Internship Opportunities in Ghana 2026: Best Places to Apply

When it comes to opportunities for working and gaining experience at major international organizations, the UN, and the Big Four professional service firms, Accra is one of the best places in West Africa for internship opportunities in Ghana 2026: the secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a number of UN agencies, and the professional service firms Big Four all have their regional or country offices in Accra, offering internships.

However, sifting through internship listings that provide little detail on eligibility is a time-consuming affair. This directory aims to serve as an ultimate list of the best internships in Accra, Ghana for graduates and students, highlighting eligibility requirements.

Internship Opportunities In Ghana 2026: Why Accra, Ghana?

Accra is the seat of government for the AfCFTA secretariat, which is the administrative body of the largest free trade area in the world. The capital city hosts the country offices of UN agencies like UNICEF and UNFPA and is the home to professional service firms Big Four, represented in Ghana by EY and KPMG.

The presence of a major international economic organisation, UN agencies, and Big Four professional service firms in one city is rare in its own right, which makes internships in Accra desirable for students and young graduates.

AfCFTA Secretariat (Protocol Services and More)

AfCFTA Secretariat offers training and internships in multiple departments, including those of protocol, procurement, facilities management, customs, human resources, communication, finance, and trade policy, while interpreter and translator positions are also available on a regular basis. Of all of the departments that hire interns, the most consistent one is protocol, which has a steady stream of vacancies, making it a good option for an entry-level position in international affairs.

An internship at the secretariat is a chance to gain insight into multinational cooperation and trade policy while gaining practical experience working with countries that are part of the AfCFTA trade agreement. 

Secretariat internships last at least three months; the position is unpaid, and interns are responsible for their own travel, accommodation, and living expenses for the duration. Since the secretariat usually advertises its vacancies on an ongoing basis and different departments have different requirements, it is vital to research the requirements for each vacancy individually on the African Union’s careers page since requirements can differ drastically. 

UNICEF Ghana

UNICEF Ghana offers traineeships in specific departments on a regular basis, with communication and advocacy being among the most popular, advertising 26-week vacancies. In addition to being a long-term learning experience, a traineeship at UNICEF Ghana is relatively lucrative compared to similar opportunities, offering a monthly stipend of up to $1,700, with some traineeships providing expense reimbursements if available.

It is important to note that, unlike many other employers, UNICEF Ghana tends to have ongoing advertising rather than a single recruiting season per year, meaning that there will always be available positions. 

UNFPA Ghana

UNFPA Ghana has an internship opportunity that allows interns to gain insight into the operations of the UN agency inside Ghana. It’s a comparatively accessible entry point into UN work: outside the general internships run by the UN Secretariat, most UN agency internships are highly competitive and demand specific expertise many applicants won’t yet have, which makes UNFPA Ghana a reasonable place to start building that experience.

When applying to an internship at UNFPA, enquiring about a stipend is advisable since it is dependent on the availability of funding, according to the UNFPA Ghana Internship webpage – in other words, an internship at UNFPA Ghana can either be paid or not, depending on the situation.

With that in mind, country-specific opportunities at UN agencies, including UNFPA Ghana, can include a stipend as a form of support for an intern in certain circumstances. 

EY Ghana

EY Ghana offers internships in Assurance, Tax, Consulting, and Strategic Growth Markets at the country level. To apply for an internship at EY, one needs to research the requirements individually since they can vary greatly from department to department and year to year. As an example, interning in Assurance tends to be popular among Finance, Economics, and Accountancy students. EY Ghana internships are not advertised on an ongoing basis, meaning it is vital to apply by the specified deadline.

KPMG Ghana

Internships at KPMG Ghana are only open to Level 300 students or those studying in their second year, which is reflected in the requirements. Apart from demonstrating proficiency in written and verbal communications, applicants are expected to express their interest in the services provided by KPMG Ghana. Students can apply to practice areas and non-practice areas; however, the requirements may vary depending on the field of study. 

Pro-Passion Projects (Law and Human Rights)

This Ghana-based network offers volunteer and internship opportunities to students and young professionals in law, public administration, health, education, and related fields. Unlike many other internships, those provided by Pro-Passion Projects cater to those seeking to develop a career in the law, human rights, or social justice sectors.

Vacancies at Pro-Passion Projects are advertised on an ongoing basis. While Pro-Passion Projects do not explicitly state the requirements for an internship, it is important to be aware of one’s shortcomings when applying for a position. In other words, if one has no experience in community development, it is best to refrain from applying for a vacancy in that sector, since a lack of relevant experience will make it harder to meet the role’s expectations.

