Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay

If you are reading this post, congratulations you made it to the year two thousand and twenty-six. A year that promises good fortune and incremental growth in your finances as Ghana consolidates the gains made in the economy during 2025; appreciation of the Ghana cedi against the US dollar by about 40%, the ongoing rally of gold on the world market, and the stellar performance of the Ghana Stock Exchange that ended last year with a 79.40% return and at a market capitalization of GH¢172 billion (equivalent of US$16.4 billion). Additionally, the state-owned oil refinery in Tema is back on stream after several years of inactivity with a capacity to refine 45,000 barrels per stream day, up from 28,000 bpsd. This turnaround is likely to bring some relief for Ghanaians as they pay less at the fuel pumps.

On a personal note, you probably have set a new year resolution against your goals for this year. You are here on this website because one of your desires for the new year is to build your way to achieving financial freedom and you don’t know where to begin. In this piece, I will try to shed some light on practical ways that might help in your journey but before I delve in, here is a caveat, this is not financial advice. Speak to a certified financial literacy coach or a licenced service provider to guide you in every step of the way. Now let’s zoom in:

1. Prepare A Budget. A budget is defined as an estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time. Just like the government will present its revenue and expenditure plan annually for approval, individuals can also draw up a financial plan for the ensuing year. It’s easy to create a budget for yourself using free tools like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, however if you feel sophisticated you can try proprietary mobile applications that can help you track your income and expenditure.
2. Take on side gigs. One of the low hanging fruits to earning extra income in addition to regular salary jobs. Side gigs have become necessary in today’s labour dispensation as they could help lower the burden of depending on the main salary for your expenses which can affect savings earmarked for emergencies. Turn your hobby into a money making venture. Example, a radio journalist can ‘MC’ a wedding on the weekend to earn extra income because speaking is what they do on a daily basis and get paid for.
3. Invest. In 2025, the GSE ended on a high with records stating it was the highest in two decades. There are several ways of investing that you can get into: stocks/shares, mutual funds, treasuries, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and equities among others. Speak to a licenced broker about exploring each of these options and more.
4. Learn a new skill. Humans are not meant to be static in life, there are opportunities for growth. Learn a new skill in addition to what you were employed for that makes you more valuable to your employer and could form the basis to engage in side projects for extra income.
5. Track Expenses. Keep a record of every purchase to help you monitor items you spend your money on and gain a clear view of your financial habits. Tracking your expenses also enables you to identify unnecessary spending and redirect funds therefore resulting in effective budgeting for savings and debt repayment.

I trust this guide has given you the insight into what you can do make 2026 your year to building a sound financial future.