Overview Of Ghana
Ghana is a west African country, formerly known as the Gold Coast under the British Colony. It is bounded in the North by Burkina, by Ivory Coast in the west, and Togo in the east. Ghana gained independence on 6 March 1957. It is a tropical country; in Northern Ghana, it is rainy from April to October, while it is hot and dry for the rest of the year. Southern Ghana experiences rain from April to June, and again from September to October. The official currency in the country is the Ghanaian Cedi. Popular attraction sights include the Mole National Park, Kakum National Park, Cape Coast Castle, and Elmina Castle. Entry requirements for non-citizens who would like to travel into Ghana include passports and visas. People with dual nationality are required to register with the Interior Ministry for a Dual Nationality Card.
Popular Cities In Ghana
Ghana is home to a couple of beautiful and historical cities. The following are popular cities in the country.
Accra
Accra is the capital of Ghana and makes up over 10% of the whole population, about 2,277,000 people. Accra is enriched with beaches, most notable Labadi Beach, which is also home to the Academy of African Music and Arts. The largest man-made harbour in Africa is also situeated in ghana?s capital city. In 2013, MasterCard's African Cities Growth Index Ranked Accra as Africa's top city, regarding its economic potential over the next five years. The capital is also known for its ?trotro?, which is the local language for public minibuses, and by far the most popular means of transport used in the city.
Kumasi
Kumasi is one of the oldest cities in Africa and one of the most beautiful cities in Ghana, located in the Ashanti region of the country. It is the ancient capital of the Ashanti kingdom and houses Africa?s largest cultural centre. About 50% of the Ghanian timber industry activities occur in Kumasi. Another interesting fact is the prevalence of solar source of energy used throughout the city for the smallest of household appliances to high power machines. The largest natural lake in Ghana is also located in Kumasi.
Cape Coast
Rich in culture, history, and tourist centres, Cape coast is one of Ghana?s more beautiful cities. It was founded in the 15th century by Portuguese travellers. The most popular tourist attraction in all of Ghana can be found in Cape Coast ? Cape Coast Castle. It was one of the biggest castle used for slave trade operations in Ghana. Other tourist attractions include the Kakum National Park and Fort Victoria.
Best Time To Visit Ghana
Ghana is a tropical country; in Northern Ghana, it is rainy from April to October, while it is hot and dry for the rest of the year. Southern Ghana experiences rain from April to June, and again from September to October. Climate wise, the best time to travel to anywhere in Ghana would be from October to March when the weather is less humid, therefore the roads in the cities are easier to travel.
Villages in Ghana celebrate historical events throughout the year, and tourists would enjoy visiting at this times of the year. The most festive period usually fall between August and September, when many Ghanaians celebrate local harvests.
Festivals in Ghana
Festivals in Ghana are an integral part of the nation?s culture and different festivals are often celebrated in different parts of the country and at different times of the year.
Bakatue Festival
The Bakatue Festival is a fish harvesting event that is celebrated annually in the month of June. It is an opening ceremony into the new fishing season. Crushed yam and eggs is poured into the lagoon, which is culturally known as the Bake. Afterwards the crushed food is scooped with fishing nets and then pergission is granted to fishermen to begin fishing for the season by way of a regatta.
Aboakyiry Festival
This festival is a deer hunting expedition. The Asafo hunting group is split into two and the first group to catch and present a living antelope to the Chief during the festival is pronounced winner of the event. It is celebrated in the month of May.
Fetu Afahye Festival
Celebrated in August or September, the Fetu Afahye is an annual commemoration of the first visit of the white men to the community. It is a procession of clan chiefs in cultural attire who would then go on to sacrifice a full cow to the 77 gods of Oguaa.
Adae Kese Festival
The Adae Kese festival celebrates certain historic landmarks of the people of Ashanti Kingdom, most especially for the liberation of the Kingdom into becoming a state after the Feyiase war (also known as the Ashanti Independence war) between them and the Denkyiras. Adae Kese is celebrated every 40th day according to the Ashanti Royal Calendar.
The tourist season in Ghana reaches its peak between March and August. This is when most European and North American tourists travel to the country. Major Ghanaian tourist centres, national parks, forts, and beaches can be crowded in this peak season, therefore, travellers planning a visit during this time should reserve airfare and accommodations in advance. Meanwhile, those who would like to avoid the crowds may prefer to visit during Ghana?s low season from September to December, when only a few tourists can be found.