Pro-Passion Projects are primarily meant for supervised training of students and young professionals. Placements run on a program-fee model rather than being free or stipended – confirm current costs before applying. Vacancies at Pro-Passion Projects are advertised on an ongoing basis. 

Eligibility at a Glance

Before investing time and effort into a single internship, cross-reference this list of eligibility requirements:

• AfCFTA Secretariat: Open to AU Member State nationals currently residing in Ghana. Translation/interpretation students are especially encouraged to apply; the position is considered unpaid, but the secretariat covers travel expenses. Minimum commitment: 3 months.
• UNICEF Ghana: Open to currently enrolled students as well as advanced students or graduates within 2 years of completing their degree. A stipend of up to $1,700/month is available; traineeships can last up to 26 weeks.
• UNFPA Ghana: Open to currently enrolled students or graduates within the past year; the availability of a stipend depends on the Trust Fund’s contributions and should be inquired about before applying; the duration of the internship varies.
• EY Ghana: Assurance internships are open to students studying Finance, Economics, or Accountancy (or related fields); other departments have different requirements. EY Ghana internships are considered paid, but are on a yearly recruitment schedule.
• KPMG Ghana: Only open to Level 300 students (i.e., students in their second year at university). A paid internship on a yearly recruitment schedule.
• Pro-Passion Projects: Open to students or graduates in law, human rights, public administration, health, education, or related fields. Unpaid volunteer opportunities advertised on a rolling basis.

This is the most time-saving part of this guide: instead of trying to understand the eligibility requirements on individual webpages, one can simply cross-check if they are eligible for any of the opportunities listed above. In essence, a first-year student (Level 200) is unlikely to gain experience at KPMG, but their chances at a traineeship at UNICEF Ghana are much better.

Likewise, a recent graduate (or a graduate within the past year) would be eligible for many opportunities, including UNFPA Ghana, UNICEF Ghana, and Pro-Passion Projects.

The International Option: CIEE Summer Global Internship in Legon

For students from outside Ghana (i.e., for US students), there is a different kind of opportunity in Accra: the CIEE Summer Global Internship program based in the city of Legon. Unlike other internships listed above, this program is not a local vacancy; rather, it is a global internship opportunity open to students from the US only.

In addition, the CIEE internship opportunity carries a published program fee of around $6,950 (not a living stipend, but rather fees for housing, orientation, etc.), while the internship placement itself is unpaid. Placements include policy, NGOs, STEM, and entrepreneurship, with the opportunity being much broader than a typical UN or agency vacancy. For more information on the CIEE Summer Global Internship, view the official program page.

This is not an alternative to the no-cost or stipend-based opportunities listed above, but an additional option for students from the US only: with that in mind, CIEE internships are appropriate for US students seeking international experience in Accra.

How to Approach Multiple Applications

Applying to multiple internships is common, and while the eligibility requirements vary, there are general guidelines that students and young professionals can apply to, depending on the type of employer.

• Start with the eligibility matrix outlined above. If one is a Level 200 student, it is unwise to apply to KPMG, for example. If one is a graduate student, applying to a traineeship at UNICEF Ghana is much more likely to be successful, compared to Pro-Passion Projects, which are more suited for students or young professionals.
• For international organisations, such as UN agencies and the AfCFTA Secretariat, it is important to focus on themes of multinational cooperation and communication, as well as language skills, if any: demonstrating knowledge of the mission statement of the employing organisation is vital.
• For professional service organisations, such as EY and KPMG, one’s academic achievements and areas of study are especially important, since they determine one’s area of expertise. Note that EY, KPMG, and CIEE internships have annual recruitment timelines, meaning it is important to adhere to deadlines.
• For NGOs or social justice-focused opportunities, such as Pro-Passion Projects, it is important to know one’s limitations: most opportunities are short-term and do not offer many benefits, meaning one should realistically assess their readiness for such an internship.
• Budget accordingly. While some internships offer a stipend (UNICEF Ghana, AfCFTA Secretariat), most do not, and the cost of living in Accra should be taken into account before applying to a no-stipend internship.

Are You Eligible?

Once eligible opportunities have been identified, the next step is to prepare an application: a generic CV rarely performs well in the context of an internship, since many other applicants can have similar experiences, but a tailored CV can greatly improve one’s chances.

Our CV Review and Interview Coaching service was created with these opportunities in mind. If you are thinking about working at UN agencies or professional service firms while studying in Accra, take a look at this testimonial from one of our graduates who successfully transitioned from an internship to an FMCG company.