How to Move Your WordPress Site to a New Host in Ghana

Moving a WordPress website to a new host can feel stressful, especially if you’re worried about losing data, breaking the site or going offline. The good news is that switching to a better hosting provider in Ghana is easier than most people think.

Whether you’re leaving because of slow speeds, poor support or frequent downtime, or upgrading to faster NVMe hosting, this guide shows you how to move your WordPress site safely and with as little disruption as possible.

You’ll learn how to migrate your WordPress site step by step, even if you’re a beginner. (And if you’d rather not do it yourself, we’ll move it for you free of charge when you host with Hostnali.)

Quick Answer / TL;DR

Back up your WordPress website before you start.
Choose a reliable host with WordPress support.
Copy your website files and database across.
Update your domain’s DNS settings.
Test the site before you switch over fully.
Hostnali WordPress Hosting includes free website migration for clients across Ghana.

Why Move Your WordPress Site to a New Host?

Ghanaian website owners usually move because of:

Slow loading speeds
Poor uptime
Weak customer support
Expensive renewals
Security problems
Too few resources
No WordPress-specific optimisation

Moving to modern hosting with NVMe storage and better infrastructure can make a noticeable difference to performance.

What You Need Before Migrating

Get these ready first:

1. A Website Backup

Make a complete backup of:

Website files
The database
Emails (if your email is also moving)

If anything goes wrong, you can always go back. Our guide on how to back up your WordPress website explains the options.

2. A New Hosting Account

Good WordPress hosting should include:

WordPress support
cPanel access
Free SSL
Daily backups
Fast storage
Reliable uptime

Hostnali offers hosting optimised for WordPress websites, with all of the above on every plan.

3. Access to Your Domain

You’ll need access to:

Your domain registrar account
DNS settings
Name servers

This is how you point the domain to the new host. If you’d like to move the domain itself too, see domain transfer.

Step-by-Step WordPress Migration Guide

Step 1: Back Up Your Website

The safest migration starts with a full backup.

You can back up with:

A WordPress plugin
cPanel’s backup tool
A manual download of the files

Popular backup plugins:

UpdraftPlus
All-in-One WP Migration
Duplicator

Your backup should cover:

The wp-content folder
Themes
Plugins
Media files
The database

Step 2: Download Your Website Files

Download the files using:

File Manager in cPanel
An FTP program such as FileZilla

Important items:

public_html
wp-content
wp-config.php

Compress them into a ZIP file to make the upload easier.

Step 3: Export Your WordPress Database

WordPress keeps your content in a MySQL database.

To export it:

Open phpMyAdmin
Select your database
Click “Export”
Choose Quick
Download the SQL file

That file holds your:

Posts
Pages
Settings
User accounts
Comments

Step 4: Upload the Files to Your New Host

Open File Manager
Go to public_html
Upload your ZIP file
Extract it

You can also upload by FTP.

Step 5: Create a New Database

In cPanel:

Open the MySQL Database Wizard
Create a database
Create a database user
Give the user all privileges

Note down:

Database name
Username
Password

You’ll need them in a moment.

Step 6: Import Your Database

Open phpMyAdmin on the new account:

Select the new database
Click Import
Choose your SQL file
Start the import

This brings your WordPress content across.

Step 7: Update wp-config.php

Edit wp-config.php with the new details:

define('DB_NAME', 'new_database_name');
define('DB_USER', 'new_database_user');
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'new_password');
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');

This connects WordPress to its new database.

Step 8: Update Your Domain’s DNS

Point the domain to the new host using either:

Name servers, or
A records

DNS changes can take from a few minutes up to 48 hours to spread everywhere.

During that time:

Some visitors may still see the old site
Others will see the new one

That’s normal.

Step 9: Test Your Website

Before you call it done:

Open every important page
Test contact and order forms
Check images
Try the menus
Confirm SSL (https) works
Test email sending and receiving

Also check:

How the site looks on a phone
Loading speed
That you can log in to WordPress

How to Migrate WordPress With a Plugin

Beginners often prefer a migration plugin because it does most of the work.

Popular choices:

All-in-One WP Migration
Duplicator
UpdraftPlus

They automate:

Copying the files
Moving the database
Restoring the site on the new host

For small websites this is usually the easiest route.

How to Migrate WordPress With No Downtime

Downtime is when visitors can’t reach your site during the move.

To keep it to a minimum:

Keep the Old Hosting Active

Don’t cancel your old hosting straight away.

Keep it running for several days after the move.

Test Before Changing DNS

Preview the new site with a temporary URL or by editing your computer’s hosts file before you update DNS.

Move During Quiet Hours

Good times:

Late at night
Early morning
Weekends (depending on your customers)

Common Migration Problems

Broken Images

Usually because:

Some files didn’t upload properly
URLs were changed incorrectly

“Error Establishing a Database Connection”

Normally caused by a wrong:

Database name
Password
Database username

SSL Errors

Issue or reinstall the SSL certificate on the new host if needed. With Hostnali, free SSL is set up automatically once the domain points to us.

A Slow Site After the Move

Check:

Caching
PHP version
Hosting resources
Plugin conflicts

Our guide on how to speed up your WordPress site in Ghana covers the fixes.

Why Better Hosting Pays Off After Migration

Faster hosting can improve:

Search Rankings

Google favours fast websites.

Visitor Experience

People stay longer on sites that load quickly.

Online Sales

Slow shops lose sales and see more abandoned carts.

Security

Modern hosting gives you better:

Malware protection
Backups
Firewall security

Why Hostnali Is a Good Option for WordPress Hosting

Hostnali serves businesses and WordPress users across Ghana.

Every WordPress hosting plan includes:

NVMe SSD storage and LiteSpeed
Free SSL certificates
cPanel access
Daily backups
Free website migration by our team
24/7 support by live chat and ticket
Payment by card, bank transfer or mobile money

That makes it a good fit for:

Blogs
Business websites
Online shops
Agencies
School websites

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I migrate my WordPress site myself?

Yes. Many beginners do it successfully with a plugin or cPanel tools. If you’d prefer not to, Hostnali moves your site for free.

Will my website go offline during migration?

Not necessarily. Handled carefully, DNS changes cause little or no downtime.

How long does a WordPress migration take?

A small website can take under an hour. Larger sites take longer, depending on their size and DNS propagation.

Will I lose SEO when I change hosts?

Normally not, as long as:

Your URLs stay the same
The site’s structure doesn’t change
Downtime is kept short

Should I use a migration plugin?

Yes, especially if you’re a beginner.

What is the best WordPress hosting in Ghana?

Look for speed, reliable uptime, daily backups and helpful support. Hostnali offers all of these, plus free migration and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Final Thoughts

Moving your WordPress website to a new host in Ghana doesn’t have to be complicated. With a good backup, careful DNS changes and reliable hosting, you can move safely with little or no downtime.

If your current host is slow, unreliable or holding your site back, better infrastructure can make a real difference to speed and visitor experience.

Looking for reliable WordPress hosting in Ghana?

Explore Hostnali WordPress Hosting Plans and let our team move your site for you.