This is the final installment in the “Living in Ghana vs. America” series, and I would like to thank Explore with Kojo for granting me the opportunity to share it. In this episode, we’re going to confront macrocosmic societal differences between the two nations.

THE ECONOMY

There’s a reason why countries are categorized into economic categories, like First World or Third World.  The state of the economy more or less dictates how the society functions. For instance, there really isn’t much reason to believe that, in the grand scheme of things, Ghanaian politicians are more corrupt than their American counterparts. But in Ghana those types of ideas, i.e. political corruption, are more prevalent because the suffering of the people is more pronounced.

In the United States, it’s easier to get a job and furthermore one that doesn’t feel oppressive. There are more safeguards and a higher standard of treatment for employees, in part due to the effectiveness of the country’s labor movement. But you saw what recently happened in California, when they raised the minimum wage to $15. Many companies started laying workers off, because they could no longer afford to keep them. In other words, when the money isn’t there to begin with, it’s harder to pay employees a living wage. And Ghana is suffering from a lack of money across the board.

EMPLOYMENT MORE FRUITFUL STATESIDE

People walking in Accra’s Central Business District, Ghana, near office buildings and street sculptures.

Unlike the average Ghanaian, who is paid monthly, American workers usually receive payments weekly or biweekly.  Furthermore, their earnings are calculated on an hourly basis.  Employment tends to be a lot more humane stateside, with the strength of the economy being a major factor in that phenomenon.  This is already widely understood and the reason why immigrants risk life and limb to get there.

I know that the American economy is far from perfect and in recent times has only been getting worse. I have a homey stateside who’s always telling me that I shouldn’t bother coming back. ‘Things are not as they used to be’, he often chimes. But they’re still better than Ghana.

In Ghana, there aren’t franchises like Wal-Mart or McDonald’s, where a worker can make a quick buck, everywhere you go. And as for the few fast food chains and department stores that do exist, remember that in this system people tend to get paid monthly, not weekly.

A hard-working Ghanaian could more likely find themselves as an exploited laborer. Labor laws work better not only when there’s more money in the system but also when dealing with corporations rather than small businesses. Meanwhile, the economy of Ghana is dominated by the likes of entrepreneurs and sole proprietorships.

The United States has a postindustrial, service-oriented economy. Most workers are employees, not laborers. Meanwhile, agriculture is still prominent in Ghana, and the society at large reflects that. An ambitious young Ghanaian who isn’t afraid to work could more likely find themselves as a mason or seamstress, some type of manual or technical job, as a opposed to working in a fast food joint or department store, like their U.S. counterpart. Some may opt to work in a restaurant or food stall.  But the main point being made is that at the end of the day, their pay would more likely be uninspiring, no matter how many hours they practically put in.

TIMES ARE HARD, BUT THE U.S. SYSTEM IS RICHER

The cost of living between the two countries is becoming increasingly similar. Everyone knows that the U.S. is richer, but these days you hear Americans complaining about food, housing and bills just as much as Ghanaians.  But the U.S. Dollar is the most widely used currency in the world and is extremely powerful. That’s something many Americans can’t realize, because they spend all of their time in the States, where it’s relatively weak.

Also, the U.S. economy is more dependent on credit. Americans are able to buy things, like clothes, cars or even houses, without having the money on hand to do so.  All you need for the most part is a stable job and a good credit score.

The Ghana Cedi, meanwhile, is akin to a Third World currency. And as for credit, even layaway isn’t common. So making it in this type of economy, where money is scarce and you usually have to pay for things in full before acquiring them, is a lot more challenging.

RELIGION

Americans aren’t overly religious. Most have their beliefs, whether it be Christianity, Islam, Judaism or any number of fringe religions. The United States is a country that prides itself on multiculturalism and religious tolerance. What has resulted is a uniform culture whereas, in a mainstream sense, religion is sort of suppressed.

Not all Ghanaians attend the churches or mosques. Most don’t and in that respect are similar to Americans. But religion has a much more palpable presence here.

For instance, churches or mosques seem to be just about everywhere. And most of the local satellite TV stations regularly and sometimes solely air religious programming. As a viewer, you’ll never be for want of televangelists in Ghana. Indeed, Christianity and religion in general is an even bigger or more widespread business in GH than stateside.

Moreover, in this part of the world traditional beliefs still hold weight.  Most Ghanaians may not believe in juju in terms of actually practicing it, but they are very much convinced of its power.  So it isn’t uncommon for example to hear of someone going to a traditional spiritualist in search of a personal blessing, often via questionable means. If something is stolen out of a person’s house, they may go to the juju man to reveal, supernaturally, who stole it.  To my understanding, respect for traditional beliefs is even enshrined in Ghana’s constitution.

In Ghana, a young person committing to a religious institution isn’t anything unusual. As for Americans, they may be religiously tolerant in terms a number of beliefs coexisting side-by-side, but it isn’t considered cool to adhere to a religion seriously.  And in the grand scheme of things those dynamics do make a difference, as it is often through religion that morality is taught.

RACE

The overwhelming majority of people in Ghana are Black. But it isn’t uncommon, even in some remote areas, to see a person from another race, like a White, Arab or Chinese. But at the same time it’s not like the United States, where in major cities for instance, every other person you come cross may be of a different race.

