Membership is open to those who support the goals of the Association and pay a yearly membership fee. The membership fees are GH⍧ 200 per calendar year for individuals residing in Ghana and $50 per year for individuals residing outside of Ghana. Our website gives you an explanation of the different categories of membership. The website can be found at : aaaghana.org. You can fill out and submit an application on the AAAG website.
Once the membership fee is received you will be added to the AAAG Membership and Community Matters platforms on WhatsApp. These platforms will give you current information on membership happenings and the greater African American Community in Ghana. The WhatsApp application can be downloaded to your smartphone from the Play Store for Android phones or the App Store for iphones free of charge.
Membership fees can be made in person in Ghana or by depositing them into our Mobile Money account, 020 263 9057 (from inside Ghana) 011 233 20 263 9057 (from outside Ghana). Individuals outside of Ghana can use World Remit https://www.worldremit.com Sendwave https://www.sendwave.com or other money transfer vendors to make a deposit into our Mobile Money account.
We ask that Mobile Money payments include a transaction fee of GH⍧ 2.00 for a 200 cedi payment. If you are sending it through a vendor, please include your name as a reference. Otherwise we will not know who the payment was made for. Using the WhatsApp application, please text your transaction number, your name and date of the transaction to 054 404 5862 (from inside Ghana) 011 233 54 404 5862 (from outside Ghana). Another alternative is to email your transaction information to aaagsecretary@gmail.com.
Upon receipt of your payment, you will receive a AAAG Membership receipt.
General Membership is open to all Americans of African descent by virtue of birth in the USA, its territories and possession of African American parentage (one or both) or naturalization, residing in Ghana. Yearly dues are GHc 200
Associate Membership is open to all Continental or other Diaspora Africans residing in Ghana. Yearly dues are GHc 200
Affiliate Membership is open to individuals residing outside of Ghana who are defined by General or Associate membership. Yearly dues are $50 which includes transaction fees.
Youth Membership is open to children of African Americans, diasporans, and continental Africans between the ages of 13 and 21. Yearly dues are GHc 100 ($25.00)
Organization/Patron Membership is open to any group or individual who endorses the aims and objectives of the AAAG. Yearly dues are GHc 300 ($75.00)
Corporate Membership is open to corporations upon approval from the Executive Board. Yearly dues are GHc 500 ($100.00)You can also check out these websites for more information:
Ghana Immigration Service, https://home.gis.gov.gh
Ministry of the Interior, https://www.mint.gov.gh
If you are visiting Ghana it might be a good idea to visit the Ghana Immmigration Service and have a consultation with one of the officers in their headquarters in Accra for the most recent and up to date news on these issues.
Check out “Expat Life Ghana” on Youtube. The couple “Anthony and Ayo” moved from Texas to Ghana with two school aged children in 2020 as soon as the borders opened up. They give you a series of videos, on how to go about making the big move to Ghana. There are several other Youtube postings about moving to Ghana. Do your research.
Also, on our website we have posted a section called ”Telling Our Stories”. These are some personal accounts of members of our organization who wanted to share their experiences.
AAAG does not provide resettlement services for people who want to move to Ghana. The organization’s mission is “to be recognized as a preeminent community vehicle for the cultural, social, spiritual and economic re-integration of African-American and other people of African descent returning from the diaspora into Ghanaian society.”
Although AAAG does not offer resettlement services, we can be a valuable resource for those who want to resettle in Ghana. Our membership is made up of people with many years living and working in Ghana. Once you join AAAG, you will have direct access to our Membership and Community Matters WhatsApp platforms, where your concerns can be addressed.
To learn more about AAAG activities, please visit our website: aaaghana.org
The Social Services available to citizens in the United States are not available in Ghana. There are some Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) that focus on the needs of Ghana’s citizens, such as United Way Ghana, Habitat for Humanity, Opportunities Industrialization Center, to name a few. These cater to Ghanaian citizens only.
Ghana was colonized by the British and for some time its educational system was solely based on that of the British. Through the years it has become a hybrid of the British and U.S.system.
