Ghana
Capital:
Accra
Official Language: English
Religions:
38% Traditional Beliefs, 30% Muslim, 24% Christian and 8% Other
Currency:
Cedi = 100 pesewas
Placements:
Teaching in Ghana,
Rural
School
Map
Background
If an award were given for the country with the friendliest people in West
Africa, Ghana would be a strong contender. Spend a few hours in the breezy
capital at Accra, and you'll swear the wind and waves off the Gulf of Guinea
have infused the land and people alike with equatorial warmth.
Special Events
Major events
Climate
The refreshing Gulf of Guinea breezes keep the coast a bit cooler than in the
north with year- round high 20°C (low 70°F) temperatures the norm. Unless the
slightly wetter months of May and June deter you, any time of the year is a good
time to visit. In Northern Ghana, May to October sees the most rainfall while
the other months have plenty of sun and high 30°C (high 90°F) days to cook
under.
Travel Info
There are Ghana Airways flights from Kotoka Airport in Accra to almost every
country in West Africa, as well as flights to New York and London. The airport
is also served by several major western carriers. The 35.00 departure tax is included in the ticket price.
Ships connect Tema, 25km (16mi) east of Accra, with ports in Nigeria, Côte
d'Ivoire, Cameroon and South Africa. By land, there are buses, taxis, tro-tros
(minibuses) and pickup trucks that run between Ghana and Burkina Faso, Côte
d'Ivoire and Togo. Border formalities for travellers with visas are usually
minimal; greasing a palm or two may speed things up. Watch your pockets at
crowded border posts.
Visas
All visitors are required to have a visa, except for
citizens of countries belonging to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Safety
Terrorism
You should be aware of the global risk of
indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets,
including places frequented by foreigners.
Crime
Most
visits to Ghana are trouble-free, provided sensible precautions are taken. But
there are incidents of crime, particularly in and around Accra and the other
main urban areas. You should avoid carrying large sums of money or valuables and
be very wary when drawing cash from any of the cash points in central Accra.
There have been reported incidents of fraud involving the misuse of credit
cards. You should exercise vigilance, particularly after dark. If possible, you
should avoid travelling alone in taxis after dark because of attempted
robberies.
Thefts of both luggage and travel documents occur at Kotoka International
Airport, Accra. You should ensure your documents are kept secure at all times
(particularly when leaving the airport) and that your baggage is never left
unattended.
You should also be wary of all offers of unsolicited assistance at the
airport unless from uniformed porters or officials. All permanent staff at the
airport wear a current ID card bearing their name and photograph. ID cards
without a photograph are not valid.
There have been attacks against ships in and around Accra's waters.
Mariners are advised to be vigilant and take appropriate precautions.
Political Situation
There were organised protests in Accra on 21 February 2006 against the
Representation of the People Amendment Bill. They turned violent and some
demonstrators were injured. This Bill was passed in Parliament on 23 February
2006. There could be further demonstrations in the coming weeks.
You should avoid all political rallies, demonstrations and large public
gatherings. You should keep in touch with daily developments through the local
media.
Local Travel
The Government of Ghana lifted the state of emergency in the Tamale
municipality and Yendi District of the Northern Region of Ghana in July 2004,
which had been in effect for two and a half years following an outbreak of
inter-ethnic fighting at Yendi. Isolated fighting erupted in Bimbilla (in the
Northern Region near to the border with the Volta Region) in January 2006 as a
result of an ongoing local Chieftancy dispute. A night time curfew has been
imposed and the situation has calmed. If you are considering travelling to the
Northern Region, you should remain alert to the potential for new outbreaks of
fighting. We recommend you keep in touch with daily developments through the
local media.
There are occasionally outbreaks of localised civil unrest and violence,
which can occur with little notice throughout the country for example over land
disputes.
Road Safety
Roads are mainly in a poor condition, particularly in rural areas.
