A playful field guide to safe havens, side hustles, and sky-high homes.
By: John S. Morlu II, CPA
Across the region there’s a running joke:
“If you can’t find a West African big man, check Accra—his house, his account, or his auntie is there.”
It’s satire, not census data. But the joke sticks because Ghana feels safe, steady, and pleasantly neutral—the closest thing West Africa has to a Switzerland vibe (with better jollof and louder church speakers).
This isn’t about painting whole nations with one brush. It’s about a real gravity effect: when things wobble elsewhere, people—and their money—often drift toward Ghana.
Why Ghana Gives “Swiss Energy”
- Stability optics: Elections are noisy but institutions hold. Investors like that.
- Neutral neighbor: Ghana minds its business, shakes everyone’s hand, and serves mineral water.
- English + ECOWAS: Easy contracts, easy travel. The region’s WhatsApp group meets in Accra.
- Soft power: Music, fashion, food, and “Chale!” culture make it feel like home base, even if you’re visiting from two borders away.
Global twist: London is West Africa’s offshore filing cabinet; Dubai is the shopping cart; Accra is the living room—comfortable enough to stay, quiet enough to think.
So… Why All the Houses?
You’ve seen them: glossy mansions, quiet condos, and the famous “coming soon” castles—fenced, painted, and waiting for the owner’s next transfer.
Top reasons (funny because they’re true):
- Diaspora piggy bank: “One room per Christmas.” Exchange rate behaves? Another floor appears.
- Store of value: Some folks trust cement more than spreadsheets.
- School + lifestyle pull: International schools, embassies, and reliable brunch culture = families settle.
- Inheritance chess: Uncles, aunties, and cousins all negotiating. The house waits.
- Boom-bust leftovers (hello, Takoradi): Oil headlines built dreams; budgets built halfway.
Result: A lot of listed properties and quiet inventory—great for buyers with patience and paperwork.
The “Swiss” Stereotype—Minus the Snow
Yes, you’ll hear jokes about “every regional big shot keeping a base in Ghana.” Reality check:
- Many are hard-working professionals parking savings in a steady market.
- Banks do KYC/AML; this isn’t a free-for-all vault.
- Most “ghost mansions” are not secret lairs—just paused projects waiting for cash, permits, or family peace.
Myth vs. Reality (pocket version)
- Myth: “All those houses are shady.”
Reality: A lot are diaspora builds, slow financing, or inheritance delays. - Myth: “Ghana = no questions asked.”
Reality: Questions get asked. Compliance officers eat breakfast too.
Micro-Map: Where the “Swiss Vibes” Live
- Airport Residential / Cantonments / Labone: Embassies, diplomats, and rent that makes calculators sweat.
- East Legon / Trasacco: Soft-life boulevard. Champagne knows these streets by name.
- Spintex / Sakumono: Value hunters and logistics fans.
- Takoradi – Beach Road / Anaji / Chapel Hill: Oil-adjacent addresses; potholes with personality, but strong bones.
- Tema communities: Ports, warehousing, and quiet cashflow.
Fun fact: In Accra, a good address can add value faster than your renovation.
Field Guide to the Characters (You’ll Meet Them)
- The Diplomat Uncle: “Two passports, one gardener, zero drama.”
- Madam Co-Founder: Owns a skincare line and three serviced apartments. Receipts are color-coded.
- Import-Export Cousin: Built the fence first. House under construction since the last World Cup.
- Estate Agent With Keys to Everything: Also has the keys to your heart… until the “agency fee” appears.
Street-smart investor kit (laugh now, use later)
- Paper first, paint later: Lands Commission search, site plan re-pegged by an independent surveyor, seller’s ID matches the deed.
- One seller, not seven: Heirs sign, in ink, in daylight. Power of Attorney if needed.
- Engineer’s blessing: Cracks thinner than your pinky? Maybe okay. Cracks fatter than your pinky? Negotiate—or run.
- Water + power plan: Two tanks, a pump, and room for solar. Tenants worship pressure.
- Exit options: Flip finished, rent long-term, or split into self-contained units (risk spread = calmer sleep).
Pro move: Pay 80% at closing, 20% after title transfer + possession. Motivation is a construction material.
Banking & Momo Reality
Ghana’s not a secret vault—it’s a service economy with receipts:
- Business accounts, MoMo merchant IDs, and a love letter to documentation.
- Banks ask questions. Fintechs keep logs. Your accountant smiles when you do too.
Fun fact: In Accra, “Send me MoMo” is both an invoice and a love language.
Fun Facts & Tiny Truths
- The cedi is named after cowries, old-school money shells. From sea to central bank—full circle.
- Kente patterns have names like “Fathership” and “Obaapa.” Your scarf might be giving a TED Talk.
- Chale Wote street art festival turns Jamestown into a gallery with louder bass.
- A “two-bedroom” may have four kitchens—one inside, one outside, one future, one for December relatives.
The Global Twist (Because We Promised)
- Switzerland: discretion + stability.
- Ghana: hospitality + stability + highlife on Fridays.
- Dubai: shopping carts with skylines.
- London: legal certainty with winter taxes.
- Mauritius: financial structuring and beaches that look photoshopped.
Accra’s lane? A friendly hub where regional money rests, families root, and investors harvest—if they do their homework.
Bottom Line (And a Wink)
Calling Ghana “West Africa’s Switzerland” is a joke with a geography degree.
It’s not snow and secret vaults—it’s warmth, paperwork, and surprisingly serious real estate. If you’re a value investor, the opportunity isn’t in the rumor; it’s in the receipts.
Bring a surveyor, an engineer, a great accountant, a good lawyer—and a sense of humor.
In Accra and Takoradi, concrete tells stories. Some are paused.
Your job is to press play.
📖 Coming Up Next: Chapter 29: Accra Is West Africa’s Florida (and we mean that in the best way)
Author: John S. Morlu II, CPA is the CEO and Chief Strategist of JS Morlu, leads a globally recognized public accounting and management consultancy firm. Under his visionary leadership, JS Morlu has become a pioneer in developing cutting-edge technologies across B2B, B2C, P2P, and B2G verticals. The firm’s groundbreaking innovations include AI-powered reconciliation software (ReckSoft.com) and advanced cloud accounting solutions (FinovatePro.com), setting new industry standards for efficiency, accuracy, and technological excellence.