How to Choose a Unit Trust in Ghana

Choosing the right unit trust in Ghana comes down to three simple things: matching the fund to your goal, keeping costs low, and sticking with a manager you can trust. Get these right, and you have a solid investment for years to come.

Step 1: Match the Fund to Your Goal

Not all unit trusts are the same. Some are built for safety, others for growth. The right choice depends on how long you plan to invest and how much risk you can stomach .

Short-term goals (under 2 years): Look at Money Market Funds. They invest in short-term, low-risk instruments like Treasury bills. They offer stability and are good for emergency funds or money you may need soon.

Medium-term goals (2 to 5 years): Consider Fixed Income Funds or Balanced Funds. Fixed income funds invest primarily in bonds for steady income. Balanced funds mix stocks and bonds for moderate growth with manageable risk .

Long-term goals (over 5 years): If you are saving for retirement or a child’s education, Equity Funds have the highest growth potential. They invest primarily in stocks, which carry more risk but offer greater returns over the long term .

Step 2: Check the Costs

Fees are one of the biggest factors in how much you actually keep. A fund with high fees can quietly eat into your returns over time .

Here is what to look at in the Fund Fact Sheet:

Management Fee (Annual): This is the main ongoing cost. In Ghana, it typically ranges from 1.25% to 2.0% per annum. Some managers, like Bora, keep it at the lower end (1.25%), while Fidelity and NIMED charge 2.0% .

Subscription Fee (Entry Fee): A one-time charge when you buy units. Many top funds now charge nothing. Fidelity Money Market Trust, Fidelity Fixed Income Trust, and NIMED Lifetime Unit Trust all have zero entry fees. EDC Ghana charges 0.5%.

Redemption Fee (Exit Fee): Charged when you sell units, often only for early withdrawals. Fidelity and NIMED charge nothing. Some funds, like My Wealth Unit Trust, charge 3% for withdrawals within one year, 2% within two years, and 1% within three years .

Trustee Fee: A small annual charge (0.3% to 0.5%) that goes to the independent company safeguarding your assets. Fidelity charges 0.4% .

SEC Asset-Based Levy: Since March 2026, the SEC charges a 0.2% annual levy on the Net Asset Value of all collective investment schemes. This is passed directly to investors .

Why this matters: If you invest GH¢10,000 in a fund that earns 15% gross, a 2% management fee, a 0.4% trustee fee, and the 0.2% SEC levy will reduce your net return to about 12.4%. That is a difference of 2.6%—and it compounds over time .

Step 3: Choose a Licensed Manager

Only invest with a fund manager licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC regulates all unit trusts and mutual funds, setting standards for how they are managed, reported, and audited.

Some well-known licensed fund managers in Ghana include :

• Stanbic Investment Management Services (SIMS) – Manages Stanbic Cash Trust and Stanbic Income Fund Trust. Both allow you to start with GH¢20 .

• Fidelity Securities Limited – Manages Fidelity Money Market Trust, Fidelity Fixed Income Trust, and Fidelity Balanced Trust. Minimum investment is GH¢100 .

• NIMED Capital – Offers the Nimed Fixed Income Fund (from GH¢20) and Nimed Lifetime Unit Trust (from GH¢50). The firm is licensed by both the SEC and the National Pensions Regulatory Authority .

• Prudential Securities – Manages PSL Fixed Income Unit Trust with a minimum of GH¢50 .

Before investing, you can verify a manager’s licence on the SEC’s website. This is a simple step that protects you from fraudulent schemes.

What to Look For Before Investing

Beyond the fund type and fees, consider these factors :

Track record: How has the fund performed over the past three to five years? Past performance does not guarantee future results, but it shows consistency. For example, CAL Advantage Balanced Unit Trust returned 32.16% in 2025, while CAL Benefit Fixed Income Unit Trust returned 19.22%.

Fund size: Larger funds may benefit from economies of scale, but smaller funds can be more agile. The Fidelity Fixed Income Trust had GHS 103.97 million in assets as of April 2025 .

Transparency: Does the manager publish regular reports showing where money is invested and how the fund is performing? Licensed managers are required to do this .

Minimum investment: Can you start with an amount that suits your budget? Many funds allow you to begin with as little as GH¢20 .

A Final Word on Getting Started

Do not wait to have a huge lump sum. Many funds let you start with GH¢20. The most powerful thing you can do is set up a small, regular monthly contribution. Investing GH¢200 every month is more powerful than investing GH¢5,000 once and forgetting about it. Regular contributions build discipline and take advantage of cost averaging—when prices are low, your money buys more units; when prices are high, it buys fewer.

Just remember, unit trusts are investments, not savings accounts. Their value can go down, so it pays to stay invested for the long haul. As CAL Asset Management’s CEO put it: “The key message for investors is to stay invested and stay diversified” .

Quick Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I choose a unit trust in Ghana?
Match the fund to your goal (short-term, medium-term, or long-term), check the fees, and choose a manager licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) .

2. What is the best unit trust in Ghana?
The best fund depends on your goals and risk tolerance. Money market funds suit short-term needs, balanced funds suit medium-term growth, and equity funds suit long-term wealth building. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results .

3. What fees should I look out for in a unit trust?
Look at the management fee (1.25%–2.0% per annum), trustee fee (0.3%–0.5%), subscription fee (0%–0.5%), redemption fee (0%–3%), and the 0.2% SEC asset-based levy .

4. How much do I need to start a unit trust in Ghana?
You can start with as little as GH¢20 with NIMED Capital and Stanbic. Fidelity requires GH¢100 .

5. How do I know if a fund manager is legitimate?
Check that the manager is licensed by the SEC. You can verify this on the SEC’s website. Well-known licensed managers include Stanbic (SIMS), Fidelity Securities, NIMED Capital, and Prudential Securities .

6. What is the difference between money market and equity funds?
Money market funds invest in short-term, low-risk instruments like Treasury bills. Equity funds invest primarily in stocks, which carry more risk but offer higher growth potential over the long term .

7. Can I lose money in a unit trust?
Yes. Unit trust returns are not guaranteed. Your investment value can go down if the fund’s underlying assets lose value. Equity funds are more volatile than money market funds .

8. How do I monitor my unit trust investment?
You will receive periodic statements showing your deposits, purchase price, number of units, and current price. Many managers also allow you to check your portfolio through an online portal or mobile app.

9. What is the SEC asset-based levy?
Since March 2026, the SEC charges a 0.2% annual levy on the Net Asset Value of all collective investment schemes. This cost is passed on to investors

Source: Accra Street Journal

Last Updated on September 16, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.

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