FAQs
- What’s the weather like in Ghana?
- What language do Ghanaians speak?
- How much money should I plan to spend?
- Should I bring cash or travelers’ checks?
- Are there ATMs?
- Can I use my credit card in Ghana?
- What’s the food like?
- Can I drink the water in Ghana?
- What sort of travel documents do I need to visit Ghana? How does the process work?
- What about malaria? Do I need to take any special malaria precautions?
- What shots should I get before leaving home?
- Should I bring my laptop?
- How safe is Ghana?
- Should I bring my hair-dryer?
- What airlines fly to Ghana?
- Want to ask us something else?
What’s the weather like in Ghana?
Ghana is a tropical country. The weather is consistently warm year round, with temperatures ranging from 22 degrees to 32 degrees Celsius or 72 to 95 Fahrenheit. The southern part of the country tends to be humid, which can make it seem hotter than the actual temperature. Temperatures in the coastal areas where we will be based tend to be moderated by sea breezes. The farther north one travels the drier and hotter it gets.
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What language do Ghanaians speak?
English, the official language of Ghana, is widely spoken, in addition to approximately 75 tribal languages and dialects. English is the language of business, government, etc.
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How much money should I plan to spend?
In July 2007, the Ghanaian government introduced new bills and coins. The older currency will be legal tender until December 31st 2007. One new Ghanaian Cedi is worth ten thousand old Ghanaian Cedis.
At present one US dollar is worth approximately 9000 old Ghana Cedis. Unless you are eating local dishes at informal “chop bars” or street stalls, restaurant prices are comparable to U.S. rates since the ingredients for non-Ghanaian meals are all imported. There are a couple of modern grocery stores in Accra and they have “modern” prices. What you spend on food and entertainment depends on your choices—you could get away with eating local food and spending very little or you could spend much more. A range of $30-$50 per day is a budgeting guide for meals and sundry items. Of course if you plan to buy a lot of souvenirs and mementos, you may want to bring more money than that.
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Should I bring cash or travelers’ checks?
You should bring cash, use your ATM card only as a backup and do not bring traveler’s checks. Cash-wise, US dollars are the currency of choice in Ghana. They are easily exchanged for local currency at private Foreign Exchange Bureaus (Forex Bureaus). Ghanaians prefer to deal in newer US bills with the so-called “large heads” of presidents on them, as opposed to the older bills with smaller presidential depictions. Strange as it may seem, there have been cases in which the older “small head” US bills have been refused or exchanged at a lower rate. Apparently in West Africa, there is a rumor that the older bills are counterfeit. Small denominations also attract a lower exchange rate. Pound Sterling and Euros are accepted at Forex Bureaus, but traveler’s checks are not. Traveler’s checks can only be cashed at commercial banks and the process is tedious.
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Are there ATMs?
There are very few ATMs in Accra so it is best not to rely on them. The daily withdrawal limit is quite low. When we leave Accra, there won’t be any ATMs. Some upscale hotels and shops in Accra will take credit cards but they aren’t as easily used as in North America or Europe.
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Can I use my credit card in Ghana?
The use of credit cards in Ghana is not recommended. Cash is best.
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What’s the food like?
Corn, plantain, yam, cassava, millet and rice are the main staples and are served in various forms such as fufu, banku, kenkey, omo tuo, jollof, kelewele or tuo zafi (TZ). The starches are invariably accompanied by soups or stews made with vegetables and meat, chicken or fish. The fish can be dried or fresh. To round out the meal, a sauce of hot peppers, dried fish and tomatoes is served.
In recent years the number and variety of Accra restaurants has steadily increased. Today one can find restaurants serving traditional Ghanaian food, Chinese, Indian, German, Lebanese, Caribbean, American (burgers, fried chicken, BBQ), Italian, French, Ethiopian, Senegalese and Ivorian food. Of course fresh fruit (mangoes, pineapple, paw-paw, oranges, avocadoes, bananas) abounds. As one of the premier cocoa-exporting nations, Ghana is known for excellent chocolate. Also wonderful is Ghanaian beer. The two main brands are Star and Club. Foreign beer, soda and a good selection of wine are available. Also popular are nonalcoholic beverages Amstel Malt and Guinness Malt and locally bottled soft drinks and fruit juices.
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Can I drink the water in Ghana?
You should drink bottled water only. It is best not to drink tap water, even when brushing teeth. Bottled water is widely available.
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What sort of travel documents do I need to visit Ghana? How does the process work?
You need a visa to enter Ghana. A visa must be obtained before you arrive in Ghana. There are two types of visas: a one-time entrance visa costs US$50 and a multiple entry visa costs US$80. Also, you need a passport valid for at least six months before expiration.
Links to Visa Info:
The Ghanaian Embassy in the United States:
http://www.ghana-embassy.org/corp_div_details_embassy.cfm?
EmpID=151&BrandsID=45
The Ghana High Commission in Canada:
http://www.ghc-ca.com/frm-e-consular-
matters.html
The Ghana High Commission in the U.K.:
http://www.ghanahighcommissionuk.com/
passports_visas.php
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What about malaria? Do I need to take any special malaria precautions?
We recommend you take malaria prophylactics. There are several different types of medication on the market. Check with your doctor for advice on the best one for you.
Malaria is a fact of life for anyone spending a prolonged period of time in Ghana. Luckily short-term visitors using malaria prophylactics generally do not have a problem.
Covering up in the evenings is helpful. Long pants or trousers and long-sleeved shirts are recommended. Malaria-causing mosquitoes are out and about after dark. You should also bring strong insect repellent with DEET as the active ingredient in it—West African mosquitoes aren’t easily discouraged by Skin-So-Soft or other “lighter” repellents. Here’s a link for more info on malaria:
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/regionalmalaria/wafrica.htm
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What shots should I get before leaving home?
Yellow Fever vaccination and certificate are required for entry to Ghana. Other immunizations you may wish to get include Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid and Tetanus/Diphtheria. Inexpensive travel immunizations are often available through your local department of public health.
More health info is available here:
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/regionList.aspx
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Should I bring my laptop?
If you cannot write without one, you may want to bring a laptop. The voltage levels are the same as in Europe (220V), i.e., different from North America (110V). Check to make sure your laptop can take a 220V current (most laptops can). Ghanaian wall outlets take the British-style three-prong plugs but North American style plug adapters are available. Though even in Accra there are electricity shortages, the hotels we will be staying in are equipped to handle outages.
Note: Laptops aren’t as common in Ghana as they are in Europe or North America. Having one marks you as a wealthy person, which may in turn make you more of a target for theft. Though crime is quite low in Ghana, it’s often smart to keep a low profile and a good way to do that is to not walk around showing off your computer. Discretion is always your best bet, e.g. a laptop carried in a backpack will be less conspicuous than one in a laptop carrying-case.
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How safe is Ghana?
Ghana is routinely cited as the safest country in Africa and among capital cities worldwide Accra is known for its low crime. Of course crime exists, and it is important to take precautions, but in comparison with other African tourist centers such as Nairobi, Johannesburg, or Lagos, Accra is peaceful and Ghanaians in general are famously laid back and friendly. Still, care should be taken when traveling around Accra especially at night. To help make your Ghana visit as relaxing and worry-free as possible, the IAWW has arranged transportation for all group events and booked excursions with safety being the highest priority in all cases.
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Should I bring my hair-dryer?
The voltage levels are the same as in Europe (220Volts), i.e., different from North America (110Volts). If you bring a hair-dryer from North America and plug it into a socket in Ghana without using a Voltage converter it will be ruined.