Passport & 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.

TRAVELagenda provides a professional VISA FACILITATION service for a flat charge of £22 per visa application plus the cost of the required visa (see options below) plus postage as necessary.

VISA Application forms must be completed and submitted with two passport-size photos, a current passport in the name of the applicant plus the relevant visa fee (see scale of charges below).

Contact TRAVELagenda and we will send you the necessary visa application form for completion, either by post or simply as a PDF attachment to a reply e-mail.  Alternatively CLICK on the following graphic and it will take you directly to the required form for printing ...

Ghana High Commission in London will only accept cash payments but TRAVELagenda will accept cheques for the total amount and a receipt will be issued for same.  A minimum of five working days should be allowed for the Ghana High Commission to process applications.

VISA options at current Ghana High Commission rates ....

3 months, single entry visa .... £30

6 months, multiple entry visa .... £40

12 months, multiple entry visa .... £60

24 months, multiple entry visa .... £70

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Money / Currency

Since July 2007 new currency has been issued.  Previously 100,000 old cedis, for example, has now become 10 new Ghanaian cedis.  Currently this means that the cedi is worth approximately 0.65 US dollars (ie 65 cents), with about 2.1 cedis to the euro, and 2.4 cedis to the GB pound sterling (as at August 2009).

Foreign currency can be freely exchanged at any Money Exchange Bureau in the country.  Apart from these Bureau, some commercial banks also change foreign currency.  Banks are normally open from 8:30am - 3:00pm, Monday to Friday.  Most large commercial banks also have cash machines (ATMs) located outside and these are available for use both during and after banking hours.  Most will take the internationally used VISA card plus some other recognised cheque cards.

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Travellers Cheques

All banks and Forex Bureau accept Travellers Cheques, although the rate of exchange may be slightly lower than for cash transactions.

Credit Cards

The most widely accepted credit cards are American Express, Diners and Visa.  Your card may be used for payment at most airlines, leading hotels and major supermarkets.  But take care when using credit cards in Ghana as there are many instances of credit card fraud.  A credit card number can be recorded and sold, even at the best facilities !

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Climate

Bounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean, 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 zone.  Generally temperatures are between 23°C - 31°C.  The rains are usually restricted to specific times each day during the rainy season.

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 suntan lotion, sunglasses and comfortable walking shoes.  There are no restrictions on what men and women may wear.  Trousers and shorts for both sexes are permissible and headgear is not essential .... other than to keep off the sun and avoid sun-burn !

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Health Requirements

Please do not forget to bring your health certificate which shows that you have had vaccination against yellow fever.  You are also advised to consult your doctor well in advance of your visit so that you may begin the usual anti-malaria treatment.  Anti-malaria tablets should be taken once-a-week before you come to Ghana, whilst you are in Ghana, and also for a short period of time after you return home.

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Medical Facilities

Modern private and public hospitals and clinics are available in all cities and big towns.  Tourists should contact medical insurance companies in order to cover any medical contingencies whilst away from their home countries.  Barbers and hairdressers are available in the towns and in most major hotels.

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Communications

Ghana uses the GSM 1800, which is also the European standard.  There are 5 cellular (mobile phone) networks which in total offer some 90% coverage of the whole country.  You can purchase a pre-paid chip or SIM card for instant cellular service.  You can also roam on your current home network if your normal phone service provider has been advised that you need this service.

Alternatively most major hotels also have business centres, which will provide secretarial and courier services.  You can make long distance telephone calls within the country.  Reverse charge calls to Europe, the States and Asia are also available.

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Electricity

If you are bringing along any electrical appliances, they should operate on or be adaptable to 220/240 volts.  Electrical sockets in Ghana accept either 3-pronged, or sometimes 2-pronged, British or Continental European type plugs but plug adaptors are readily and cheaply available in Ghana.

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Hotels

Ghana, offers a wide range of hotel accommodation for her growing economy and tourist industry via cosmopolitan, metropolitan, town and country hotels and park lodges of varying comfort, elegance and convenience.  Ghanas hotels are classified according to the internationally recognised star-system with 5-star being the highest and one-star being the minimum internationally acceptable quality.  In addition, there are local budget hotels with minimum standards of sanitation and comfort.  The grade of a hotel in Ghana is identifiable and the Hotel Licence issued by the Ghana Tourist Board is displayed at the hotel reception (see our hotels section on this site to view specific hotels).

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Drinking Water

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

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Laundry

Available in most hotels.

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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 generosity to the waiter, taxi driver, porter, guide etc.

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Restricted areas for Photography and Filming

None except Osu Castle and Military installations.

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Travel by Train

There is a small rail network in Ghana but this is primarily for freight movements.  There is, however, a passenger rail link from Takoradi to Kumasi through Obuasi where the gold mines are.  Rail travel is very cheap but not well-patronised by the locals or tourists.  It is safe to travel by train but the service can be erratic and subject to excessive delays.

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