Road travel can be extremely hazardous due to poor or non-existent street
lighting. We recommend you avoid travelling by road outside the main towns after
dark, when the risk of accidents and robbery is greater. Safety standards
on small private buses and taxis are often low and would not meet UK
standards.
Air Safety
Charter flight services continue to operate from the UK to Ghana. When
making travel plans you should ensure that the travel company and airline are
able to provide the services booked, or offer appropriate alternative
arrangements in case of problems.
The service provided by some regional air carriers is reported to be
unreliable. Flights can be overbooked. Airlines have altered scheduled stops and
cancelled or postponed flights at short notice. You may experience unexpected
delays even after checking in. We recommend that you reconfirm your seats
according to your airline’s instructions and have the seat reconfirmation
stamped on your ticket. You should arrive at the airport at least two hours
before the scheduled departure times.
Following the crash (cause unknown) of a Boeing 737 operated by Bellview
Airlines en route from Lagos to Abuja in October 2005 (killing all 117
passengers and crew) and a more recent emergency landing (hydraulic failure) by
another Bellview operated Boeing 737 at Accra, the airline was grounded for a
week by the Nigerian authorities. Bellview's regional and international flights
have now resumed. However, we advise that these incidents are taken into
consideration when planning any regional travel in West Africa.
LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
The Ghanaian Legal system is very much based on the British system.
Visitors and foreign residents must respect the laws of the land; otherwise you
can expect to be dealt with in the same way as a Ghanaian citizen would.
Drugs are a growing problem in Ghana and the authorities are determined to
tackle and control the problem. Penalties for drugs related offences are severe.
There is no Prisoner Transfer Agreement between Ghana and the UK, so any
sentence imposed would be spent in Ghana.
Ghana is a conservative and deeply religious country. Although modern and
progressive attitudes also prevail, respect must be shown for traditional values
and morals. Beachwear should be confined to the beach, and wearing immodest
clothing in public is likely to cause offence or attract unwanted attention. The
wearing of military apparel such as camouflage clothing by civilians is
prohibited.
Homosexuality in Ghana is illegal. Although there is a small gay community,
there is no "scene" and a large portion of Ghanaian society does not accept that
such activity exists.
Photography near sensitive sites such as military installations or the
airport is strictly prohibited. Such sites may not be clearly marked and the
application of restrictions is open to interpretation. Photographers should ask
permission if they want to take a photograph of a building where there are
guards on duty outside. Where there are not, unless there are notices forbidding
photography, there should not be a problem, but caution should be exercised.
Permission should also be sought from people if you wish to take their
photograph (a small tip or "dash" may be required!). But beware of
self-appointed officials trying to charge fees for tourists to take pictures of
well-known sites of interest.
Health
We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical
insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your
policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.
Medical
facilities and communications are poor outside urban areas. Emergency facilities
are extremely limited. For serious medical treatment, medical evacuation would
be necessary.
Medical facilities and communications are poor outside
urban areas. Emergency facilities are extremely limited. For serious
medical treatment, medical evacuation would be necessary.
Malaria is
prevalent. Before travelling, you should consult your doctor about suitable
anti-malarial medication, and on arrival in Ghana ensure that you take adequate
precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes.
Waterborne diseases are
also prevalent. Outbreaks of cholera continue to occur mainly in rural areas of
Ghana and have also occurred in parts of Accra and Kumasi. Drinking water should
be filtered and boiled or bought in brand bottles with unbroken seals. Food
purchased from local street vendors may not meet adequate hygiene
standards.
HIV/AIDS prevalence is around 4%.
If visiting any of
the beaches along the southern coast of Ghana, you should be aware that swimming
can be dangerous due to riptides.
Injections required
Immunisations advised
Diptheria/Tetanus,
Poliomyelitis,
Hepatitis A,
Typhoid,
Yellow fever
Immunisations that maybe required
Tuberculosis,
Hepatitis B,
Rabies,
Meningococcal
Malaria Yes
Reciprocal Health Care None
