Most Treasury Bill articles explain what a T-bill is. This one is different: it is a practical timeline for someone who has already decided to try one, mapped across the shortest tenor's full 91-day journey, so you know what to expect at every stage, not just on day one.
Why "First 90 Days" and Not "First Treasury Bill"
A single purchase is really the middle of a short journey: deciding, preparing, buying, waiting, and then reaching your first maturity date, where the whole process either becomes familiar or still feels uncertain. Walking through all of it, not just the purchase itself, is what actually builds confidence for a second, third, and tenth Treasury Bill.
Days 1 to 7: Decide and Prepare
Confirm you have money you can genuinely set aside, at minimum for the full 91 days of the shortest tenor. Decide roughly how much: money you might need sooner belongs somewhere fully liquid instead. If you already bank somewhere, note that institution as your likely starting point; if not, spend this week comparing two or three options. Our full comparison of what suits different situations is a useful reference during this stage.
Days 8 to 14: Choose and Open
Visit or contact your chosen bank or licensed broker and ask about investing in a Treasury Bill. Ask their current exact minimum and whether any handling fee applies. If you do not already have a Central Securities Depository (CSD) account, this is when it gets opened, typically using your Ghana Card and a standard form, a process that often takes well under an hour. See our full step-by-step guide for exactly what to expect at this stage.
Around Day 14 to 21: Place Your Order
Confirm your amount and tenor with your bank or broker. Since the Bank of Ghana runs its Government of Ghana securities tender weekly, currently on Fridays, your order joins the next available auction, so the exact day this happens depends on when in the cycle you reach this step. Ask what rate is currently on offer, and cross-check it against the live rate at bog.gov.gh before your bank submits your bid.
Days 21 to 91: Wait, and Learn
Once your order is confirmed, with your exact purchase price and maturity date recorded somewhere you will see again, there is genuinely nothing further to do until maturity. This is a good stretch to read further: our risk article if you have not already, or our returns calculation guide to understand exactly why you paid what you paid.
Day 91 Onward: Your First Maturity
Your Treasury Bill matures, and, per the maturity instruction you decided in advance, either the full amount lands in your account, your interest is paid out with the principal rolled over, or everything reinvests together. This is the moment the process stops being theoretical. From here, deciding whether to try a longer tenor, a larger amount, or explore a different instrument entirely is a genuinely informed decision, built on one completed cycle rather than a guess.
FAQ
Do I have to start with 91 days? No, but many first-time investors do, purely to see the full process through once before committing to something longer. See our tenor comparison for the full trade-off.
What if I want to invest more after my first Treasury Bill matures? Nothing about the process changes for a larger amount; the same seven steps apply, and your CSD account, once opened, carries over.
Is 90 days a long time to wait for a first investment? For many readers, it is shorter than expected once broken into stages rather than viewed as one long wait; most of the actual effort happens in the first two to three weeks.