The southern part of Ghana doesn’t tarnish the fact West Africa has vast beautiful green vegetation with all lush Jungle, Banana and plantain among other plantations, and perfect beaches escapes, albeit with breath taking architectural dark abode of the Europeans including the string of forts and castles used in the slave trade.
Not leaving out the northern part of Ghana which always never fails to capture the hearts of tourists with the game rich savannah of mole national park- as setting that evokes east Africa or the deeply Muslim Burkina Faso border region, where both mood and architecture have unexpected overtones of north Africa.
LANGUAGE
English is the official language and its widely spoken as a result of the country being colonized by the British. Due to the diversity of the about 56 ethnic groups in Ghana over 76 different dialects are spoken in Ghana- generally divided into Ga-Adangbe, Akan, Mole-Dagbani, Ewe language groups.
RELIGION
Freedom of religion is a constitutional right in Ghana with about 65percent of Ghanaians being Christians,25 percent of the population Muslims and the rest shared among Traditionalists, Hinduist, Buddhist and etc.
PLANNING AND PREPARATION
WHEN TO VISIT
Ghana is a tropical country and it has two main weather season namely the dry season(harmattan) and the rainy season. Although both seasons have their advantages and disadvantages. I would like to talk about only the disadvantages, the harmattan comes with less sun so the hotness in Ghana is reduced but it causes plants to shred this leafs in order to maintain the little water (just like fall in the US) causing the “greens” and other water bodies drying up to lose its beauty thus making people who plan on hiking will miss the beautiful mountain scenery. The rainy season also comes with its advantages and disadvantages just imagine touring in Ghana and its suddenly begins to rain. I think the best time to visit Ghana should be February, April, June, August, October, September, October and the first two weeks in December.
RED TAPE
You may be refused entry on a passport that’s due to expire within the next six months of your intended departure dates so I advise you check in advance that your passport hasn’t expired and will not do so for a while.
You require a visa to enter Ghana thus you’d have to apply for visa in advance at a Ghanaian embassy or high commission .Most embassies require applicants to fill in the applications in quadruplicates and send it in along with four passport size photos, air ticket ,your passport and a fee of 30 – 60 USD depending on whether you want a single entry visa(valid for one stay of up to 60days from date of entry) or a multiple entry visa (VALID FOR ANY amount of visit of up to 60 days in duration within 6 or 12 months of the date issue)Visas typically take three days to issue if you hand it in and collect the application personally but will take around ten days by post. You can also apply for extensions if you want to stay more than 60days in Ghana and pay 10 dollars for every additional 30days regardless of whether you paid for single or multi entry visa.
HEALTH PREPARATIONS
Only a Yellow fever vaccination is required for entry into Ghana. You’ll be asked to show proof of immunization. And be sure to bring a DEET-based mosquito repellant. Or to be on the safest side personally go to any health clinic near you for expert advice and medication.
GETTING HERE
Its always advisable to travel to Ghana on a two-way ticket because for starters, you may hit serious problems with airport immigration officials if you don’t arrive on a return ticket and secondly flights out of Ghana are very expensive, so you’ll almost certainly end up paying double of what you would for a cheap return.
WHAT TO TAKE
One thing I always tell people planning a trip to Ghana is “always think of Ghana as a summer vacation” and that always gives them an idea of that kind of clothes to bring. And you can add jackets and probably a hoodie if incase it rains or its gets cold at night. Not forgetting some gadgets you would need. And hiking boots and other hiking materials just incase you want to go for a hike in Ghana.
Most importantly you should carry a small medical kit.
MEDICAL KIT
It’s always advisable to carry a medical kit with you anytime you travel just incase of emergencies and pharmacies are out of reach, these may include any prescription medicine and also some basic medical supplies, such as;
- Aspirin/pain killers
- Hand sanitizer(spray/gel)
- Antibiotic for gastrointestinal(GI) infections
- Lip balm
- Nasal decongestant
- Anti fungal spray or cream
ARRIVAL
- Money
For converting each dollar to Ghana cedis, the best option will be to use the forex bureaus-These are small legal foreign exchange trading shops. Rates may have slight variations from bureau to bureau. And the average current exchange rate is about 1USD to 5.9 Ghana Cedis. Other options is to use travelers cheques to pay bills as well as the possibility of withdrawing from ATM machine. And it is necessary to inform your bankers about your travel just in case you want to use your cards.
- COMMUNICATION
Cell phone use if your cell phone is Malt original you can purchase any Ghanaian chip so that you could be in touch with your family but you could also get small disposable phones and use within the country at relatively inexpensive rate.
