Ghana - Country Information

Film Commissions

General Information

Location: West Africa
Local Time: GMT
Capital City: Accra
Population: 20 million
Area: 238,537 square km, 148,226 square miles.
Language(s): English, many local languages
Dialling Code: 233
Emergency: Police, Fire & Ambulance: 999
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard:
Driving: Driving is on the right. International Driving Permit recommended
Electricity: 220V AC 50Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Cedi (GHC 1 = 100 Pesewas)
Notes: GHC: 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Limited acceptance of credit cards. Foreign currency must be exchanged with authorised dealers only

Opening Hours
Bank: 0830-1400 Mon-Thur, 0830-1500 Fri
Office: 0800-1200 & 1400-1700 Mon-Fri, 0830-1200 Sat
Shops: 0800-1200 & 1400-1730 Mon-Fri, 0800-1300 Sat

Public Holidays
2008
Jan 1 New Years Day, Mar 6 Independence Day, Mar 21 Good Friday, Mar 24 Easter Monday, May 1 Labour Day, May 25 Africa Day, Jul 1 Republic Day, Oct 2 End of Ramadam, Dec 5 National Farmers Day, Dec 20 Feast of the Sacrifice, Dec 25 Christmas Day, Dec 26 Boxing Day
* Dates may vary according to the lunar calendar* Holidays falling on Sun are not observed on the following Mon

Business/Social Hints: It is the convention to use the right and not the left hand when shaking hands and passing or receiving anything. Body language differences include the custom of a greater degree of physical contact compared with Western Europe

Tipping: When there is no service charge, tips are around 10%

Health

Compulsory vaccinations: Yellow fever certificate required by all.

Recommended immunisations: Cholera*, diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, malaria, meningitis*, polio, TB*, tetanus, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks: Malaria exists all year throughout the country. Rabies.

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Passports

Required by all

Passport Validity: Passports must be valid for 3 months

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of Ghana
2) For stays up to 90 days by nationals of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Togo

Air Transit

Required by all except those as noted above and:
1) Persons continuing their journey to a third country within 24 hours without leaving the airport, provided holding confirmed tickets & documentation (except nationals of South Africa)

Special Notes

All visitors must hold onward/return tickets, documents required for next destination or letter from an employer guaranteeing repatriation, if not a deposit equal to the cost of a return ticket must be made to immigration

Climate

Hot and humid tropical climate. Rainy season is Apr-Jul with the coastal area being drier than inland

Clothing

Tropical or lightweights with light rainwear

Charts for Accra

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 31 31 31 31 31 29 27 27 27 29 31 31 Min Temp (C) 23 24 24 24 24 23 23 22 23 23 24 24 Humidity am (%) 95 96 95 96 96 97 97 97 89 97 97 97 Humidity pm (%) 61 61 63 65 68 74 76 77 68 71 66 64 Rainfall (mm) 15 33 56 81 142 178 46 15 36 64 36 23

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

UK Tourist Office
Ghana Tourist Board
13 Belgrave Square
London, SW1X 8PN
tel: +44 20 7201 5924
website: www.ghanatourism.gov.gh

Embassy
High Commission of Ghana
Visa Section
104 Highgate Hill
London, N6 5HE
tel: +44 20 8342 7500/7550
fax: +44 20 8342 8570
website: www.ghana-com.co.uk
hours: 0930-1300 (Mon-Fri)