Send money from the US to Ghana
See today's USD→GHS rate, compare every service on fees, speed and delivery, and see what your recipient keeps after cash-out fees and taxes — before you send.
Today's USD→GHS exchange rate
This is the reference interbank rate — the starting point before each service's fee and margin.
Interbank rate updated 29 Jul 12:00 UTC (2h ago)
Calculate for your amount:
The US–Ghana route runs on a long-established Ghanaian community in the New York–New Jersey area and the mid-Atlantic. Unlike the naira, the cedi is managed more steadily, but it still drifts against the dollar, so the live rate is worth checking alongside the fee.
Sending from the US: funding, speed & rules
From the US, you fund a transfer by ACH bank debit (cheapest, 1–3 business days) or by debit/credit card (instant, a little pricier). Zelle and Venmo do not cross borders, so a licensed remittance app or a bank wire is the route. Card-funded sends arrive fastest; ACH-funded ones are cheapest.
US money transmitters are licensed state by state and registered with FinCEN under the Bank Secrecy Act, so reputable apps verify your identity at signup. The Ghana diaspora in the US is large and concentrated in Houston, Atlanta, Maryland and the Bronx, and tends to combine regular monthly support with one-off lump sums for school fees and emergencies.
Our verdict: the best way to send the US to Ghana
Best for the lowest total cost to Ghana
LemFi and Sendwave: paying from a linked bank account is the cheapest route but takes a day or two to settle, while a card pays on the spot for a small premium. The apps that waive the up-front fee and keep the tightest rate margin net the most, especially as it lands on a telco mobile-money wallet, which is free to receive into.
Best for speed to an MTN MoMo, Telecel Cash or AT Money wallet
Sendwave, LemFi and Remitly's Express tier: a card-funded send clears in minutes, and it lands on a telco mobile-money wallet, which is free to receive into — so a send can complete end to end in minutes.
Best for large transfers and rate transparency
Wise: on a big transfer the day-long settling wait barely matters — the exchange-rate margin decides everything.
Best for cash pickup / a recipient without a wallet
WorldRemit and Western Union: agent cash pickup is still useful upcountry, where a wallet may not be set up, but their agent networks pay out cash if your recipient has no wallet.
Best for Ghana wallet support
WorldRemit and Remitly reach the widest set of Ghanaian wallets (MTN MoMo, Telecel Cash, AT Money) and cash points; Sendwave and LemFi focus on instant wallet delivery.
In plain terms: Because paying from a linked bank account is the cheapest route but takes a day or two to settle, the right pick from the US to Ghana mostly comes down to your amount: LemFi and Sendwave for the lowest cost, Wise when the FX margin dominates on a large send, WorldRemit and Western Union if your family has no wallet. Either way, it lands on a telco mobile-money wallet, which is free to receive into, and the recipient only pays Ghana's GH₵20-capped cash-out fee, and only if they withdraw cash.
Comparing the services: fees, rates, speed & delivery
| Service | Fee model | Rate | Speed | Delivery | Best for | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | Transparent percentage fee, shown upfront | Mid-market (interbank) rate | Often within ~24h | Bank deposit; some mobile money | Transparency and larger sums | Go to Wise → |
| Remitly | Low or zero fee by speed tier | Competitive; promo rates for new users | Instant (Express) to a few days (Economy) | Bank, cash pickup, mobile money | Flexible delivery and cash pickup | Go to Remitly → |
| WorldRemit | Very low; often free to some destinations | Competitive margin over mid-market | Instant to about an hour | Bank, cash, mobile money, airtime | Multi-route reach and an established network | Go to WorldRemit → |
| Sendwave | Usually zero up-front fee | Earns on the rate margin (~1-3% over mid-market) | Instant to minutes | Mobile money focused | Ultra-fast mobile money delivery | Go to Sendwave → |
| LemFi | Typically $0 on core African routes | Small markup over mid-market | Instant to minutes | Bank and mobile money | Fast zero-fee app-to-app, African focus | Go to LemFi → |
| Taptap Send | Small flat or percentage fee by route | Solid rates | Minutes | Bank and mobile money | Low-cost app transfers | Go to Taptap Send → |
| Western Union | Higher and variable fee | Wider rate margin | Flexible, including instant cash | Huge agent network: cash, bank, mobile | Cash pickup reach | Go to Western Union → |
Some provider links are referral links, marked sponsored. They never change the figures or the order shown.
Which services reach Ghana's mobile wallets
In Ghana, mobile money means MTN MoMo, Telecel Cash or AT Money — the table shows what each service actually reaches: wallet, bank account or cash pickup.
| Service | Mobile money MTN MoMo / Telecel / AT | Bank | Cash |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Remitly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| WorldRemit | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sendwave | ✓ | — | — |
| LemFi | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Taptap Send | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Western Union | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
What your recipient actually gets in Ghana
Cash-out / withdrawal cost
The recipient's real cost comes at cash-OUT: withdrawal is free under GH₵50, about 1% from GH₵50 to GH₵2,000, then capped at a flat GH₵20 above GH₵2,000. So a GH₵5,000 withdrawal costs the same GH₵20 as a GH₵2,001 one. If they keep the money on the wallet to pay merchants and bills, they pay nothing.
Receiving to a bank vs a wallet
In Ghana, your recipient most often receives into an MTN MoMo, Telecel Cash or AT Money wallet, or a bank account. Receiving into the wallet is free — nothing is taken on receipt.
The 1% government e-levy was repealed in April 2025: no state tax applies to MoMo transfers today. This is the part the sending services' pages do not explain, because it does not sell their product.
How to send: methods, limits & safety
Funding and delivering the send
From the US, total cost starts with funding: an ACH pull is cheapest but takes 1–3 days; a debit card is instant but charged. The mobile-money leg into Ghana is then near-instant at the mobile-first apps; bank deposit suits larger sums. Pick the funding method by whether you prioritise price (ACH) or speed (card).
Transfer limits & KYC
In the US, signup requires photo ID and often an SSN or proof of address under FinCEN rules. Caps rise with your verification tier and vary by state under the transmitter's licence. For a first large send to Ghana, expect enhanced verification.
Other routes to Ghana
Frequently asked questions
How do I fund it and which app from the US to Ghana?
How long does a transfer to Ghana take?
Is money received taxed in Ghana?
Bottom line
Bottom line: a card-funded send clears in minutes and it lands on a telco mobile-money wallet, which is free to receive into. Compare LemFi and Sendwave first on the final amount received, switch to Wise for large sums, and WorldRemit and Western Union if cash pickup is needed. On funding, remember: ACH for price, card for speed.
We describe each service's published model (fees, rates, speed, delivery) from public information, without reproducing live quotes or marketing copy. Always check the final fee and rate in the app before sending.