Most people in Ghana already sell this way: a WhatsApp status, a post in a group, a friend of a friend. It works, but it's slow, and the seller carries all the risk. This guide covers what actually helps an item sell, and how to make sure you're really paid.
1. What sells well second-hand
- Phones, laptops and accessories: chargers, earbuds, power banks, controllers. Always in demand, but buyers are careful, so be precise about condition.
- Clothes, shoes and bags in good condition, especially brands and things worn once or twice.
- Textbooks and course materials: sell them as the semester starts, not when it ends.
- Room and hostel items: fans, kettles, irons, mini fridges, mattresses. These sell fastest when people are moving in.
- Games and consoles, sports gear, small kitchen appliances.
Things that are broken, very worn, or that need an explanation to make sense rarely sell online. Fix them, bundle them, or give them away.
2. Price it so it sells
- Look up what the same item is listed for on a few marketplaces and in your groups. Price against used listings, not the new price in a shop.
- Adjust for condition. Scratches, a weak battery, a missing box or charger all come off the price. Say so up front rather than in the chat.
- Leave a little room to bargain. Buyers in Ghana expect to negotiate. Price slightly above what you'll accept, and decide your lowest price before anyone messages you.
- If nothing happens in a week, drop the price. A small cut usually does more than reposting the same listing.
3. Photos and a description that sell
- Daylight, plain background. Near a window, on a bedsheet or a table. No flash.
- Show the whole item, then the details: labels, sizes, ports, the screen switched on.
- Photograph the flaws. A buyer who has seen the scratch won't dispute it later.
- Use your own photos. Pictures copied from the internet look like a scam, because they often are.
- In the description, answer the questions people always ask: how old it is, why you're selling, what's included, any faults, and where they can collect it.
4. Where to sell: the honest options
- WhatsApp status and groups: free and fast with people you know, but your reach stops at your contacts, and payment is on trust.
- Facebook groups: big audiences, but full of time-wasters, and nothing protects either side.
- Classified sites like Jiji: lots of buyers and free to list, with paid options to promote your ad. Payment is arranged between you and the buyer. How they compare.
- GrabAm: the buyer pays through the app before you hand anything over, and the money is held until they have the item. You can still share your GrabAm link on WhatsApp. How selling on GrabAm works.
Many sellers use more than one. What matters is how the money moves, which is the next part.
5. Get paid without getting scammed
Sellers get scammed too. The common ones:
- The fake payment screenshot. The "buyer" shows a MoMo confirmation that never happened. Check your actual balance or the official SMS from your network, never a screenshot.
- The "I sent it by mistake" refund. Someone sends you money, or claims to, then begs you to send it back, sometimes after reversing the original. Don't refund anything until you've confirmed with your network.
- The no-show who books your item. They ask you to hold it, then disappear, while you turn other buyers away. Don't hold items for people who haven't paid.
- "Pay me for delivery first." A buyer who asks you to send money to them is not a buyer.
The simplest protection is to only hand over an item once payment is confirmed by something other than the buyer: your own MoMo balance, or an app that holds the payment and tells you it's real. That's how GrabAm works: the buyer pays first, you're told the payment is confirmed, and you're paid to MoMo once they have the item.
6. The handover
- Meet in a busy public place in daylight, like a campus gate, a mall or a busy junction. Never at a private room or hostel you don't know.
- Take a friend if you can, and tell someone where you're going.
- Let the buyer check the item in front of you. It saves arguments later.
- Don't accept cash for an item that's already been paid for online, and don't agree to "pay the rest later".
For buying safely, see how to buy online safely in Ghana. For more on meetups, see our safety tips.
Common questions
How do I know a MoMo payment is real?
Check your actual mobile money balance or the official SMS from your network, never a screenshot the buyer sends. On GrabAm the app confirms the payment for you, and the money is held until the buyer has the item.
What's the best time to sell used items as a student?
At the start of the semester, when people are moving in and buying textbooks and room items. At the end of the semester everyone is selling the same things.
Should I hold an item for a buyer who promises to pay later?
No. Holding an item for someone who hasn't paid is how sellers lose other buyers. Sell to whoever pays first.
Is it free to sell on GrabAm?
Yes. Sellers pay 0% commission and listing is free. The buyer pays a small platform fee at checkout.