Safety
Ghana is a safe country but as with any country and with international travel, be mindful and attentive when in the busy and bustling areas of minor incidents of crime and theft. Extra caution whould be had when in popular hangouts for foreigners, at the beach and especially during busy street events.
AVOID using ATM’s at night or in areas that aren't well lit. Keep your handbags and expensive mobile phones tucked away for extra precaution.
• For official travel information by US authorities visit www.travel.state.gov
• For official travel information by UK authorities visit www.fco.gov. uk
Visa Requirements
All foreign visitors to Ghana are required to hold a valid passport with a Ghanaian visa (except visitors from West African ECOWAS countries). A tourist visa is stamped for 60 days upon arrival in Ghana (thus valid for 2 months).
Applications for a Ghanaian visa should be made to the nearest Ghana Consulate or Embassy.
• For an extension of your visa (after 2 months) visit www.ghanaimmigration.org
Hospitals/Medical Care
There are a number of decent hospitals that offer good care should you need it in Ghana, however we highly recommend using the mobile doctors service. Founded by USA trained medical doctor Dr. Awah, this is a great option as they come to you and offer care. This is by far the best and most affordable option to use during your visit if needed. Click here to learn more about Dr. Awah. Call them at +233-59-417-8272 | +233-59-304-1520. They are also very responsive via whatsapp.
Weather
Ghana’s climate is classified as tropical to sub-tropical. Temperatures range from 24 to 34 degrees Celcius (75 to 93o F.). In the northern part, the weather is hot and dry and in the south more humid. The rainy season starts around May and ends around September, with short heavy rains every now and then.
Bargaining
In general, you can bargain for prices at the market, souvenir markets, with taxi’s and with roadside sellers. In shops, bars, restaurants and hotels this is usually not the case. There are no clear guidelines on how far down to bargain but push your luck to see if you can negotiate 50% off the initial mentioned price.
Drinking water
Avoid drinking tap water in Ghana at all cost. It is advised to buy bottles of water - with a multitude of brands available to you. You can find water everywhere to purchase. In grocery stores, even on the streets. Ensure the seal is not broken when you buy off the streets.
Electricty/Voltage
If you bring electrical appliances to Ghana they should operate on / or be adaptable to 220 -240 volts. Ghana uses UK-type sockets for 3-pronged plugs. You may need to buy an adapter or a step-down transformer or otherwise a multi-socket to be able to use your electronic devices. A multi-socket or ‘step-down’ transformer can be purchased locally as well.
Language
As a former British colony the official language in Ghana is English. On the streets however you hear many of the local languages such as ‘Twi, Ga, Hausa or Ewe’. Twi is the most dominant language in Ghana.
Note that in remote areas and villages, English is not as proficient as elsewhere in Ghana.
Malaria - What you need to know
Malaria is a health threat in Ghana and without protection you could be infected. Preventive malaria tablets minimize this risk and reduce the intensity of a possible malaria attack. The 2 most commonly used preventive malaria tablets are Lariam and Malerone. Malerone causes less side effects than Lariam but you will need to take it daily, while Lariam is taken once a week.
It is advised to bring along mosquito repellent (containing ‘DEET’: indicated on the product), and use daily (day and night)
If you are not taking preventive malaria tablets, you can buy inexpensive short term malarial treatments over the counter in Ghana (such as Coartem, Artesunate and smaller brands). If you buy them in advance, your treatment is at hand whenever you begin to display malarial symptoms.
Symptoms include fever, chills, aches and pains, lack of appetite, lethargy… For more information about malaria please visit www.traveldoctor.co.uk/malaria.
Mobile phones
You can use your mobile phone in Ghana. Please check with your cellular carrier to see if there is a supporting Ghanaian mobile network for you to roam whilst in Ghana. There are many affordable international plans ex. AT&T offers an additional $10/day fee to use your phone plan as you would when in the USA. A great, reliable and affordable option to use when in Ghana.
Currency
The Ghanaian currency is the Ghana Cedi. For the Euro-Cedi rate click here.
For the USD-Cedi rate click here.