Sending money to Ghana: costs, rules and inflows
- United States to Ghana, US$200
- 4.37% average total cost (US$8.73), Q3 2025 1
- United Kingdom to Ghana, £120
- 4.24% average total cost (£5.09), Q3 2025 2
- Sub-Saharan Africa average, Q3 2025
- 8.46% 3
- Private remittance inflows, first half of 2026
- US$3.65 billion 5
- Current remittance rules
- Bank of Ghana Notice No. BG/GOV/SEC/2025/25, 25 August 2025 4
Average cost by corridor
The World Bank Remittance Prices Worldwide (RPW) database publishes Q3 2025 averages for sending money to Ghana from the United States and the United Kingdom 1,2. Total cost is the transfer fee plus the exchange rate margin, shown as a share of the amount sent 3.
How individual services compare
The United States sample is made up of money transfer operator (MTO) services, plus Walmart2World services that RPW lists as a bank 1. WorldRemit card transfers to a bank account or mobile wallet showed no fee and a total cost of 0.46% 1. A Western Union cash transfer made at an agent showed a US$8.00 fee, a 5.21% margin and a 9.21% total cost 1.
The United Kingdom sample is made up of MTO services, plus Post Office UK via Western Union, which RPW lists as a post office 2. Remitly showed no fee and a total cost of 0.92% 2. Wise showed a £3.75 fee for a bank transfer and a 0.02% margin, for a total cost of 3.15% 2. ATL Money Transfer showed no fee and an 18.85% margin, the highest total cost in the sample 2.
Bank of Ghana rules for inward remittances
The Bank of Ghana issued updated guidelines for inward remittance services by payment service providers in Notice No. BG/GOV/SEC/2025/25, signed on 25 August 2025 4. The main rules are:
- Dedicated Electronic Money Issuers and Enhanced Payment Service Providers regulated under the Payment Systems and Services Act, 2019 (Act 987) may apply to offer inward remittance services 4.
- Partner money transfer operators must be licensed in their home country. Providers may not terminate traffic from MTOs that route it from any other country 4.
- Each provider keeps a remittance settlement account at a universal bank and may use up to three partner banks 4.
- Funds are converted on the day they are received at the average opening Bloomberg USDGHS regional (REGN) bid-ask range, or as the Bank of Ghana prescribes 4.
- The settlement bank credits the cedi equivalent to the provider's local settlement account within 24 hours 4.
- Providers report to the Bank of Ghana every week, each Monday 4.
Remittance inflows
The Bank of Ghana Monetary Policy Report for July 2026 said private remittance inflows were US$3.65 billion in the first half of 2026 5. The report put the figure for the first half of 2025 at US$3.93 billion 5.
What the averages leave out
RPW prices are collected by researchers posing as customers and contacting firms in each corridor 6. The World Bank says fees and taxes charged in the receiving country may not be tracked in the database 6.
The UN SDGs commit to making it possible to send remittances for 5 percent or less in every corridor by 2030, according to the World Bank report 3.
Common questions
What does it cost to send US$200 from the US to Ghana?
The RPW average for Q3 2025 was 4.37%, or US$8.73. That is a US$5.14 average fee plus a 1.80% exchange rate margin 1.
What does it cost to send money from the UK to Ghana?
The RPW average for sending £120 in Q3 2025 was 4.24%, or £5.09. That is a £1.20 average fee plus a 3.24% margin 2.
What exchange rate applies to remittances into Ghana?
Bank of Ghana guidelines set the average opening Bloomberg USDGHS regional bid-ask range on the day the funds are received, or a rate the Bank prescribes 4.
How much money do Ghanaians abroad send home?
The Bank of Ghana reported private remittance inflows of US$3.65 billion in the first half of 2026 5.
Rules and fees change. Check the official site linked above before you apply or pay. Spotted an error? Email [email protected] with the official link.
Sources
- World Bank Remittance Prices Worldwide: Sending money from the United States to Ghana (Q3 2025 data)
- World Bank Remittance Prices Worldwide: Sending money from the United Kingdom to Ghana (Q3 2025 data)
- World Bank: Remittance Prices Worldwide main report and annex, Issue 54, Q3 2025 data (September 2025)
- Bank of Ghana: Notice No. BG/GOV/SEC/2025/25, Updated Guidelines for Inward Remittance Services by Payment Service Providers (25 August 2025)
- Bank of Ghana: Monetary Policy Report, July 2026 (22 July 2026)
- World Bank: Remittance Prices Worldwide methodology (accessed 20 October 2026)
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