Traveling to Ghana requires careful planning and awareness of local regulations and safety considerations. This guide provides essential information for U.S. and U.K. citizens, covering visa applications, health precautions, safety tips, and legal considerations.
Visa and Passport Requirements
U.S. Citizens
U.S. citizens will need to apply for a visa to enter Ghana. It is crucial to confirm that your passport will be valid for 6 months after you depart from Ghana.
When applying for a visa, ensure you follow these steps:
- Print out your flight itinerary, which you will receive once flights are booked.
- Gather your supporting documents. Each application must be sent with all required documents at the same time, or it will be rejected.
- For your application form(s), you will be applying as a tourist, so make sure you check the tourism box.
For the "References" requested on your form(s):
Shafiu Shaibu (+233 24 440 7891 / +233 20 032 3146) GW-0019-2626, First Goil Street, Abease, Amasaman, Accra, Ga, West Municipality.
Read also: U.S. Passport Renewal Guide
For the "Accommodation Address" requested on your form(s): Weda LodgeP.O.
Place all required documents, application forms, the application fee, and a prepaid return envelope together in a trackable envelope (e.g. FedEx) so that your passport may be returned. Make sure to indicate the type of processing being requested (e.g. regular or rush) and include payment for the visa.
Send the application packet to the Ghana Consulate via a trackable envelope.
U.K. Citizens
All U.K. citizens will need to apply for a visa to enter Ghana. *You will be applying as a tourist. U.K. citizens with layovers in the USA are required to apply for travel authorization through ESTA.
Canadian Citizens
Gather the supplemental documents. Proof of Canadian citizenship (or resident permit, if the applicant isn't a Canadian Citizen). Make sure to provide the original document.
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Payments should be made by bank draft or postal money order to the Ghana High Commission, Ottawa.
If applying in person, bring all documents, application form, and payment to the Ghana High Commission in Ottawa.
Non-Citizen Ghana Card
Foreign nationals who are over six years old and who have been physically present in Ghana for a cumulative period of 90 days or more during a calendar year are required to register with the National Identification Authority (NIA). The NIA will issue registered foreign nationals a non-citizen Ghana card. The non-citizen Ghana card will be necessary for all transactions that require identification.
Health and Safety
10 THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE Coming to Ghana 🇬🇠Travel Tips & Tricks For Visiting GHANA in 2021
Medical Information
Medical facilities in Ghana are limited, particularly outside the capital, Accra. Medicare/Medicaid does not apply overseas. Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments.
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Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctor’s prescription. Hospitals and doctors often require payment “up front” prior to service or admission. Credit card payment is not always available.
Exercise caution when purchasing medication overseas. Pharmaceuticals, both over the counter and requiring prescriptions in the United States, are often readily available for purchase with little controls. Counterfeit medication is common, and may prove to be ineffective, the wrong strength, or contain dangerous ingredients. Customs and Border Protection and the Food and Drug Administration are responsible for rules governing the transport of medication back to the United States. Medication purchased abroad must meet their requirements to be legally brought back into the United States. Medication should be for personal use and must be approved for usage in the United States.
Travelers are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance.
Water and Air Quality
In many areas, tap water is not potable. Bottled water and beverages are generally safe, although you should be aware that many restaurants and hotels serve tap water unless bottled water is specifically requested.
Air pollution is a significant problem in several major cities in Ghana. The air quality varies considerably and fluctuates with the seasons. It is typically at its worst in the dry season from October to February. Air pollution can be a significant problem in many destinations overseas.
Road Safety
Main roads in major cities are generally paved and well-maintained. Secondary roads and many roads outside of major cities are mostly in poor condition. Many accidents occur on the highway from Accra to Cape Coast.
Travel in darkness, particularly outside the major cities, is extremely hazardous due to poor street lighting and the unpredictable behavior of pedestrians, bicyclists, and animals.
Travelers are routinely stopped at police checkpoints throughout Ghana, and vehicles and passengers may be searched. Drivers must possess an international driver’s license (available from AAA and the American Automobile Touring Alliance) or a Ghanaian driver’s license. When foreign drivers apply for their Ghanaian driver’s license, they may be asked to have their international driver’s license or their home country driver’s license confirmed by their embassy.
Crime and Security
West Africa faces an increased threat from transnational terrorist groups.
Violent crimes, such as armed robbery and kidnapping, occasionally occur. Robberies on highways are of particular concern, especially at night. Armed robbers also sometimes target vehicles coming from Kotoka International Airport.
Street crime remains a serious problem in Accra and other large cities. Thieves carry out crimes of opportunity, such as “snatch & grabs,” on city streets in isolated areas as well as from vehicles idling in traffic.
Luggage and travel document theft occurs at Kotoka International Airport in Accra and in hotels across Ghana. Keep your documents secure at all times, and don’t leave your baggage unattended.
Credit card fraud is common. Exercise caution when using credit and ATM cards in Ghana. It is very common for scammers to tamper with credit card terminals. Skimming is the primary means of credit card fraud, and is undetectable until fraudulent charges appear on statements.
There are a number of ongoing chieftaincy disputes in Ghana that generally involve competition over limited resources. Several of these disputes have erupted into violence and unrest during recent years. Exercise caution in rural areas and remain alert to outbreaks of unrest.
Demonstrations occur frequently.
Internet romance and financial scams are prevalent in Ghana.
Maritime Security
Piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea continue to trend upwards. Pirates/armed groups operating in the region typically carry out attacks on vessels using automatic weapons.
Local Laws and Customs
Criminal Penalties
You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Public smoking is illegal in Ghana.
Citizens have reported substantial financial losses from questionable transactions involving gold and other precious metals. The Government of Ghana maintains strict regulations on these natural resources. Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law.
Swimming in coastal waters is dangerous and strongly discouraged, even for excellent swimmers.
LGB Travelers
Ghana’s criminal code outlaws “unnatural carnal knowledge,” which is frequently interpreted by local authorities as consensual same-sex sexual relations. This is criminalized as a misdemeanor in Ghana.
Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance
You may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what you find in the United States. Ghana’s Persons with Disabilities Act (2006) explicitly prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities in employment, health care, air travel and other transportation, and other domains. Furthermore, the law provides persons with disabilities access to public buildings “as far as is practical.” However, most buildings, transportation, and educational facilities do not provide for people with special needs.
Women Travelers
Rape is a crime in Ghana punishable by five to 25 years in prison. However, rape is significantly underreported and remains a serious problem. Domestic violence is a crime punishable by up to two years in prison and/or a fine.
Additional Information
Tourism
The tourism industry is unevenly regulated outside of the major cities, and safety inspections for equipment and facilities may not commonly occur. Hazardous areas/activities are not always identified with appropriate signage, and staff may not be trained or certified either by the host government or by recognized authorities in the field. In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is typically available only in/near major cities. First responders are generally unable to easily access areas outside of major cities to provide urgent medical treatment.
Contact Information
Embassy for assistance. Embassy at +233-(0)30-274-1000 ext. 1570.
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