Accra - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
This is where you can make sure life easier. You can hire a nanny, driver, gardener, cook, swim coach, etc. They are very affordable and very good at their jobs and most have worked with expats before. - Jul 2025
Plenty and very affordable. I have a full-time housekeeper, a part time dog walker and a personal trainer. Processes are negotiable, some employees pay less, others more. It all depends on how less/more you are comfortable with. There also plenty of gardeners and even masseuses if needed. - Jun 2025
Inexpensive and hard working but require a lot of oversight. Definitely hire your staff off the recommendation of another expat and double the amount of working hours you think you'll need. Things happen on Africa time and expect a lot of miscommunication, broken items, burned food, etc. Current rates for a FT staff person runs about $200/month. Babysitting or overtime, around $3-5 USD/hour. It's also standard to provide medical expense reimbursement, maternity leave, a 13th month salary, etc. - Aug 2024
Many families have a housekeeper and/or nanny. Drivers and gardeners are also plentiful. Hardworking staff for a very affordable price. - Sep 2023
Household help is plentiful and easy to find in the embassy community. I had a one day a week cleaner and paid her 500 cedi per day which is about $35.00. I didn't have kids, a car, or any green space to take care of so I didn't have any other help, but many of my colleagues did. Cooks are popular, too. - Nov 2022
Inexpensive. Fewer than $200 each for a full-time nanny, cook, driver. $100 for part-time gardener. This is another highlight of post. Some people try to do everything on their own instead of wanting help, but that seems like a mistake to me. For so little money, your life can be so much easier than in the US, and we're paying people very good wages for here, so they're happy, I'm happy. Imagine never having to get gas for your car or take it to the shop, never having to make your kids lunch...it really is a huge benefit. - Sep 2022
Household help is very affordable. A full time, live-in nanny/housekeeper costs about 2,000 cedi which is $300 USD. Many families employ several people, e.g., nanny, housekeeper, gardener, and driver. - Mar 2022
