Accra: What to Know Before You Go

Short answer: arrange your Ghanaian visa and carry your physical yellow fever vaccination booklet before flying, download Uber or Bolt for stress-free city transport, always use your right hand when greeting or handing over money, and carry small banknotes for markets and street stalls.

Visas, yellow fever cards and arrival at Kotoka

Unless you hold a passport from an ECOWAS West African state or one of a small list of visa-exempt countries, you must secure a Ghana tourist visa from a Ghanaian embassy or high commission before your trip (keep your hotel booking details and return flight itinerary printed in your hand luggage). Before you even reach the passport desks at Kotoka International Airport Terminal 3, port health officers check every arriving passenger's International Certificate of Vaccination (Yellow Card) for proof of yellow fever immunisation.

Akwaaba, the right-hand rule and Ghanaian day names

English is the official national language of Ghana and is spoken fluently across Accra alongside Ga, Twi and Ewe. You will hear Akwaaba ("welcome") and Chale ("friend" or "mate") throughout the day. One cultural rule matters everywhere in Ghana: never use your left hand to shake hands, pass money, hand over a gift, eat or wave at someone, as the left hand is traditionally reserved for personal hygiene. Many Ghanaians also carry a traditional Akan name based on the day of the week they were born (such as Kwame or Ama for Saturday, Kofi or Afia for Friday); learning your own Ghanaian day name is the easiest conversation starter in Osu or Makola Market.

Cash, cards and market photography

Up-market restaurants, supermarkets and hotels in Cantonments, Labone and Osu accept Visa cards, while smaller eateries, fabric stalls and shared trotro minibuses require cash notes. In busy historic quarters like Jamestown and Makola Market, always ask permission before taking close-up photographs of market traders or fishermen.