Non-negotiable
A laptop that doesn’t die mid-call. A USB-C power bank or inverter to cover 2-hour outages. A backup mobile data plan. A wired headset (Anker SoundCore Life Q20 or any $40 noise-cancelling — your voice clarity matters more than your audio).
Worth the spend
External monitor (any 24" 1080p — productivity jumps 2×). Ergonomic chair (any office chair under $150). Webcam if your laptop’s is bad (Logitech C270 is $30 and fine). A surge protector — Nigerian and Ghanaian outages will fry your laptop charger if you don’t.
Overhyped
Standing desks, 4K monitors, mechanical keyboards (unless you genuinely prefer them), DSLR-as-webcam setups, designer chair brands. Buy them if you want — they won’t make you employable.
Internet
Two ISPs. Even Starlink users in Africa still need a 4G/5G backup for the 3% of the time it’s down. MTN, Airtel, Safaricom, Vodacom — pick the strongest in your area and pair it with a different provider for redundancy.