So racism, as defined by the West, does not exist in Ghana. You’re can’t discriminate against someone based on race if they’re the same as you. But human beings are inclined to be biased nonetheless. So what you may rather meet in Ghana are beliefs fueled by classism or tribalism.

For example, many upper-class Ghanaians I’ve met speak as if they’re naturally superior to their poorer countrymen, like the reason they’re poor is because of some intrinsic flaw. Meanwhile, a lot of these rich Ghanaians were in one way or another born privileged.

A paramount chief of Tolon in Ghana’s Northern Region with his sub-chiefs inside the palace.

And when it comes to common tribalism, it’s not like dudes fighting each other. In Ghana, marrying between tribes and even races is very much common and acceptable. Tribalism tends to be more manifest, on a noticeable level, when it comes to the likes of politics and land disputes.

As for the United States, most people who’ve been there have no problem admitting that racism exists.  Those in the know also understand that such biases are present even on institutionalized, unseen levels. Again, people are predisposed towards being biased. So when you live in a place where groups are visibly different from each other, there stands the possibility of one or the other using those differences as a basis for exploitation or hate.

NO LATINOS IN GHANA

One thing I found interesting is that after spending so much time in Ghana, I’ve come to miss Latinos. They’re a fixture in the States, but very rarely do you come across one in GH. You’re more likely to meet a person who’s actually from Spain.

Maybe that will change in the future, and Ghana will one day be a premiere travel/immigration destination. Here multiculturalism exists, as it does in any nation state. But GH isn’t what I would classify as a multi-racial society, while the U.S. very much is.

Ghanaians suffer from something like a White superiority complex or, alternatively phrased, Black inferiority complex. All things considered, I would say it’s more along the lines of the latter. It isn’t so much the belief that Whites are superior as it is Blacks being inferior, when you look at the state of Ghana compared to the U.S. for instance. So this type of thinking is based largely on persisting economic factors.

CLASS

In the U.S. virtually all citizens, rich and poor, are afforded basic amenities like plumbing and electricity. It may not always be affordable, but even people you find in homeless shelters tend to have access to those privileges.

In Ghana, I would say the main difference between classes, on a practical level, is access to amenities. A rich and poor Ghanaian may have the same culture. They may enjoy the same foods, music and television programs. But the latter could live in an area where he has to fetch or harvest water and share a toilet, rather than pipes running into his home. Poorer people tend to live in multi-family compound houses, while the richer reside in single-family homes – so on and so forth. Yes, it may be true that the rich are more comfortable wherever you go. But in Ghana, that dynamic is a lot more profound than it is stateside.

Cars are more or less seen as a status symbol in GH. In the States, many people are able to take out loans to finance the purchase of a vehicle, and having an automobile isn’t particularly anything to be proud of, as so many people do. But those types of financing options don’t really exist in Ghana. So it can be considered more of an accomplishment when a Ghanaian gets a car and especially a nice one, since they’re most likely paying out of pocket.

Street scene in Ghana showing shops, lodges, cars, and pedestrians, reflecting economic contrasts.

CLASSISM LESS PRONOUNCED STATESIDE

As an American, I didn’t grow up with a classist mentality.  In the States, people don’t tend to think that a person is superior or inferior simply based on their income, profession or bank statement.  Stateside, a rich person can’t just come and disrespect a poorer person without facing the possibility of an even stronger counterattack.

I’m not saying that classism is that bad in Ghana.  It’s not something you may notice or truly understand until you speak to certain rich people and hear what they have to say about the poor, who by the way are very much the majority.

Moving into a higher class is possible though, all things considered, the prospects aren’t encouraging.  It’s easier to get depressed when even the illusion of upward social mobility, i.e. living on credit, isn’t present. That’s why Ghanaians have the tendency to rather put their hopes in foreign-based probabilities.

CONCLUSION

The United States may be a country beset with all types of diverse, harrowing issues. But all things considered, living in Ghana may be considered more challenging. It’s not disheartening to the point of being something a person should avoid. I don’t particularly agree with Ghanaians who sacrifice their dignity to be menial laborers in foreign lands. But people who make those types of decisions have their reasons for doing so.

Ghana is an idyllic country, if you have ample resources. It’s far more peaceful than the United States, besides possessing more widespread natural beauty. But securing ample resources is more difficult in this part of the world. And the U.S. system is more accommodating, regardless of a person’s social or economic class.

More in the Living in Ghana vs the United States Series

About the Writer

This article was written by Malcolm Aaron, an American expat who has lived in Ghana for over a decade. With years of firsthand experience navigating daily life in West Africa, Malcolm brings a unique perspective on the contrasts and similarities between Ghana and the United States. His long-term immersion in Ghanaian culture allows him to offer an honest, balanced, and deeply personal look at topics ranging from family life and traditions to the country’s social and economic challenges.

Malcolm Aaron, an American expat and writer living in Ghana for over a decade, sitting outdoors with a thoughtful expression.

Malcolm Aaron, an American expat who has called Ghana home for more than a decade, reflecting on life and culture in West Africa.

As part of the Living in Ghana vs. the United States series on Explore With Kojo, Malcolm’s insights help bridge cultural understanding while sparking meaningful conversations about what it means to live, adapt, and thrive across borders.