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Ghana Without Filters · An honest guide to using your mobile phone in Ghana

An idea for your next trip, or an idea for your next bill?

Every now and then somebody sends us an offer that makes us stop, stare at the screen, and wonder whether we have accidentally entered a parallel universe.

Recently we received an invitation to promote an international eSIM service to visitors travelling to Ghana. The proposition sounded wonderful: a personal affiliate link, a personal discount code, 10% commission on every sale, and, naturally, the magic words "passive income".

Who could possibly resist? Well, we could, and quite easily.

Let's talk about Ghanaian mobile data

If you are travelling to Ghana, you have several options for getting connected. The obvious local choice is MTN Ghana, the biggest network, and this is where things become rather interesting.

Since the bundle increase of July 2025, MTN Ghana's GH¢399 bundle gives around 214 GB of data, and MTN's regular bundles are non-expiry. In other words, the data is not racing against a 13-day or 24-day countdown clock.

At early November 2026 exchange rates, about GH¢13 to the euro, GH¢399 is roughly €31.

Yes, we know that exchange rates change, and bundle offers can change too. Always check the current MTN offer before buying. Now let's look at the international alternative that was offered to us.

"But I want an eSIM!"

Fair enough. An international travel eSIM has one genuine advantage: you can set it up before leaving home, activate it on your phone and have data the moment you land. That is convenient, and convenience has value.

But convenience has a price, and every traveller has to decide how much it is worth. For someone staying in Ghana only briefly, who doesn't want to visit a mobile shop or deal with a local SIM, an international eSIM may indeed be attractive.

But when a traveller asks us "What is the best value for mobile internet in Ghana?", we are not going to recommend the most expensive option simply because somebody offers us a commission. Sorry. That is not how we do things.

And there's another little detail

MTN's regular data is non-expiry. That is rather different from watching the clock tick, day 1, day 2, day 3, until your expensive international package disappears.

With a local Ghanaian SIM you can also add airtime whenever you need it. For visitors and the Ghanaian diaspora, we generally suggest allowing some extra money for voice calls as well. That way you have plenty of data and ordinary calling without turning your mobile phone into a luxury item.

So why would we promote something we wouldn't buy ourselves?

We wouldn't. We could put an affiliate link here. We could earn 10%. We could call it "passive income". We could tell you to absolutely buy an international eSIM before travelling, and then sit back and collect commissions.

But that is not particularly helpful to you. When we tell you something on Ghana-Net, our aim is that you can say "Yes, that makes sense", not "Why on earth did they send me there?" 😂

We do carry affiliate links, for tours and a few services we would use ourselves, and we say so. The test is always the same: would we tell our own friends and family to buy it?

Our recommendation for Ghana

If you are visiting Ghana and want substantial mobile data, look at the local options first. MTN Ghana's published offer is GH¢399 for around 214 GB of non-expiry data. Offers can change, so check MTN's current terms when you arrive, and compare AT and Telecel. If you need more calling credit, simply add airtime as you go.

That is the boring answer. It is also, quite often, the answer that saves you money.

For the full picture of what a trip really costs, read our real cost of travelling in Ghana budget guide and The Hidden Costs of Living in Ghana, where internet appears again.

One final word to the eSIM companies

We have nothing against eSIMs. We have nothing against affiliate programmes. And we certainly have nothing against companies wanting to make money.

But if you want us to recommend your product to travellers to Ghana, give us a reason to. A 10% commission is not that reason. A genuinely competitive product might be. Until then, we will keep telling our readers what we would tell our own friends and family.

There is one thing we absolutely refuse to do: make our readers pay more just so we can get paid. And if that means we miss out on a little "passive income"… well, we'll survive.

After all, we're in Ghana. We know where to find a good deal. 🇬🇭😎

Sources: MTN GH¢399 bundle at around 214 GB and AT at 236 GB for GH¢400 after the July 2025 increase: GhanaWeb. Tariff details: MTN Ghana. Tourist SIM validity and Non-Citizen Ghana Card for residents: Graphic Online. Exchange rate about GH¢13.03 per euro on 3 November 2026: fxfeed.io. The eSIM prices are from the offer sent to Ghana-Net. We have not named the company.

Ghana-Net.com · We have no affiliation with any mobile network or eSIM provider · Updated and fact-checked: 5 November 2026