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Ghana is a very friendly country, ideal for first time travellers to Africa, the people are generally very helpful and welcoming. Tourism in Ghana is growing very quickly, and more tour operators are seeing increased requests for Ghana as a travel destination.

Cities: Accra Cape Coast Koforidua Kumasi Sekondi Takoradi Tamale Tema

Get in
Ghana is also rich in Gold. Their people have a very rich culture and they have a very stable country with great potential for growth.
Visas are available on arrival for visitors from countries without Ghanaian embassies or consulates, It's thus best to play it safe and get a visa in advance.

Plane / Airlines
All International flights are through Kotoka International airport at Accra (ACC), it is very central and there are always lots of taxis available, a taxi ride anywhere in the city shouldn't cost more than 4 cedis. Delta Air Lines serves Accra from New York City (JFK) with four flights per week. British Airways flies from London Heathrow, and Ghana International Airlines and Astraeus fly from London Gatwick. The Royal Dutch airlines (KLM) flies daily from Schiphol, Amsterdam. Lufthansa and Alitalia maintain daily direct flights from Frankfurt and Milan respectively, with a short stop in Lagos, Nigeria. Emirates flies daily non-stop from Dubai in the Middle East (with connections to Asia and the Far East). Ethiopian Airlines flies four weekly non-stops from Addis Ababa (with stopover, you can visit another African country). Also, South African Airways flies four times a week non-stop from Johannesburg -- though this will involve substantial backtracking (an extra 10,000 km each way!) unless you live in Australia or somewhere down under. If coming from Brazil or nearby, the flight from Rio to Luanda, Angola on Angola Airlines would be the shortest. From there, you can go non-stop to Accra.

Buy
Ghana Cedi was redenominated July 2007. The new "Ghana Cedi" (GH?) equals 10,000 old cedis. During the transition period of six months, the old cedi is known as "cedi", and the new cedi is known as "Ghana Cedi". Be aware that most Ghanaians still think in old currency. This can be very confusing (and costly). Ten thousand old cedis are habitually referred to as ten (or twenty, or thirty). This would, today, be one, two or three "new" Ghana cedis. So always think whether the quoted price makes sense before buying or agreeing on a taxi fare. If in doubt ask whether this is new cedis.
Ghana is also rich in Gold. Their people have a very rich culture and they have a very stable country with great potential for growth. Visas are available on arrival for visitors from countries without Ghanaian embassies or consulates, It's thus best to play it safe and get a visa in advance.All International flights are through Kotoka International airport at Accra (ACC), it is very central and there are always lots of taxis available, a taxi ride anywhere in the city shouldn't cost more than 4 cedis. Delta Air Lines serves Accra from New York City (JFK) with four flights per week. British Airways flies from London Heathrow, and Ghana International Airlines and Astraeus fly from London Gatwick. The Royal Dutch airlines (KLM) flies daily from Schiphol, Amsterdam. Lufthansa and Alitalia maintain daily direct flights from Frankfurt and Milan respectively, with a short stop in Lagos, Nigeria. Emirates flies daily non-stop from Dubai in the Middle East (with connections to Asia and the Far East). Ethiopian Airlines flies four weekly non-stops from Addis Ababa (with stopover, you can visit another African country). Also, South African Airways flies four times a week non-stop from Johannesburg -- though this will involve substantial backtracking (an extra 10,000 km each way!) unless you live in Australia or somewhere down under. If coming from Brazil or nearby, the flight from Rio to Luanda, Angola on Angola Airlines would be the shortest. From there, you can go non-stop to Accra.Ghana Cedi was redenominated July 2007. The new "Ghana Cedi" (GH?) equals 10,000 old cedis. During the transition period of six months, the old cedi is known as "cedi", and the new cedi is known as "Ghana Cedi". Be aware that most Ghanaians still think in old currency. This can be very confusing (and costly). Ten thousand old cedis are habitually referred to as ten (or twenty, or thirty). This would, today, be one, two or three "new" Ghana cedis. So always think whether the quoted price makes sense before buying or agreeing on a taxi fare. If in doubt ask whether this is new cedis.

