Kofi Mensah
Accra, Ghana · Ghana
Sakawa culture, market economy, diaspora connections
Kofi covers Accra's rapidly evolving economy, where traditional market culture meets tech startups and diaspora investment. A graduate of the University of Ghana and Columbia Journalism School, he reports on how Ghana positions itself as West Africa's gateway for investment and innovation. His work examines the economics of the African diaspora, the mobile money revolution, and the entrepreneurs building Ghana's future.
Population
~2.5M (metro: 4.2M)
City Intel
Ghana was the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence. Mobile money accounts exceed bank accounts 3:1.
Dispatches Filed
3
Dispatches
Accra's Tech Boom: From Market Traders to Startup Founders
Accra has become West Africa's tech hub, attracting venture capital from Silicon Valley and London. Companies like mPharma, Zeepay, and Complete Farmer are building solutions for African markets that Western tech ignores. The startup ecosystem is growing so fast that Twitter (now X) chose Accra for its first African headquarters. But the boom raises a familiar question: who benefits when outside capital floods in?
Makola Market: West Africa's Trading Floor
Makola Market in central Accra is the commercial heart of Ghana's informal economy. Thousands of traders — predominantly women — buy and sell everything from textiles to electronics to food. The market operates on credit systems, social trust, and generational business relationships that predate formal banking by centuries. When economists talk about 'emerging markets,' they should start here.
Year of Return to Year of Investment: Diaspora Economics in Ghana
Ghana's 2019 'Year of Return' campaign attracted over 1.5 million visitors and an estimated $1.9 billion in economic activity. Since then, diaspora investment in Ghanaian real estate, businesses, and startups has continued growing. African Americans, Caribbean communities, and European Ghanaians are buying property, opening businesses, and creating economic bridges that bypass traditional development models entirely.
From the Wire
Community intel and chatter from Accra
Mobile money fraud cases up 200% in Accra. Regulators struggling to keep pace with digital payments growth.
Feb 9
Ghana's $1B+ startup ecosystem attracting talent from Nigeria and Kenya. Regional competition heating up.
Feb 7
Chinese wholesale shops in Accra Central threatening traditional traders. Market women organizing boycott.
Feb 6