Ghana-Travel Warnings

Holidays and Days off

Due to cultural diversity in Ghana, Christian, Muslim and national holidays are observed. During these days normal business may be interrupted, and many restaurants will be closed. These are wonderful opportunities for foreign students, interns and travelers to experience Ghanaian culture at its richest. The following holidays and days off are times of celebration, and fantastic occasions for international visitors to take a break from work or school and just have fun.

• January 1- New Year's Day
• March 6- Independence Day
• April 2- Good Friday
• April 5- Easter Monday
• May 1 Labor Day
• May 25- Africa Day
• July 1- Republic Day
• September 10 -11- Eid al Fitr (End of Ramadan)
• November 16-17- Eid al Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
• December 3- National Farmers' Day
• December 25-26- Christmas
• December 31- Revolution Day

Customs Rules

To visit Ghana, a travel visa is required. These can be easily obtained by applying online. Though there are multiple health risks (See Safety section for more information) when traveling to Ghana, only a yellow fever vaccination certification is required upon entry to the country. Further vaccination is recommended.

Communication

There are over 11 million active cell phones in Ghana, and this method of communication is far more reliable than landline telephones, which are said to be unreliable. Access to the Internet is available in Ghana, though that too can be unreliable and/or slow, with only an estimated 24,000 computers directly connected to the Internet. In a university or larger city setting, communication is much more widely available, so study abroad students and interns should have very little trouble staying in contact with their friends and families back at home.

Tipping:

In Ghana, tipping is definitely appropriate. "Dashes" or tips should be given to any and all who help throughout the day- taxi drivers, people who give directions, and even children, if they aid in some way. "Dashes" are small, about 1 Cedi ($0.68 USD).

On another note, Ghana has a bargaining culture, which can be very strange to international students, volunteers, interns and travelers. It is expected that everyone will barter for the best prices. A good tip to remember is that if a merchant is asking for what an item would cost in the United States, he is asking far too much. In order to get the best deals, visitors should become familiar and comfortable with bargaining.

Safety

Before traveling to Ghana, it is important to see a travel doctor to get vaccinated properly. In some places risk to infectious disease, (bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, yellow fever and malaria, can be very high. With the proper precautions and vaccinations, many students, interns and travelers have little to no sickness during their stay in Ghana.

The Ghanaian High Commission in London has confirmed that tap water in cities is safe to drink, but all other sources of water should be boiled before consumption.

Study abroad students, travelers and volunteers should be aware that pick-pockets and purse snatchers are known to target tourists, and proper precautions should be taken. Credit card use should be kept to a minimum while in Ghana, because credit card fraud is on the rise in Ghana.

Remember to always ask before taking photos of people or guarded places in Ghana. Photographs at Kotoka International Airport, and the Christianborg Castle are prohibited. If a Ghanaian agrees to be photographed, a tip is appreciated and accepted.