US Dollars are accepted by some of the major tourist hotels but you shouldn't rely on this. EURO in cash are the most useful currency to take with you and you will sometimes find that bars/restaurants will be willing to change them for you if you need Cedis outside banking hours.

Approximate exchange rates as of May, 2008, are:

1 British Pound = GH? 2.03
1 US Dollar = GH? 1.03
1 Euro = GH? 1.61

There are many Forex Bureaus in Accra, and a few in the other major cities. It is very difficult to change travelers cheques and certainly almost impossible outside Accra and Kumasi, unless you change them at a major bank. Barclays has branches in Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast, and even Tamale where you can change travelers cheques. Expect lines. VISA cards are accepted at major hotels and there are ATMs in Accra, Kumasi and Cape Coast which accept VISA. Be aware that the Cape Coast cash machine is frequently empty. At the main branch of Barclays Bank in Accra you can get a cash advance on your VISA or MasterCard provided you have your passport with you.

Bargaining is very much expected in the markets. Large cities such as Accra have markets open every day, but travelers get the true flavor of the country if they have the opportunity to visit a village market on the day of the week that it is open. Most goods will be staple goods, but cloth, beads, musical instruments, bags, and even CD's are usually available.

Kente cloth, drums and wooden designs, such as masks and "sacred stools" can be found on almost any street in any tourist area in Ghana.
 
Eat
Food is extremely cheap in Ghana. Traditional food is fun to try and easy to enjoy. Fufu, the most widely served traditional dish, consists of pounded balls of yam, plantain, or cassava served with soup, called a stew, and a side of goat meat or fish. Stews are typically made of groundnuts, okra, other vegetables, and a large amount of palm oil. Banku is a fermented corn version of the dish.

Rice dishes are also typical, but not considered a "real" meal by many Ghanaians, males especially. Jollof rice is a dish as varied as its chef, but generally consists of white rice cooked with vegetables, meat pieces, spices, and palm oil. Waakye is a mix of beans and rice, typically served with gari, a powder of ground cassava. Often rice dishes are served with shredded lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes on the side with a dollop of Heinz salad cream or mayonnaise. Such meals are extremely cheap from street vendors and come as little as GH?1.50 to GH?2.50.

Plantains, yams, and sweet potatoes are prepared in various ways and serve as small snacks. Kelewele, a spiced fried plantain snack, is especially delicious. Fresh fruits such as pineapple, mango, papaya, coconut, oranges, and bananas are delightful when in season and come when applicable by the bag for as little as 10 cents.

A great African meal in a restaurant can cost as little as GH?3.00 to GH?7.00. For instance, a lobster and shrimp dinner can cost a mere GH?6. There are also a number of Western and Chinese style restaurants available especially in Osu, a trendy suburb of Accra.

Drinks
In Accra's expat visited bars, a beer will cost between GH?1.50 and GH?2.50. Fruit juices GH?1.00, water GH?0.80 to GH?1.00. Star and Club are two of the more popular beers served. For a more interesting and rewarding experience, visit a "spot," a bar signified by the blue and white stripes on the outside of the building. They are cheaper and you will undoubtedly be able to meet some local Ghanaians as well as hear the newest hip-life songs. A soft drink such as Coke, Fanta, 7UP (called "minerals" by locals) are widely available for GH?0.25.

Sleep
There are many wonderful places to stay in Ghana. There are many options including lavish hotels or more rustic places to stay. Cheap, decent hotel rooms can run as low as GH?12.00. A better room can go as low as GH?20.00.

Learn
Ghana has three major public universities. The largest of these is the University of Ghana, located in Legon, a suburb of the capital, Accra. Other universities are located at Cape Coast (University of Cape Coast) and Kumasi (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, or "Tech"). Smaller public universities include the University of Education at Winneba, the University of Development Studies with a main campus at Tamale and several other campuses around the north, and the University of Mines and Technology in Tarkwa, Western Region. There are also several private universities and colleges, both religious and non-religious.

Things to Do in Ghana


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