["Child &Family Social Work, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nAn increasing number of young adults in Ghana begin adulthood from residential care. Many face challenges after leaving care, partly because they are unprepared for independent adult life. This study examines the level of preparedness and the factors influencing it among young people in residential care in Ghana. A mixed‐methods approach was employed to collect survey data from 264 young individuals and in‐depth semistructured interviews with 20 young people and 10 key informants working in residential facilities. The survey and interview data were analysed using SPSS and a thematic framework, respectively. The quantitative data revealed that young people felt most prepared to maintain relationships and confident in managing money and finding housing but least prepared to continue their education and secure employment. Educational preparation, formal and informal support, emotional maturity and independent living skills are factors that influence readiness. These findings underscore the necessity for policies and practices to bridge gaps in young people's preparation for adulthood. Practitioners should ensure that young people leaving care in Ghana have comprehensive preparation plans that assess their readiness, with particular focus on their educational status, support systems and interdependent living skills. Residential care facilities should also establish aftercare programmes providing housing and assistance to be implemented alongside policies extending the care‐leaving age to 21.\n"]