How To Ghana

Several international airlines, including Ghana Airways (sorry, not anymore they are defunct), operate regular scheduled flights in Ghana from major cities in North America. Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

PASSPORT
Required by all.

VISAS

Visas are required by most non-residents except ECOWAS nationals. Ghana Missions and Embassies abroad will assist in issuing individual as well as group visas.

Health Requirements

Yellow fever vaccination required by all exept infants under one year.Please do not forget to bring your health Certificate which shows that you have a yellow fever vaccination. You are also advised to consult your doctor well in advance of your visit so that you may begin the usual anti-malaria treatment.

BUSINESS HOURS

8.00 - 12.00 noon
13.00 - 17.00 hours
Banks - 8.00a.m - 2.00 p.m
8.00 - 3.00 p.m. Fridays

Climate

Bounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean and on the West by La Cote d"ivoire, the East by Togo and the North by Burkina Faso. Ghana is a tropical country. The South Western part is located within the warm wet forest zone similar to the Amazon. Accra, the capital, is located in the dry equatorial cones. Kumasi is in the wet savanna. It lies between 4° and 11 ° North at the equator and has a coastline of 540 km.

Northern Ghana has a range season from about April to October. The rest,
of the year is hot and dry, with temperatures up to about 38°C. In Southern Ghana the rains last from April to June and again from September to October. Generally temperatures are between 21 - 31°C. The rains are usually restricted to specific times each day during the rainy season; they are not continuous throughout the day.

Packing the Right Clothing

Since the climate is warm and tropical all year round be sure to pack light washable cotton clothing and casual wear. Do not forget your sunglasses and comfortable walking shoes. There are no restrictions on what men and women may wear. Slacks and shorts for both sexes are permissible.

Electricity
If you are bringing along any electrical appliances, they should operate on or be adaptable to 220 volts. Electric outlets in Ghana accept either 3pronged, or sometimes 2-pronged. British or Continental European type plus or converters.

Money/Currency
Ghana"s currency is the cedi which comes in denominations of 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000. Coins come in denominations of 50, 100, 200 and 500. Foreign currency can be freely exchanged at any Forex Bureaux in the country.

Apart from Forex Bureaux, some commercial banks also exchange foreign currency. Banks are normally open from 8:30 am - 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Most large commercial banks will also have automatic teller machines located outside and available during and after hours. Most will take VISA and a few other check cards.

Traveller"s Cheques

All banks and Forex Bureaux accept Traveller"s Cheques although the rate of exchange may be slightly lower than for cash transaction.

Credit Cards

The most widely accepted credit cards are American Express, Dinners, and Visa. Your car may be used for payment at nearly all airlines, leading hotels and major supermarkets. Using your credit card in Ghana can be risky though. There have been numerous instances of credit card fraud in Ghana. A credit card number can be recorded and sold, even at the best facilities.

Tipping

Tipping is permitted in hotels, restaurants, etc. It is rarely added to the bill. Whenever it is not added the quality of service should dictate your generating to the waiter, taxi driver, porter, guide etc.

Hotels

Ghana, offers a wide range of hotel accommodation for her growing economy and tourist industry; cosmopolitan, metropolitan, town and country hotels and park lodges of

varying comfort, elegance and convenience. Ghana"s hotels are classified according to the international star-system with 5-star are the highest and one-star being the minimum international acceptable quality. In addition, there are local budget hotels with minimum standards of sanitation and comfort. The grade of a hotel in Ghana is indefinable and the Hotel License issued by the Ghana Tourist Board is displayed at the hotel reception. (see our hotels section on this site to search for specific hotels)

Communications

Most major hotels also have business centres which provide secretarial and courier services. You can make long distance telephone calls within the country. Collect calls to the USA Europe and Asia also available. Accra Information is 666884. USA direct dial is 019900, UK is 0194.

Entertainment

Urban Ghana, especially in the metropolitan centres, pulsates in the evening with everything from "heritage" dances in the cultural centres to theatres, cinema houses showing Ghanaian films, discos, pubs, street cafes and casinos. Consult your hotel reception for what is on and where to go.

Useful Tips

Medial facilities

Modern private and public hospitals and clinics are available in all cities and big towns. Tourist should contact travelers" medical insurance companies to cover any medical contingencies while away from their home countries.

