Go with a plan.
No major changes since yesterday.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Ghana
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Go with a plan.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't do this
Laws that jail tourists
Male homosexuality
Male homosexuality is illegal in Ghana. While prosecutions are rare, the law is used to target and extort vulnerable people suspected of being gay or queer.
Unlawful assembly charges
Police have charged LGBT activists with unlawful assembly for advocating LGBTQ activities, despite such advocacy not being illegal.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Required: Yellow Fever
Recommended: Chikungunya, Cholera, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Measles, Meningococcal disease, Monkeypox, Rabies, Typhoid
Source: CDC Travelers' Health →Getting in
What you'll need at the border
Visitors to Ghana must obtain a visa from one of the Ghanaian diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the countries or territories that are either visa exempt or whose citizens may obtain a visa on arrival.
Source: Wikipedia →Real, not invented
Terrorism
Terrorist attacks in Ghana cannot be ruled out. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreign nationals, such as: northern border areas busy public locations across the country, such as: beach resorts hotels, cafes and restaurants places of worship Several terrorist groups operate in neighbouring Burkina Faso near to Ghana’s northern border, including Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) and Islamic State. JNIM regularly conducts attacks in southern Burkina Faso near to the Ghanaian border. There have also been JNIM attacks in the northern region of Togo, which borders Ghana to the east. Stay aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports, and follow the advice of local authorities.
Source: UK FCDO →Real, not invented
Cultural & legal notes
Dress code
Dress modestly in public. Shorts and t-shirts are acceptable for both males and females, but it is best not to wear anything too revealing. Wearing military clothing including camouflage is illegal.
Source: UK FCDO →LGBT+ travellers
Some same-sex sexual acts could lead to a prison sentence of between 3 and 25 years. Although there are no records of this being enforced, there were arrests at a gathering of the LGBT+ community in 2021. Ghanaian society is intolerant of people of the same sex showing affection in public. Many Ghanaians do not accept that such relationships exist. The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill is not law, but its passage through Ghana’s Parliament could increase the risk of violence and other threats (such as blackmail and intimidation) to the LGBT+ community and their allies. Rhetoric by some politicians, religious leaders, and local media can incite violence and psychological abuse of the LGBT+ community. FCDO are aware of reported attacks against LGBT+ individuals. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .
Source: UK FCDO →From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •The standard emergency number for police, fire and ambulance is 112.
- •Ghana is a very safe, stable country with relatively low crime levels compared to other West African countries. Take sensible precautions but be assured it is quite safe.
- •Male homosexuality is illegal.
- •Cases have also been reported of people snatching mobile phones in the streets. Avoid using your mobile phone out in the open.
- •Accidental gas tanker explosions, including occurrences in heavily populated residential & industrial areas throughout the country, have been a recurring problem, with eight such cases in 2015–2017.
Staying healthy
- •Chloroquine-resistant malaria is widespread and you must take sufficient malaria protection including mosquito avoidance, mosquito repellants, and chemical prophylaxis.
- •Get vaccinations against hepatitis A & B, cholera and typhoid fever if you are planning to travel within the country.
- •There is a very high risk of meningitis in the northern third of Ghana which is a part of the Meningitis belt of Africa.
- •Although the AIDS/HIV rate is lower than other sub-Saharan African countries, do not have unprotected sex!
- •Some restaurants will approach high health standards, but be prepared to pay for this. Smaller restaurants, often called "chop bars," will likely not meet these standards.
- •Because of the tropical climate near the coast, travellers will need to stay hydrated.
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Right now
In the news the last few days
- Bawumia engages Japanese Ambassador on digitalization , fintech , artificial intelligence , flood control2026-08-21
- Ghana And Burkina Faso Strengthen Security Along Key Trade Routes2026-08-20
- Ramaphosa Calls for Regional Action on Migration2026-08-19
- Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov remarks and answers to media questions during a joint news conference following talks with Ghanaian Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa , Moscow , August 17 , 20262026-08-18
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Travelers generally find Ghana safe for solo exploration, though it requires common sense and a tolerance for occasional stress. Violent crime is not the primary concern; instead, travelers face petty theft, particularly pickpocketing in crowded markets and buses. Road travel is the most significant danger due to frequent accidents and reckless driving. Police checkpoints can be a source of minor extortion, where officers may delay travelers until a bribe is paid. While locals are widely described as friendly and helpful, travelers should ignore persistent requests for donations or money. Avoid walking alone at night, secure valuables in transit, and rely on reputable ride-sharing apps or unionized bus services for safer, more reliable transportation.
“The only consistently negative interactions were at police checkpoints during road travel, especially after dark. Officers may stop you, ask you to exit the vehicle, check your passport, and delay you until you grease some palms.
— r/travel
“The main crime to look out for is pickpockets- for example, once when I was struggling opening the door of a shared taxi, and other passenger slid towards me to help but slid his hand in my pants pocket as he did so.
— r/travel
“Transport was by far the most dangerous aspect of the trip, as always.
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
D / G · 230V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 112 / ambulance: 112 / fire: 112
Cash vs. Card
The new Ghana cedi, denoted by the symbol "GH₵" (ISO currency code: GHS) was introduced on 1 July 2007 at a rate equal to 10,000 old cedis. When it was introduced, it was the highest-valued currency unit issued by a sovereign African country.
Show the receipts (9 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-09-09
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-09-09
- ca-gac — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-09-09
- cdc-health — observed 2026-09-09
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-09-09
- reddit — observed 2026-09-09
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-09-09