How to pay for online foreign purchases from Ghana without a credit card

Getting to a payment checkout and seeing your transaction get declined because of your card ranks high on the list of things that can ruin your day. You are not alone in your struggle to make online foreign purchases from Ghana without a credit card. Buying from international platforms can be challenging due to limited access to credit cards, foreign exchange restrictions, and high fees from traditional banks. This article is not just to validate your feelings, even though we understand them, but to offer you reliable options for paying for online foreign purchases from Ghana.

In this article, we will cover your options, the steps involved, and the pros and cons of each.

Mobile money and e-wallets

Mobile money is widespread in Ghana and can be used for international purchases by using integrated payment gateways. MTN MoMo, Vodafone Cash, and AirtelTigo Money accounts in Ghana can be used to receive international transfers and to make online payments to merchants that accept mobile money, often via payment gateways such as Ezipay or Flutterwave. Some services offer virtual cards linked to your mobile money wallet (like the MoMo eVoucher for subscriptions). These work like the usual debit or credit card and can be used on international online platforms that accept Visa or Mastercard.

Steps (general):

1. Fund your mobile wallet (e.g., MTN MoMo, Vodafone Cash, AirtelTigo Money) via agent or bank.
2. On supported sites, select mobile money at checkout through gateways like Paystack or Flutterwave.
3. Enter your phone number, confirm via PIN or OTP, and complete payment.

Pros:

• It might not require a card and uses your phone number.
• It is fast and familiar, requiring low fees for local funding.
• Works on platforms such as Jumia International and AliExpress via gateways.

Cons:

• Not all foreign sites accept it directly because it depends on gateway integration.
• Currency conversion fees may apply.

Also read: How to pay for subscriptions in US dollars from Ghana

Local debit card

You can use a local Ghanaian debit card to pay for online foreign purchases, provided the card is affiliated with an international payment network like Visa or Mastercard, and you have enabled international transactions with your bank. Many Ghanaian banks issue debit cards that work on merchant sites abroad. If your bank supports international transactions, simply enter the card details at checkout.

Steps

• Ensure your local debit card has a Visa or Mastercard logo.
• Enable international use: Contact your bank directly or use their mobile app/online banking portal to enable international payments.
• Set or confirm daily usage limits and time periods for international use.

Pros

• No extra bank account to open if you already have a debit card.
• Good for one-off purchases and small orders.

Cons

• International transactions typically incur high fees, including non-sterling/foreign transaction fees and currency conversion fees.
• Markups on conversion rates.
• Some foreign websites may have issues with a Ghanaian billing address or require a US billing address. In such cases, if the website doesn’t strictly require a billing address for the transaction to go through, you have a better chance of success.
• Daily withdrawal limits or transaction caps might apply.

Virtual debit cards

Virtual debit cards are digital versions of debit cards, often in USD or other foreign currencies, ideal for global online shopping. They can be funded via local bank transfers or mobile money and used like a credit card at checkout.

Grey virtual USD debit card (recommended)

Grey provides an instant virtual MasterCard in USD, specifically designed for Ghanaians to handle international transactions. Users enjoy low transaction fees and no hidden charges (like maintenance fee) beyond creation fees.

Steps:

1. Sign up on the Grey app or website and complete KYC with a government ID (e.g., passport or national ID), proof of address, and a selfie.
2. Open a USD account and fund it via bank transfer, mobile money, or other methods.
3. Go to the "Card" section, pay a one-time $4 creation fee, add at least $1 to the card, and get it instantly.
4. Use the card details (number, expiry, CVV) for online purchases on sites accepting MasterCard.

Pros:

• Instant issuance and global acceptance for shopping, subscriptions, or travel bookings.
• Saves on currency conversion fees by avoiding GHS to USD exchanges.
• Secure: You can freeze after use.

Cons:

• On-time $4 creation fee
• No physical card yet.

Read more: How to get an instant USD debit card in Ghana

Wise virtual debit card

Wise offers virtual debit cards linked to your multi-currency account. You can use these cards for secure online spending in over 160 countries, including Ghana. However, there are restrictions on regions where you can get this card.

Steps:

1. Create a Wise account via the app, verify with ID and address proof.
2. Add funds in GHS or convert to USD/EUR/GBP using mid-market rates.
3. Activate the virtual card in the app (free for the first; small fees for replacements).
4. Enter card details at online checkout; freeze or delete after use for security.

Pros:

• Mid-market exchange rates with low fees (0.4-2%); supports 40+ currencies.
• Ideal for one-time purchases; integrates with Apple/Google Pay.
• No annual fees; spend limits up to your balance.

Cons:

• Not available in all regions. While you can use the card in Ghana, you can only get the card in specific countries.
• Conversion fees apply if you are converting from a local currency

Other virtual card providers: Tribapay or Afriex, which offer similar USD cards for Africans.

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PayPal and its makeshifts

PayPal is one of the most reputable and widely used international digital payment platforms. Unfortunately, PayPal is restricted in Ghana due to fraud concerns. While creating a Ghanaian PayPal account to receive funds is not possible, Ghanaians can work around this by using foreign accounts or third-party services to make online purchases.

If you have access to a local bank account in a country where PayPal is supported, you can use PayPal by setting up an account under that country (e.g., South Africa). You can then link a bank account or card from that country. Since you reside in Ghana, you may still face some limitations.

Pros:

• PayPal is widely known and accepted
• It offers buyer protection.
• You don’t need a card if you are adding funds directly (not available for everyone)

Cons:

• High risk of bans, and it is not officially supported.
• Fees are high

Prepaid vouchers and other options

Here are some other options you can use instead of a credit card:

• Paysafecard: Buy prepaid codes at local outlets or online, then enter them at checkout for anonymous payments.
• Bank transfers/EFT: This is great when the site is accepting. However, it can be slow (2-5 days) and not ideal for instant purchases.
• Cryptocurrency: Use NOWPayments or a similar service for crypto-accepting sites; fund dates, check provider apps, or RBI-equivalent guidelines in Ghana.

Read also: How to receive and convert foreign currencies to USDC in Ghana

Managing international online payments with Grey

Not having a credit card in Ghana is not a barrier to international purchases. Virtual cards, debit cards, and mobile money offer a great alternative. The best option will be to choose Grey’s virtual USD card, which simplifies international payments. Transactions are swift and low-cost, with favourable conversion rates and no hidden charges.

Sign up on Grey today and get an instant USD card for your international online purchases.

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