How to Haggle in Markets in Ghana
My best friend has been living in Accra for the past year but has traveled back and forth to Accra since 2009. One of the many great things about this is that she’s developed amazing haggling skills! Before we went shopping at the markets, she taught my friends and me the art of bargaining in Accra. I admit it’s hard, but just like everything else, the more you do it, the easier it becomes!
Here are five tips to help you get the best price for souvenirs, art, and clothes in markets in Ghana:
Come Prepared.
1. Make a list of the items you want.
There are hundreds of vendors in Ghana selling everything! Some of these vendors will persist in getting you to buy from them. Make it easier for yourself and go with a plan to buy certain items. This will make your shopping experience more focused and less stressful. Some of the must-have items on my list were masks, fabric, black soap, shea butter, and jewelry. But leave a little room for spontaneity in your list. You may find that you come across unique items that you didn’t know about.
Before going to the major souvenir places like the Arts Centre and Makola Market, we stopped by the vendors on Oxford Street to get an idea of the types of things people were selling. One vendor showed me a Bakita, a West African instrument similar to egg shakers but tied together. He then proceeded to give a mini performance using the Bakita. Considering my music appreciation (I played the violin for many years) and this memorable experience, I was set on buying the Bakita, which wasn’t on my original list.
2. Know how much you want to pay for an item in advance.
Once you have your list, know how much you want to pay for each item. My reference point for finding fair prices was comparing the cost of the same item at home. For example, I know I can get a small container of African Black soap in Harlem for $5, so since I’m going directly to the source, it should be much cheaper. When I was in the Arts Centre, one vendor attempted to sell the soap for 25 cedis/ $5, but they wouldn’t back down on the price, so we walked away. At Makola Market, a lady was selling a hand-sized chunk of black soap for 3 cedis/ $0.76!
Brush up on Mental Math.
3. Know dollar to cedi conversion rates.
Currently, $1 is equal to 3.97 Ghanaian cedis. Knowing your conversion rates in advance will help you in the bargaining process because you will know whether or not the price they are giving you is ridiculous. It’s common, for me at least, to first hear a price and automatically think in my currency and say, “Oh no, I’m not paying that!” For example, 80 cedis sounds like a lot, but it’s about $20.
4. Let the vendor make the first price.
When you get to a vendor, let them make the price first, start your bargaining at half of the initial price, and then add 2 cedis until you reach an agreement.
Be Strong.
5. Don’t be afraid to walk away.
I did most of my shopping at the Arts Centre because it was easier to navigate and more manageable than Makola Market, a crowded shopping district.
Here’s an example of an exchange between me and a vendor that is common in the market:
Vendor: (after the first round of bargaining) Give me your best price.
Me: I gave you my best price already
Vendor: You can do better
Me: umm no I can’t. Bye. (walks away and another vendor invites me into his shop).
While I was at the next vendor, about five minutes later, the first vendor came to me and offered me the necklace at “my best price”! Score!
Moral of the story is stick to your price, if that person doesn’t want to budge, there are so many other vendors you can check out. Or the vendor may surprise you and eventually come around.
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