The first week in Accra sets the tone for how quickly you settle. There is a lot to take in, from the heat and the traffic to a new way of doing everyday things. Rather than a checklist of forms, this is a guide to finding your feet in those first days.
Get your phone working
Almost everything runs through a phone here, so a working local number and data are the first priority. Sort a SIM and mobile money early, because they open up ride apps, payments and staying in touch. Until your phone is set up, simple things feel harder than they are.
Sort out money
Have a way to pay from day one. Keep some cash for small buys and the market, where cards mean nothing, and get mobile money going for everything else. Learn roughly what things cost so you are not guessing, and do not flash large amounts around while you are still finding your feet.
Learn to move around
Work out how you will get about. In the first days, ride apps are the easy, safe way to learn the city without getting lost. As you settle, watch how the trotros work and pick up your regular routes. Give journeys more time than the distance suggests, because the traffic will surprise you.
Find your basics
Locate the nearest market, pharmacy, clinic and place to buy water and food, so the essentials are close and known before you need them in a hurry. Doing one relaxed exploration of your immediate area in the first days pays off every day after.
Adjust to the pace and the people
Ghanaians are warm and greetings matter, so slow down and greet people rather than rushing straight to business. Some things move at their own pace, and a bit of patience goes far further than frustration. The friendliness is real, and leaning into it is the fastest way to feel at home.
Build a local contact or two
The single most useful thing in your first week is a person who knows the ropes, a colleague, a neighbour, a friend of a friend. They will save you time, steer you right, and answer the small questions no guide covers. Accept help, and reach out to whoever you know here.
Your first week is not about getting everything perfect. Get your phone and money working, learn to move around, find your basics, and lean on the warmth of the people, and Accra starts to feel less like a puzzle and more like a place you live.
