Ghanaian tech and creative companies billing US and UK clients
Accra has become a base for software developers, designers and animation studios working for clients in London and New York. Clients pay in pounds and dollars. Those payments come through Ghanaian banks, and the cedi's moves make timing important.
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An Accra animation studio works on series for a London production company and an educational platform in New York. It invoices in pounds and dollars. Each payment comes into its Ghanaian bank by international transfer, takes three to five days and is classified with the contract. Its 25 animators are paid in cedis at month end.
Invoicing
Invoice each client in its own currency. Include:
- Your company details and registration.
- The client's details.
- The service, deliverables and period.
- The amount and currency.
- Payment details and a clear purpose, such as "animation production services".
Receiving
Payments arrive at Ghanaian banks as international transfers. Banks classify them as export proceeds for services, sometimes asking for the contract. Clear purpose details on each payment reduce delays.
The cedi
The cedi has lost much of its value against the dollar in recent years, with sharp swings. Hold dollars and pounds as they arrive, pay foreign costs from them, such as software, render farms and plug-ins, and convert a planned amount to cedis before payroll.
Paying into Ghana: the local rail
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Local rail | GhIPSS Instant Pay (GIP) |
| Run by | Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems, owned by the Bank of Ghana |
| Settlement | Seconds, 24/7 |
Source: GhIPSS: Instant Pay. Checked when this guide was last updated; the scheme's own page has the current figures.
Where Rivet fits
Rivet opens business accounts for registered companies after verification. Ghana-registered companies receive export proceeds through Ghanaian banks under Bank of Ghana rules, so check with your bank before receiving funds abroad. Ghanaian founders' companies registered elsewhere can use a Rivet business account with US account details on every plan and sterling and euro details from the Growth plan. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold the funds.
Questions people ask
How should Ghanaian companies invoice foreign clients?
In the client's currency, with the service, period, amount, payment details and purpose stated clearly.
Why does the cedi matter?
Revenue in dollars and pounds, costs in cedis. Sharp cedi moves change margins and payroll budgets.
Do foreign receipts need documents?
Banks may ask for contracts and invoices to classify receipts as payment for services.
Can Ghanaian companies hold dollars?
Yes, in foreign currency accounts at Ghanaian banks, subject to Bank of Ghana rules.
Sources
Rashidatou writes Rivet's guides to how money moves between countries: the payment rails, what each one costs, and the account details a company needs to get paid in another currency. Every figure in Rashidatou's articles is traced to the scheme rulebook, the regulator or the provider's published price list, and those sources are listed at the end.
More from Rashidatou K. →This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and fees change; check the sources above and the provider’s current terms before you act on them.
- ghana
- tech
- creative services
- usd
- gbp
- cedi
