GHANA

Have you heard of the word Friendly? That's the definition of Ghanaians. Akwaaba (welcome) is now becoming a worldwide language because of the West African country of Ghana. This beautiful West African country was named after the ancient Ghana.Ghana News papers are one of the most vibrant in Africa. Ghanaians have successfully held four continuous elections in which there has been a change of government.The capital of Ghana is Accra, but was formerly Cape Coast.President kufour was currently in Washington to promote Ghana. President Kufour presented an impressive picture of his country- a picture that has been hidden for years.PLANNING A TRIP TO GHANAHow To Get ThereSeveral international airlines, including Ghana Airways (sorry, not anymore they are defunct), operate regular scheduled flights in Ghana from major cities in North America. Europe, Africa and the Middle East.PASSPORT Required by all.VISASVisas are required by most non-residents except ECOWAS nationals. Ghana Missions and Embassies abroad will assist in issuing individual as well as group visas.Health RequirementsYellow fever vaccination required by all exept infants under one year.Please do not forget to bring your health Certificate which shows that you have a yellow fever vaccination. You are also advised to consult your doctor well in advance of your visit so that you may begin the usual anti-malaria treatment.BUSINESS HOURS8.00 - 12.00 noon 13.00 - 17.00 hours Banks - 8.00a.m - 2.00 p.m 8.00 - 3.00 p.m. FridaysClimateBounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean and on the West by La Cote d"ivoire, the East by Togo and the North by Burkina Faso. Ghana is a tropical country. The South Western part is located within the warm wet forest zone similar to the Amazon. Accra, the capital, is located in the dry equatorial cones. Kumasi is in the wet savanna. It lies between 4° and 11 ° North at the equator and has a coastline of 540 km.Northern Ghana has a range season from about April to October. The rest, of the year is hot and dry, with temperatures up to about 38°C. In Southern Ghana the rains last from April to June and again from September to October. Generally temperatures are between 21 - 31°C. The rains are usually restricted to specific times each day during the rainy season; they are not continuous throughout the day.Packing the Right ClothingSince the climate is warm and tropical all year round be sure to pack light washable cotton clothing and casual wear. Do not forget your sunglasses and comfortable walking shoes. There are no restrictions on what men and women may wear. Slacks and shorts for both sexes are permissible.Electricity If you are bringing along any electrical appliances, they should operate on or be adaptable to 220 volts. Electric outlets in Ghana accept either 3pronged, or sometimes 2-pronged. British or Continental European type plus or converters.Money/Currency Ghana"s currency is the cedi which comes in denominations of 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000. Coins come in denominations of 50, 100, 200 and 500. Foreign currency can be freely exchanged at any Forex Bureaux in the country.Apart from Forex Bureaux, some commercial banks also exchange foreign currency. Banks are normally open from 8:30 am - 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Most large commercial banks will also have automatic teller machines located outside and available during and after hours. Most will take VISA and a few other check cards.Traveller"s ChequesAll banks and Forex Bureaux accept Traveller"s Cheques although the rate of exchange may be slightly lower than for cash transaction.Credit CardsThe most widely accepted credit cards are American Express, Dinners, and Visa. Your car may be used for payment at nearly all airlines, leading hotels and major supermarkets. Using your credit card in Ghana can be risky though. There have been numerous instances of credit card fraud in Ghana. A credit card number can be recorded and sold, even at the best facilities.TippingTipping is permitted in hotels, restaurants, etc. It is rarely added to the bill. Whenever it is not added the quality of service should dictate your generating to the waiter, taxi driver, porter, guide etc.HotelsGhana, offers a wide range of hotel accommodation for her growing economy and tourist industry; cosmopolitan, metropolitan, town and country hotels and park lodges ofvarying comfort, elegance and convenience. Ghana"s hotels are classified according to the international star-system with 5-star are the highest and one-star being the minimum international acceptable quality. In addition, there are local budget hotels with minimum standards of sanitation and comfort. The grade of a hotel in Ghana is indefinable and the Hotel License issued by the Ghana Tourist Board is displayed at the hotel reception. (see our hotels section on this site to search for specific hotels)CommunicationsMost major hotels also have business centres which provide secretarial and courier services. You can make long distance telephone calls within the country. Collect calls to the USA Europe and Asia also available. Accra Information is 666884. USA direct dial is 019900, UK is 0194.EntertainmentUrban Ghana, especially in the metropolitan centres, pulsates in the evening with everything from "heritage" dances in the cultural centres to theatres, cinema houses showing Ghanaian films, discos, pubs, street cafes and casinos. Consult your hotel reception for what is on and where to go.Useful TipsMedial facilitiesModern private and public hospitals and clinics are available in all cities and big towns. Tourist should contact travelers" medical insurance companies to cover any medical contingencies while away from their home countries.EMERGENCY CONTACTSEmergency (general) - 999 Fire - 192 Ambulance - 193 Hospital - Korle Bu - 665401, 673033-34 -Ridge - 228382-37 Military hospita - 776111-5l-SSNIT Hospital - 776787-Tema General Hospital - 022-302094, 302695-Mental Hospital - 228688-Nyaho Clinic - 027775341Barbars and Hairdressers are available in most hotels.Laundry is Available in most hotels.Drinking Water is Safe but it is advisable for visitors to use bottled dinking water which is available for sale in hotels and super markets.