Best Time To Book A Flight To Ghana
It might be difficult to find cheap flights to Ghana, especially during the peak season. The climate condition is often sunny and hot for majority of the year. It would even be more difficult to find discounted flight tickets in December because of festivities. March to August is the peak season for tourists except October. March offers the warmest weather but with it comes crowds of tourists.
Travellers will find the cheapest flights to Ghana from April to July as the rain is more in these months of the year. However, tourism is strong in Ghana at almost all times of the year including rainy seasons and as a result the country does not really experience much of an off season, which makes it quite it difficult to find cheap flights to Ghana in particular month of the year.
The Dipo festival is a major event that might also make it difficult to find discounted tickets in the peak season of April. The festival is used to usher female virgins into puberty and is a cultural sign that any lady who partakes in it is old enough to be given out for marriage.
It is ideal for tourists to book their flights to Ghana around 2 to 4 months earlier.
Airports In Ghana
There are eight domestic and international airports in Ghana. Major airports in the country include:
Kotoka International Airport
Kotoka International Airport is an international airport is located in Accra, the capital city of Ghana. It is operated by Ghana Airports Company Limited. It serves as a hub for domestic airlines including Africa World Airlines and Starbow Airlines, and a foreign airline, Arik Air. Popular airlines operating flights to Kotoka International Airport include Air France, British Airways, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Med-View Airline, Turkish Airlines, EgyptAir, and KLM.
Kumasi International Airport
Kumasi International Airport is located in Kumasi, Ashanti in Ghana. It serves as both a military airbase and domestic airport, and is operated by the Ashanti monarchy. Kumasi Airport is the busiest airport in Ashanti. In 2015, the airport underwent rehabilitation to become an international airport for about 300 million dollars. It is the hub for Ashant and Ashantiland Private Military Company. The airport is referred to by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) using the airport code KMS. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) uses DGSI when referring to Kumasi International Airport. Over 40,000 passengers are served by the airport every month.
Takoradi Airport
Takoradi Airport is a military airport located in southern Ghana operating airlines flying to Accra.
Tamale Airport
Tamale Airport is a public and military airport located in the Northern Region of Ghana. In 2008, the airport gained the status of an international airport with all the required facilities. Africa World Airlines and Starbow airlines operate from the airport, travelling to destinations in Accra and Kumasi.
Airlines Operating Flights To Ghana
Popular airlines operating flights to Ghana include British Airways, KLM, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Air France, TAP Portugal Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Delta Airlines, Qantas Airlines, South African Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir, Kenya Airways, MEA, Med-View Airlines, and Meridiana Airlines.
Average fares from popular cities to Ghana
Lagos to Accra ? 89,506 naira
Manchester to Accra ? 215 pounds
Average Flying Times From Major Cities to Ghana
Flights from London to Accra, Ghana: 6 hours 30 minutes.
Flights from Manchester to Accra, Ghana: 8 hours 55 minutes.
Flights from Birmingham to Accra, Ghana: 10 hours 40 minutes.
Flights from Glasgow to Accra, Ghana: 8 hours 25 minutes.
Flights From New York to Accra, Ghana: 10 hours 45 minutes
Flights from Italy to Ghana: 5 hours 37 minutes
Moving Around Ghana
Travel around by Trotro
Travellers can find privately-operated trotros carrying up to 10 or 20 passengers in Accra and also provide connections between cities. Government owned buses are also usually available between major cities. Trotro and bus stops are usually unmarked, it would therefore be ideal for visitors to seek directions from indigenes so they can direct them to the right place to board and what trotro hand signals to be on the lookout for.
Travel around Taxi
Taxis are available for charter around the metropolis and fares can be negotiated between the driver and the passenger, depending on the duration, daily or multi-travel. Another ideal option is rental car services. With smart negotiating, these options can be reasonably priced and can save travellers the frustration of commuting around certain locations in the city.
Getting Around From Accra Airport To City
The quickest and easiest way to get to Accra?s city centre is with a taxi from outside of the airport. Travellers will find them waiting at the airport?s car park. It is almost impossible to find taxi drivers who use meters in their vehicles, it is therefore ideal that passengers agree on the fare before getting in. Tourists may find it more convenient if they hire a car from the airport for multi-travels because most of the attractions in Ghana are tucked in between different locations out, so it might be of interest for you to hire a car from the airport and drive everywhere themselves. However, if they are just planning to go to the hotel, then chartering a tax will be the better option.
