Podcast Summary: Ghana Won't Wait for You to Figure It Out – Come Prepared or Watch Your Dream Collapse

Konnected Minds Podcast with Derrick Abaitey
Date: January 19, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode is focused on providing practical advice for anyone considering relocating to Ghana—either returning home or making a new start. The discussion draws from real experiences to underscore the necessity of planning, understanding cultural nuances, managing expectations, and developing adaptability. The conversation emphasizes that moving to Ghana is rewarding, but only for those who arrive fully prepared, ready to face infrastructural, healthcare, and cultural differences.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Importance of Comprehensive Planning

• Lifestyle Adjustments:

  • Moving to Ghana requires significant lifestyle changes—drivers, household needs, and daily routines will likely differ.
  • “Think about the lifestyle change that you’ll have to go through when you come… these are things that you should write down.” – (A, 00:04)

• Logistical Considerations:

  • Plan basic needs: private transportation, costs involved in shipping vehicles, customs processes, length of initial stay.
  • Recommend a 1-3 month exploratory visit to “understand the system because that will help you in your planning.” – (A, 00:24)

• Embassy & Legal Matters:

  • Check if your country has an embassy in Ghana for guidance and support.
  • Investigate tax obligations: many expatriates are unaware their home countries might still require them to file or pay taxes, leading to “double taxation.” – (A, 00:58)

2. Healthcare & Medical Needs

• Availability of Treatment:

  • Assess the availability of medication and healthcare for pre-existing conditions.
  • Know which hospitals and specialists are nearby; proximity can be life-saving due to unreliable ambulance services.
  • “In Ghana you call the 191 emergency… and there were these women, ‘Hey, we take calls and we can’t even get an ambulance because we don’t have enough ambulances.’ So they’ll get a call and they’ll be like, oh, there’s no ambulances. Pick a taxi to go to the hospital.” – (A, 02:18)

• Emergency Response Limitations:

  • Unlike abroad, emergency services are often limited. People frequently use taxis for medical emergencies.
  • Social priority for ambulances is low—“they’ll move for a politician in an SUV before they’ll move for an ambulance trying to get through traffic.” – (A, 03:02)

3. Infrastructure & Day-to-Day Living

• City vs. Off-grid Living:

  • Important to “see what it’s like off-grid” before fully relocating.
  • Adjust expectations around utilities: power cuts, water shortages—even in affluent neighborhoods.
  • Prepare financially for unplanned expenses; for example, keeping “an extra 5,000 cedis every month in your bank account in case your car has an issue because of the way the roads are.” – (A, 06:21)

• Adapting to Resource Limitations:

  • Learn how to manage limited water supply (sometimes as little as “half a bucket” for bathing), and power outages with generators or solar power.

4. Cultural Integration and Social Nuances

• Family & Community Dynamics:

  • Those with African or Caribbean heritage may adjust more easily due to similar experiences or family guidance.
  • “Family members, even when they lived abroad, will be like, hey, back home, you know, this and this…” – (A, 04:58)

• Daily Etiquette & Communication:

  • Greeting elders: In Ghana, it is customary to greet everyone from right to left when entering a room.
  • Potential cultural faux-pas for newcomers unfamiliar with these customs: “I’ve heard Ghanaians have long conversations about how someone didn’t greet them…” – (A, 07:21)

• Relationships & Marriage:

  • Displays of affection are much more reserved in public than in North America or Europe.
  • Traditional marriage ceremonies are highly valued and integrating can require understanding and participating in these traditions.

5. Mindset for Success: Motivation, Discipline, and Advice

• Building an Influential Platform:

  • The guest shares that their journey toward helping Africans discover Africa began with motivation, shifting toward discipline as consistency and audience relevance became crucial.
  • “[At first] it was motivation. Then I’ll say discipline was next… once I decided that I wanted to continue with this, I had to be disciplined with how I was doing it.” – (A, 08:17)

• Best Life Advice:

  • A memorable piece from her father:
    • “No matter what happens, life goes on.” – (A, 09:13)
  • Simple yet impactful encouragement for anyone facing setbacks in the relocation process.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Emergency Services:
  • “Pick a taxi to go to the hospital.” – (A, 02:40)
• On Cross-Cultural Relationships:
  • “I’ve heard Ghanaians have long conversations about how someone didn’t greet them and how offended they are…” – (A, 07:27)
• On Mindset:
  • “No matter what happens, life goes on.” – (A citing father, 09:13)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–04:00: Planning move logistics, embassy tips, tax and car shipment advice
• 04:00–07:00: Healthcare realities, ambulance services, and city versus off-grid living
• 07:00–08:00: Cultural adaptation: etiquette, daily norms, and relationship dynamics
• 08:00–08:59: Motivation and discipline—how the guest built her YouTube presence
• 09:00–09:22: Best life advice and episode wrap-up

Conclusion

This episode of Konnected Minds provides a clear-eyed, practical look at what it takes to successfully relocate to Ghana. Derrick Abaitey and his guest dispel romanticized notions of new beginnings, emphasizing instead the need for meticulous planning, readiness for infrastructure and cultural differences, and above all, resilience. For anyone considering “moving back” or seeking success in Ghana, this episode is a grounded, invaluable resource.