Ghana offers free public education for students at the Primary level through Senior High School. Public schools in Ghana are far less resourced than public schools in the U.S. If you have school age children you would probably want to consider placement in one of the many private schools or consider homeschooling, which is becoming more popular in Ghana today. Relatively compared, the cost of good private schools in Ghana is much less than in the U.S., although there are some schools which are at par with U.S. prices. Be prepared to shop around and visit schools before making choices for placement.
As of now, there are none, but there is some discussion of incentives by the Ghana government to entice and welcome diaspora (Ghanaians and others) back to Ghana.
Check out Expat Life Ghana - on Youtube and Facebook
Do a search on Google, “Houses and apartments for rent in Ghana”
Another resource is to engage a real estate agent to help you find housing.
We do have members who own properties or know of properties for rental or sale. This information is available on our WhatsApp Membership and Community Matters platforms.
Finding employment in Ghana is challenging. Once employment is secured, you must get a work permit from Ghana Immigration. This should be done in conjunction with the organization with which you will be working. Ghana is looking for professional and skilled applicants who have the background and experience that will satisfy the needs of the current job market. Do a Google search on “Employment Opportunities in Ghana”. You will find information on “Current jobs in Ghana” and “How to obtain a work and residence permit in Ghana”. Schools and other Academic institutions have traditionally hired expats to join their ranks. But these jobs may not be advertised widely. It is best to come to Ghana and explore the possibilities. Some may also respond to a written application to their Human Resource Departments. Some examples are:
Ghana International School
Lincoln Community School
Association International School
Morning Star School
SOS International School
Faith Montessori School
Swiss International School
Alsyd Academy
Al-Rayan School
Akosombo International School
(These all have elementary, Junior and Senior High School Classes)
University of Ghana, Legon
Ashesi University
Webster University
University of Professional Studies
University of Cape Coast (Cape Coast)
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Kumasi)
This list is not exhaustive but attempts to provide an initial place to start your research.
Ghana is also open to you creating your own employment and/or business. Possibilities abound, but then again you must come to Ghana to explore possibilities and resources needed to take on such endeavours.
United States retirees can receive their Social Security Benefits in Ghana through the US Embassy. Contact the US Embassy to get the details on how to set that up. Another alternative is to have the benefits deposited in a US bank account and draw down on the account by using an ATM machine at a corresponding bank in Ghana. Foreign transaction fees will be incurred in the transfer.
The deaf community in Ghana tends to be isolated. Universal Ghanaian sign language is the predominant method of communication for the deaf. Due to limited resources such as the lack of availability of hearing aid devices, speech therapy and education for the deaf and the public on the Universal Ghanaian sign language, the challenges facing the deaf community are significant.
According to the Ghana National Association for the Deaf (GNAD) “The lack of resources and employment opportunities available for Ghana’s deaf community causes a severe economic deficit as many cannot work and contribute to the economy.”
Unless you are a highly skilled deaf person in the areas of competence that Ghana is looking to fill, Ghana may not be a good fit for you.
AAAG does not have an email list for non-members. We have a website (aaaghana.org) and an Instagram page (@Aaaofghana). Members of Facebook can find our Facebook page at (The African American Association of Ghana). If you join AAAG, you will be added to our WhatsApp Membership and Community Matters platforms.
Ghana has many rich and diverse cultures. There are more than 100 ethnic groups who speak50 or more languages. English is the official language, but traditional languages are still widely used. Most will agree that Asante Twi is the lingua franca. In Accra, the capital city of Ghana and home of the Ga people, Ga is also widely spoken.
Research books about life in Ghana at your local library. Search the internet about Ghanaian Culture. Join AAAG and other cultural organizations to interact with the members. Plan a visit to Ghana to see first hand what Ghana is like. Read the Ghanaian newspapers (Daily Graphic, Ghanaian Times, Business and Daily Guide) online and ghanaweb.com to familiarize yourself with local news in Ghana. Search Youtube posts about moving to Ghana. There are many out there with various views on people's experiences with visiting and living in Ghana. Also check out “Expat Life Ghana” on Youtube. Many examples will be there.