Great Places To Visit In Ghana
Ghana is a country with a lot of tourist attractions in all of its cities. Travellers will find their stay in the country enthralling by visiting some of these places. A few of these places include:
Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Memorial Park
The museum was established in Accra to pay tribute to Kwame Nkrumah, who is considered the founding father of Ghana after helping the country gain independence. It is the go to for tourists who would like to get information about Ghana and its past leaders.
Labadi Beach
This is one of the best beaches in Accra. It offers a serene and natural environment for family camp outs or romantic escapades.
Cape Coast Castle
Cape coast castle was originally built as a slave trading lodging. Slaves were kept at Cape Coast Castle in dungeons while they waited to be transported to other places beyond Ghana. Around 1000 male slaves and 500 female slaves occupied the castle at any one time in separate dungeons. The castle has become recently more popular among travellers who are interested in finding more about the slave history of Ghanaians.
Kakum Naional Park
Located in southern Ghana, Kakum National Park is a tourist attraction centre known for keeping endangered animal species including bongo antelopes, forest elephants, Diana monkey, etc.
Kumasi
Kumasi, the former capital of Ghana's Ashanti Kingdom, is located in southern central Ghana. It is the country's second-largest city with a population of about 1.7 million people. The Ashanti are known for being beautiful artisans, specializing in gold jewelry and trinkets, Kente cloth and carved wooden stools. Samples of these items can be found at the National Culture Centre as well as various craft villages on the outskirts of Kumasi. The Manhyia Palace Museum contains artifacts and information about how the Ashanti kings used to live. The current Ashanti king also makes an appearance at the museum to greet the public every 42 days.
Ghana Insider Information
Random Facts About Ghana
Ghana was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence post-colonialism. It gained its independence on March 6, 1957.
The only country that produces more cocoa beans than Ghana is the Ivory Coast.
The currency unit in Ghana is called the cedi. There are 100 pesewas in a cedi. The word ?cedi? comes from a local word meaning a cowry chell. Cowry shells (from sea snails) were once used as money in Ghana.
Security Tips For Staying In Ghana
Travellers don't have to be overly concerned with safety and security in Ghana. Violent crime rates are relatively low and petty crime can often be avoided simply by being aware of one's surroundings.
Ghana is one of the safest countries in Africa, and as long as expats familiarise themselves with relevant issues and take the necessary safety precautions, they should be fine and be able to enjoy their time there. Despite Ghana's reputation of being a generally safe place, the influx of people into the cities with limited chances of gainful employment have increased instances of pickpocketing, residential burglary and vehicle burglary. The police and judicial system are both ill-equipped and too corrupt to cope with these crimes. Due to their relative visibility and presumed wealth, travellers?will find themselves targeted more often than locals. It is important to be aware of one's surroundings, especially in crowded marketplaces.
Although Ghana?s history of equal rights may not be on par with that of a developed country, there is no special concern for women?s safety. Modest dress is advisable yet definitely not adhered to, especially in cities; harassment is not common. Many local women tend to leave the traditional garb at home in favour of jeans and a T-shirt. Although some expatriates in Ghana live in guarded gated communities, it is perfectly safe to live in stand-alone houses in most areas. Many expats hire either independent guards and/or set up an alarm system in their house. This is mostly for precautionary reasons, as break-ins are quite rare.
Ghanaians are renowned for being friendly and helpful toward expats; however, it is best to keep overly-friendly strangers at arm's length, as petty crime and scams are increasingly common.
The West African Rescue Association (WARA) is a private company operating in Ghana that provides emergency services and works with BUPA and other international travel insurance agencies, particularly in cases where medical evacuation from Ghana is required.
They charge a nominal fee for membership and provide a host of services from helicopter rescue and ambulance services to their own medical clinic in Accra. They have a staff of fully European-trained paramedics.
Traditions and Customs To Respect In Ghana
Travellers should always use their right hand to give and receive items, and to eat. In this tradition, the left hand is considered your 'toilet hand'. It is a common practice to give money with your right hand while at the same time receiving your purchase into the same hand.
Tourists would also be culturally required to greet people first when they enter an area. This practice is particularly required when it comes to the elders because Africa generally is a country that values respect for its elders.