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

Emergency (general) - 999
Fire - 192
Ambulance - 193
Hospital - Korle Bu - 665401, 673033-34
-Ridge - 228382

-37 Military hospita - 776111-5l

-SSNIT Hospital - 776787

-Tema General Hospital - 022-302094, 302695

-Mental Hospital - 228688

 -Nyaho Clinic - 027775341

- Lister Hospital

- Omni Health Services.


Barbars and Hairdressers

They are available in most hotels.

Laundry

Available in most hotels.

Drinking Water

Safe but it is advisable for visitors to use bottled dinking water which is available for sale in hotels and super markets.

Restricted Areas for Photography and Filming
None except Osu Castle and Military installations.

Kotoka International Airport

Kotoka International Airport (KIA) is situated in Accra, Ghana on the West Coast of Africa.

Its central location in the world (on the Greenwich Meridian and close to the Equator) makes it accessible from any part of the globe.

KIA also has FAA approval for Category 1 in Safety and Security Oversight. Currently it is served by 22 carries over 170 weekly passenger aircraft movements to more than 36 international destinations worldwide.

With the completion of the current KIA Phase II Development Programme, KIA will offer even better facilities and services.

Ground Transport: To and From KIA

Although most people travel to the airport in their private cars, taxi, hiring cars as well as rentals is all available at the airport for travellers’ convenience.

Airport Taxi Service
Metered Taxi: Labour Enterprise Trust Co. Ltd. operates metered taxis to and from the airport. Their charges start at ø50,000 and go up from there depending on where you want to go from the airport. Travel around Accra otherwise is cheaper by taxi - usually starting at ø6,000 and going up from there. You just don't have the options at the airport unless you have someone pick you up or you are willing to walk a bit to a major road.

Public Pool Taxi
There are other taxi services from point at fixed charges per individual passenger. This allows other passengers to join in the same vehicle

Hiring cars
Published fares/charges for some areas are displayed in the Arrival Hall. For further information contact the hiring cars and taxi booths outside the Arrival Hall.

Airport lounges

Departure
Airport departure lounge is located after security control. Facilities include a Duty Free shop, restaurant, bar and a seating area. Ghana Airways has the “Akwaaba” lounge for its first/business class passengers.

State Protocol Lounge is for use by Senior Government Officials/Diplomats and VVIP’s.

Arrival
State Protocol Lounge again available for use by the previously mentioned personnel’s.

Greetings
Greeting is an important social function that marks an open heart and mind. It also expresses one's concern for the other. Refusing or failing to greet another person may indicate that you do not care for the other's welfare.

Do not forget that the smile is also a form of greeting. Please make an effort to pick up some of our simple

vernacular greeting forms and win our hearts over.

Akan greetings and thier meaning:

Handshake
A handshake is a popular way of greeting in Ghana, especially among males. When you shake hands, please apply the same hand pressure as is offered.

When you are shaking hands with a number of people, start from the extreme right and proceed towards the left.

Use of the Left Hand
The left hand has limited functions in Ghana. In fact the use of the left hand for certain activities is considered an anathema. That is one reason why, when our men wear traditional cloth, we throw the fabric over the left hand. In particular avoid receiving or giving, gesticulating in speech, waving at a person or pointing things out with the left hands.

If you are naturally left handed, it is not your fault, and it is no offence. But you can avoid public embarrassment of complications by keeping something (e.g. your guide book, camera, souvenir etc.) in the left hand.

Palace Etiquette
Our chiefs enjoy receiving foreigners and interacting with them. We have already told you about dressing to the palace. There are other etiquettes that you need to observe. When you are invited to greet a chief or the king, for example, move up towards him and stop short a point from where he is seated, stop and bow. He may graciously invite you to come for a handshake.

On formal occasions, we do not speak directly to the king, or chief, for that matter communication at the royal court is a three-way affair through a spokesman (linguist) called "Okyeame" who replicates the conversation. The visitor faces the Okyeame and delivers his message to the chief. The chief gives his reply or response to the Okyeame who renders it to the visitor. It is that simple and interesting. This has been our practice from time immemorial.

N.B. Normally, visitors to our palaces have to make customary offerings of friendship to their royal hosts. This consists entirely of drinks: Aromatic Schnapps, Gin and or money, the amount and quantities depending on the size or enthusiasm of the group.