- HOTELS
Ghana boast of a lot of classy international renowned well establish hotels from 5stars to 1star to choose from depending on your budget. Here is a list of hotels ranging from 5 to 1star;
| 5 stars | 4 stars | 3 stars | 2 stars | 1 star |
| Accra Marriot Hotel | Accra City Hotel | Blue royal Hotel | SwissGha Hotel Christians Retreat& Hospitality Centre | Harbed House Hotel |
| Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City | Holiday Inn Accra | Raybow International Hotel | Gussy Hotel Ltd. | Big Foot Safari Lodge |
| Movernpick Ambassador Hotel | Zaina lodge | Ibis Style Accra Accra Airport | Eden Vale Hotel & Executive Training Center | Green Oak Hotel |
| Labadi Beach Hotel | Tang palace Hotel | Ridge Royale Hotel | Mahogany Lodge | Coconut Grove Bridge House |
| My World Hotel | Swiss spirit Hotel &Suites Alisa | Kingstel Hotel | The Highbridge Guest Lodge | Sharp Guesthouse |
| The royal senchi Resort Hotel | Urbano Hotel | Perriman Guest House | Comme Ci Comme Ca Hotel | |
| Protea Hotel by Marriot | Roots Apartment Hotel | Tap Hotel | Okera Inn | |
| La Palm Royal Beach Hotel | Oak Plaza Hotel | Hotel Zoisimah | Safari Beach Lodge | |
| African Regent Hotel | Bojo Beach Resort | Ankobra Beach Beach Resort | Jenos Hotel | |
| Fiesta Royale Hotel | G.S Plaza Hotel | Royal Beaulah | Greenfield Hotel | |
| Golden Tulip Accra | Mensvic Grand Hotel | Mendiata Hotel | Hans Cottage Botel | |
| Golden Tulip Kumasi | Airport West Hotel | Kegali Hotel | Annex Plaza Hotel | |
| Golden Bean Hotels | Lavender Lodge Hotel | Paradise Resort Lake Bosomtwe | Crystal Rock Hotel | |
| Volta Serene Hotel | Coconut Grove Beach Resort | Paloma Hotel Ring Road | Airport Side Hotel | |
| Royal Nick Hotel | Charleston Hotel Ltd | Frankies’s Foods and rooms | Gye Nyame Hotel | |
| Alisa Hotel | Best West Plus Accra Beach Hotel | Stellar Lodge | Gloriaka Hotel | |
| Tyco City | Volta Hotel | M Suites Hotel | Aylos Bay | |
| The Aknac Hotel | Quest Lodge | Ampoma Hotel | Yiri Lodge | |
| Tadomah Hotel | Airport View Hotel | Elmina Bay Resort | Rogo Hotel | |
| Alisa Hotel Labone | Takoradi Standard Hotel | Multi Hotel | ||
| Coconut Pointe Villa &Beach Resort | Sam’s Cottage | Rising Phoenix | ||
| Hotel Georgia | Anomabo beach resort | La Bonita Hotel | ||
| Midindi Hotel | Palma Hotel Spintex | Aduana Cultural Palace Hotel | ||
| AH Hotel& Conference | Okubi Hotel | Phimprev Hotel | ||
| Modern City Hotel | Oak Plaza Hotel East Legon | Jatt Base Hote | ||
| Luxe Suites Hotel | Monarch Hotel | |||
| Pink Hotel | Crismon Hotel | |||
| Triple Hill Hotel | Global Summer Hotel | |||
| Marrets International Hotel | The Congress Hotel | |||
| Tenack Beach Resort | Tribeca Hotel Ghana | |||
| Sikaso Beach Hotel | Apartmento Hotel | |||
| M plaza Hotel | Prestige suites | |||
| Hansonic Hotels | Hotel | |||
| Justa Hotel | Hotel Loreto | |||
| Franbec Hotel | Nass Lodge | |||
| Palm Hotel | Hotel Mountain Guest Limited | |||
| Calabash Green Executive Apartment | Prescious Guest Lodge | |||
| Glamossay Hotel | Golden Gate Hotel | |||
| Maglab Hotel | Kwasi Affum Apartments | |||
| Lilyval Hotel | Byblos Hotel | |||
| Funko Beach Hotel | Forest Gate Hotel | |||
| Golden Horse Hotel | Pemicsa Hotel Accra | |||
| Short Stay Accomodation | Jobyco Hotel | |||
| Ceeta-Kel Hotel | ||||
| Pekan Hotel | ||||
| Sir Max Hotel | ||||
| Hill view Hotel McCarthy Hills | ||||
| Samartime Hotel | ||||
| Oscarpak Royal Hotel | ||||
| Telecentre Hotel | ||||
| Tema Cental Hotel | ||||
| Hotel de Jews | ||||
| Hotel De Texis | ||||
| Ridma Hospitality | ||||
| Restel Hotel | ||||
| Mawuli hotel | ||||
| Nii Dentis Hotel | ||||
| Accra Lodge | ||||
| Lane Residence | ||||
| Beauty Hotel | ||||
| Niagara Plus | ||||
| Exotic palace Hotel | ||||
| Osenpon Hotel | ||||
| Sandabbi Luxury Guest House |