged by FATF for weak anti–money laundering systems, remains under scrutiny despite reforms.

Public frustration is mounting as displays of sudden wealth by officials continue unchecked.

Lifestyle audits of appointees are urgently needed to restore confidence,” Transparency International Ghana’s Mary Addah told Africa Report.

Ghana’s next steps will carry significant implications.

As international partners tighten oversight, the government’s response to the outcomes of the FBI’s operations will signal whether the country intends to convert political rhetoric into real accountability.

Editor’s note: Article adapted from an Africa Report publication. Read original story here.