Scopus & Web of Science Journals: Ghana

Looking for Scopus journals in Ghana? Just a few Ghana-based journals are indexed, and the majority fall in the lower quartiles. Here you will find those that report coverage, a method for confirming indexing through the ISSN, and ideas for how researchers in Accra, Kumasi or Cape Coast can locate stronger international outlets.

Scopus and Web of Science: The Essentials

Elsevier runs Scopus, a selective abstract and citation database that gives rise to CiteScore and supplies the data behind the SCImago Journal Rank (SJR). Web of Science is Clarivate's: the Core Collection holds ESCI (emerging sources), SCIE (sciences), AHCI (arts and humanities) and SSCI (social sciences), while the Journal Impact Factor is published in Journal Citation Reports. Titles in either database are re-evaluated and can be discontinued. Read more in Scopus explained and Web of Science explained.

An overview from 2024 of Ghana-based journals in Scopus and SCImago studied eight titles. One was placed in Q2, the Ghana Medical Journal had the most citations (Q3), and all others were in Q4, showing low output and few citations per document. To see today’s list, narrow SCImago’s rankings to Ghana. Quartile positions shift from year to year, so treat any snapshot as a starting point only.

That overview also calls for firmer editorial standards, greater international collaboration and stronger institutional backing for journal publishing. The takeaway for authors is straightforward: an indexed journal based in Ghana can suit locally focused research well, yet in most fields the broadest range of Scopus and Web of Science journals lies abroad.

Scopus and Web of Science Journals From Ghana

The titles below are produced in Ghana and state, on their own websites or via their publisher, that Scopus and/or Web of Science covers them. On the day you make your decision, verify each ISSN in Scopus Sources and the Master Journal List. Screenshots of the database entries make useful evidence for any institutional review.

More prominent titles, whose indexing in Scopus or Web of Science has not been verified

Checked 4 October 2026. “Reported” means the journal or publisher says so; we have not independently confirmed it.

Indexing Verification Checklist

1. Find the ISSNNote the print and online ISSN listed on the official website
2. Scopus SourcesSearch by ISSN and write down status and coverage years
3. Master Journal ListSearch the ISSN and make a note of SCIE, SSCI, AHCI or ESCI
4. Dropped from coverage?Check the Scopus record of discontinued titles
5. Save proofScreenshots with dates, to add to a promotion or grant file

International Publishing for Researchers in Ghana

Since just a small portion of journals based in Ghana are in Scopus or Web of Science, most researchers who need indexed outlets also send work to international titles, such as African regional journals, society journals and the big global publishers. A 2025 study of Scopus coverage in Africa (Kanyika & Kim) calls this a “continued struggle”: African journals in Scopus are increasing in number, but only gradually.

Three points deserve attention before you settle on an international journal. First, the article processing charge (APC), and whether the publisher gives waivers or reductions to authors from low- and middle-income countries. Second, whether your institution or funder will pay APCs. Third, whether your field has a diamond open access journal, which is free for both readers and authors; DOAJ lets you filter by “without fees”. Before submitting, ask your university’s research office if institutional or grant money can cover the publication costs.

Quartiles, Impact Factor and Top-Tier Journals

Impact Factor, CiteScore and SJR all summarise a journal's performance, but each uses its own database and time window and is refreshed every year. Only compare like with like (same metric, category and year), and check the figure at its original source rather than on the journal's homepage.

Researchers in Ghana will usually find the highest-impact choices in their field among international journals, not local ones. Locate them by subject category in Journal Citation Reports, Scopus Sources or SCImago, and then skim recent articles to judge suitability. Our guide to finding high impact factor journals walks through the method step by step. Check whether recent articles resemble your paper in scope, method and level of detail.

Picking an Indexed Journal for Your Subject

Getting Your Paper Ready for an Indexed Journal

Whether an indexed journal accepts you rests on fit, clarity and rigour much more than on its metric. These steps help:

• Filter by scope before anything else, and look at metrics only after that.
• Tighten the framing of the paper: one clear research question, a stated contribution and honest limitations.
• Stick closely to the journal's template and reference style; doing so shows care for detail.
• Collaborate with co-authors from other institutions or countries when they add expertise you need; international collaboration is also associated with greater visibility.

Frequent Mistakes With Indexed Journals

• Believing a homepage logo instead of checking the database record.
• Not naming the index — “Web of Science” is unclear unless you say SCIE, SSCI, AHCI or ESCI.
• Ignoring the possibility of discontinuation — indexing that was valid the previous year may have lapsed.
• Selecting by a metric only — an out-of-scope paper is turned down fast.

Practical Tips for Ghanaian Authors Building a Publication Record

Ghanaian scholars increasingly publish with partners across Africa and beyond. The tips below help early and mid-career authors present their work professionally and grow steadily.

• Start with a manageable first target. Pick a journal whose recent papers resemble your study in scale and ambition. Early success builds confidence and gives you real reviewer feedback to learn from.
• Join a writing group at your institution. Meet regularly with colleagues to read each other's drafts and share submission experiences. Peer feedback is free, fast and often more honest than formal channels.
• Explain community context carefully. When studies involve local communities, schools or health facilities, describe consent procedures and relevant background in respectful detail. This helps outside readers interpret the findings responsibly.
• Keep your datasets organised. Label variables, document cleaning steps and store backups in more than one place. Editors may request data, and tidy files let you respond without delay.
• Maintain a visible researcher profile. Create and update an identifier and profile linking all your publications under one name. Consistency helps colleagues, funders and employers find and credit your work.

Grow your record step by step with realistic targets, supportive peers and tidy, well-documented research materials.

Questions Researchers Often Ask

Summary and What to Do Next

Because Ghana has few indexed journals, researchers needing Scopus or Web of Science coverage mostly publish abroad. Check every claim, budget for costs, and put suitability first. Ask colleagues who have published recently about their experience with editors and review times.

1. See which of these your rule really mentions: Web of Science, Scopus, an index or a quartile.
2. Draw up a short list of journals for your field using the earlier tables and global databases.
3. Check each title by its ISSN and keep a record of what you find.
4. Look at the list of research journals in Ghana if you want options that are not indexed.

References and Sources

Checked on 4 October 2026. Indexing status can change, so confirm it before submitting.

• SCImago journal rankings — Ghana
• Editorial metrics for journals based in Ghana, in Scopus and SCImago
• Ghana Science Association — Journal
• Kanyika & Kim (2025), Continued struggle: the growth of Scopus-indexed journals in Africa
• Discoverability of African journals by Google Scholar and inclusion in Scopus (PMC)
• Scopus Sources
• Clarivate Master Journal List
• ISSN Portal
• SCImago Journal & Country Rank
• Journal Citation Reports