Flights To Cities Within Ghana
Africa World Airlines and Starbow are the major Airlines operating domestic flights to cities within Ghana, including Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale. Airports within the country include Kotoka International Airport in Ghana, Kumasi International Airport in Kumasi, Sunyani Airport in Sunyani, and Tamale Airport in Tamale.
Cost Of Living In Ghana
The cost of living in Ghana is higher than many may expect. Ghana's capital city, Accra, ranked as the 47th most expensive city to live in out of the 209 cities analysed in the 2016 Mercer Cost of Living Survey. The cost of accommodation in Ghana is expensive and takes up most of an expat's budget. Household utilities and communication technology are also costly. Transport costs in Ghana are however fairly low, though, even for those who choose to drive.
Food |
?Average Price |
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district |
GH?43 |
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (Big Mac Meal or similar) |
GH?30 |
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast |
GH?19 |
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk |
GH?10 |
12 eggs, large |
GH?12 |
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes |
GH?12 |
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese |
GH?37 |
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples |
GH?15 |
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes |
GH?10 |
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket |
GH?5.32 |
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality |
GH?26 |
2 liters of Coca-Cola |
GH?9 |
Bread for 2 people for 1 day |
GH?5.42 |
Housing |
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 Sqft) furnished accommodation in EXPENSIVE area |
GH?8,840 |
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 Sqft) furnished accommodation in NORMAL area |
GH?4,896 |
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat |
GH?325 |
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 Sqft) furnished studio in EXPENSIVE area |
GH?3,366 |
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 Sqft) furnished studio in NORMAL area |
GH?1,403 |
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 Sqft) studio |
GH?244 |
Internet 8 Mbps (1 month) |
GH?108 |
40? flat screen TV |
GH?2,180 |
Microwave 800/900 Watt (Bosch, Panasonic, LG, Sharp, or equivalent brands) |
GH?632 |
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) |
GH?35 |
Hourly rate for cleaning help |
GH?38 |
Clothing |
1 pair of jeans (Levis 501 or similar) |
GH?172 |
1 summer dress in a High Street Store (Zara, H&M or similar retailers) |
GH?103 |
1 pair of sport shoes (Nike, Adidas, or equivalent brands) |
GH?280 |
1 pair of men?s leather business shoes |
GH?302 |
Transportation |
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas |
GH?3.62 |
Monthly ticket public transport |
GH?150 |
Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 km. (5 miles) |
GH?46 |
Health |
Cold medicine for 6 days (Tylenol, Frenadol, Coldrex, or equivalent brands) |
GH?20 |
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) |
GH?31 |
Short visit to private Doctor (15 minutes) |
GH?160 |
1 box of 32 tampons (Tampax, OB, ...) |
GH?24 |
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) |
GH?18 |
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) |
GH?16 |
4 rolls of toilet paper |
GH?9 |
Tube of toothpaste |
GH?11 |
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city |
GH?25 |
Entertainment |
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub |
GH?73 |
2 tickets to the movies |
GH?54 |
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) |
GH?76 |
Dinner for two at an Italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert |
GH?229 |
1 cocktail drink in downtown club |
GH?21 |
Cappuccino in expat area of the city |
GH?13 |
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) |
GH?8 |
iPod nano 16GB |
GH?812 |
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) |
GH?0.47 |
1 month of gym membership in business district |
GH?312 |
1 package of Marlboro cigarettes |
GH?8 |
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International Flights To Ghana
Netherlands To Ghana Flights
Major flights from the Netherlands to Ghana are operated from Amsterdam Airport Schipol by KLM Airlines. The airline is a member of the SkyTeam alliance. They're also in a partnership with Air France. KLM operates a fleet of 115 aircraft and fly to 145 destinations across the world, usually with a layover in their hub city, Amsterdam.
United Kingdom To Ghana Flights
There are more than two airlines operating flights, direct and connecting, from London Heathrow Airport to Ghana. Airlines include British Airways, Turkish Airlines, TAP Portugal, with an average flight time of 8 hour and 38 minutes. Average flight fares range between 246 pounds and 340 pounds, depending on the airline and the time of booking.
United States To Ghana Flights
Flights from the USA to Ghana could bbe direct or connecting from popular airports including Dulles International Airport, Chicago O?Hare Airport, JFK airport, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The major airline operating this routes is Turkish Airlines and flight fares depend on the location from which travellers are flying, with the average fare ranging between 777 dollars and 1496 dollars.