What crowdfunding means in Ghana
Crowdfunding is raising money from many people, each giving what they can, towards one clear goal. In Ghana the idea is not new. Families share the cost of a funeral, congregations build churches one appeal at a time, and old students’ associations fix up their schools. What changes online is the reach and the record-keeping.
A campaign gives your cause one link. Instead of collecting contributions on several phone numbers and keeping a list in a notebook, supporters give on the same page and the total updates by itself. Relatives abroad can give by card, and anyone who gave can come back to read your updates.
What people raise money for
Most campaigns serve one of a handful of causes. Each guide explains how to set one up and what supporters expect to see:
Medical bills and surgery: hospital deposits, treatment and medication
School fees and education: fees, boarding costs, books and school projects
Funerals: the mortuary, burial and the costs a family shares
Church and faith projects: buildings, instruments, missions and outreach
Community projects: boreholes, classrooms, clinics and roads
Emergencies: fires, floods and accidents
How donations reach a campaign
Supporters give in Ghana cedis (GHS). At checkout they choose mobile money (MTN MoMo, Telecel Cash or AT Money) or a debit or credit card, including many cards issued outside Ghana. Payments are processed by Paystack, our regulated payment partner, and a donation counts towards the campaign once the payment is confirmed.
Supporters with an account can also pay from their Ujimora Wallet, and anyone can choose to give anonymously, which hides their name on the campaign.
What it costs
Starting a campaign costs nothing upfront on the Free plan, which takes a 5% platform fee from each donation. Paid plans lower the fee: 3.5% on Starter, 2% on Pro and Organization, and 1% on Enterprise. A campaign keeps the fee of the plan you were on when you created it. Payment-processing charges are shown before anyone confirms a payment.
A standard payout to your bank account or mobile money wallet carries no extra Ujimora fee. Optional faster payouts cost more, and the fee is shown before you confirm. See current plans and fees.
How to choose a crowdfunding platform in Ghana
Whichever platform you use, ask these questions before you share a link with family and friends:
Can the money be paid out to a Ghanaian bank account or mobile money wallet?
Do organizers have to verify their identity?
Are the fees shown before anyone pays?
Can relatives abroad give by card?
Will supporters see updates and a running total?
Is personal data handled under Ghana’s Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843)?
Ujimora was built around those questions. If a global platform has turned you away, read why GoFundMe does not pay out in Ghana.
Start a campaign in five steps
Create an account and verify your identity
Sign up with your email, then verify your identity with a Ghana Card, passport or driver’s licence. Organizations also submit their registration documents.
Write your campaign
Add a title, category, story, goal and end date, plus a cover photo if your plan includes images. The end date cannot be changed later, so choose it carefully.
Pass screening
Your text is screened before the campaign goes live, by automated safety screening if you allow it or otherwise by our staff. Cover photos are always checked by staff. Some campaigns go live straight away; others wait for staff approval.
Share it everywhere
Post the link in WhatsApp groups, announce it in church and print the campaign’s QR code on posters and programmes.
Update supporters and request your payout
Post updates as things happen. When donations have cleared, request a payout to your bank account or mobile money wallet.
Read before you give
We verify organizers and screen campaigns, but screening cannot confirm every claim. Read the story, check who the organizer is and look at the updates. See how we keep giving safe.
Questions people ask
Is crowdfunding legal in Ghana?
Ujimora runs donation-based fundraising: supporters give without expecting money back. Investment, loan and equity crowdfunding, which promise a financial return, are not allowed on Ujimora; in Ghana those are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Can I start a campaign if I live outside Ghana?
Campaign creation is open to organizers based in Ghana. If you live abroad, a relative or organization in Ghana can start the campaign, and you can share it and give from abroad.
How much does Ujimora charge?
The platform fee depends on your plan: 5% on Free, 3.5% on Starter, 2% on Pro and Organization, and 1% on Enterprise. Payment-processing and optional payout fees are shown before you confirm a transaction.
How do I receive the money?
Once donations have cleared and the usual verification checks are done, you request a payout to your bank account or mobile money wallet from your dashboard. Payout times depend on the payment provider and are not guaranteed.
What happens if I do not reach my goal?
Your goal is a target, not an all-or-nothing condition. Donations are not refunded automatically when a campaign misses its goal; cleared funds remain payable after the usual checks.
Can supporters give anonymously?
Yes. A supporter can choose to give anonymously, which hides their name on the campaign.