Clients abroad usually cannot pay you by Ghanaian mobile money directly, so the money has to travel through an international route. Each route has different fees, speeds and rules, and the Bank of Ghana's rules can change. This lesson names no companies; it explains the kinds of route and how to check that a service is legal.
The main kinds of route
- Withdrawing from a freelance marketplace. The client pays the platform, and you withdraw your earnings using the methods the platform offers for accounts in Ghana. Read its help pages for which methods are available, how long they take and what they cost.
- An international money transfer service. These companies pay money out in Ghana through local partners such as banks and licensed payment companies, into a bank account, a mobile money or other payment wallet, or as cash at a counter.
- A bank transfer to your bank account. A client can send an international bank transfer to a Ghanaian bank account. Ask your own bank what you need to receive one, what documents it will ask for and what it charges.
What the Bank of Ghana rules say
The Bank of Ghana's guidelines for international money transfer operators, dated December 2025 and issued in January 2026, say that:
- A foreign money transfer operator must be registered with the Bank of Ghana to send money into Ghana, and Ghanaian banks and payment companies may only act as agents for registered operators.