Everything you need for a successful trip.
Your first hour in Ghana: immigration, the yellow fever check, money, a working phone and a safe ride into the city, in the order it happens.
Accra International Airport, the country's main gateway and the name you will now see on signs and tickets, sits inside the city rather than out in the countryside. Flights from the UK use Terminal 3, the modern international terminal. Domestic flights to Kumasi, Tamale and other cities leave from a separate terminal, so check your ticket before you take a taxi for an onward flight.
Older guidebooks, many airline booking systems and most taxi drivers still call it Kotoka. It is the same airport, and the code is still ACC.
Before you reach the immigration desks, have your yellow fever certificate in your hand, not in your bag. Port health officers can ask for it, and the original card is what counts, not a photo on your phone.
At immigration you show your passport and your e-Visa or ETA approval, printed. Expect questions about where you are staying and for how long: have the hotel name and address, or your host's name, address and phone number, written down. Queues after the evening London arrival can be long when several flights land together. Be patient. Being polite gets you further than being in a hurry.
Baggage from a full London flight can take a while. Porters will offer help, often enthusiastically. Agree a price before they touch your bags, or politely say no and use a trolley yourself.
At customs, personal belongings and gifts for family are normal. Large quantities of the same item, such as several new phones, laptops or boxes of goods, can lead to questions and duty. Keep receipts for expensive electronics you bring for your own use.
The phone gate mess at Ghana's bordersPhones, duty and confusion, on ghanaweb-news.com.There are ATMs and forex bureaus in the arrivals area. Airport exchange rates are usually worse than in town, so change only what you need for the first day or two: transport, food and a SIM card. Bureaus are fussy about notes; bring clean, untorn sterling.
Draw cash from an ATM inside the terminal rather than a standalone machine outside, and tell your UK bank you are travelling before you leave, or the first withdrawal may be blocked.
Money in GhanaCedi, cards, cash and mobile money.A local SIM is far cheaper than roaming on a UK plan, and it lets you use ride-hailing apps, mobile money and maps from the first hour. SIM cards must be registered: bring your passport. Registration at the airport can be slow when a big flight lands; a network shop in town is the alternative the next morning.
Ghana SIM and mobile dataWhy a local MTN SIM beats an expensive eSIM, on ghana-net.com.The airport is close to Airport Residential, East Legon, Osu and Cantonments, but Accra traffic decides the journey time, not the distance. Outside rush hour a short ride can take twenty minutes; at peak times the same trip can take an hour or more.
The most relaxed option after a long flight, especially for a late arrival. Confirm the driver's name and phone number before you fly.
App-based rides work in Accra and give you a price before you get in. Agree the pickup point by phone with the driver; the area outside arrivals is busy and confusing.
Available, but agree the fare before you get in. If a price sounds high, it probably is. Ask your hotel in advance what the fare should be.
The London flight usually leaves late in the evening. Leave for the airport with plenty of time; the evening rush on Accra's roads is serious, and the check-in and security queues can be long. Three hours before departure is sensible.
For your first days, a booked tour takes the strain off: Accra's old quarters, the forts on the coast or Kakum, with transport arranged. Entrance fees are included in the tour price. Tips for your guide and driver are not included, but they are always welcome.
Yes, UK citizens require a visa to enter Ghana. You can apply through the Ghana High Commission in London.
The best time to visit Ghana is during the dry season, from November to March.
Transportation options in Ghana include taxis, tro-tros (shared minibuses), and car rentals.
The currency in Ghana is the Ghanaian cedi (GHS).
Yes, English is the official language and is widely spoken throughout the country.
It is recommended to check with your healthcare provider for advice on vaccinations, but commonly recommended ones include Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Yellow Fever.