Africa

Ghana

Location

Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo.

While most of Ghana is trouble free, violent crime can occur at any time. Exercise a high level of vigilance in public areas, and when travelling by road. Vehicle security, personal security, general travel, navigation, off road driving, building / office security, hot weather injuries, personal hygiene, sanitation / sterilisation, clothing & equipment, emergency first aid, helicopter safety, cultures / customs, communications, emergency shelters. Exercise care with your possessions at the airport. Do not take photographs of anything to do with the military.

Use bottled water only.

Mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area.

Tropical; warm and comparatively dry along south-east coast; hot and humid in south-west; hot and dry in north.

Dry, dusty, north-eastern harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts.

Bacterial and protozoal diarrhoea, bilharzia, cholera, hepatitis A, HIV/AIDS, malaria, meningococcal meningitis, polio, rabies, schistosomiasis, typhoid, typhoid fever, yellow fever. Take medical supplies and health provisions. Tampons are rare to purchase.
Hospital: Ridge Hospital, Castle Road, Accra. Tel: 21-775341

Recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water.

Roads are mainly in a poor condition, particularly in rural areas. Driving is extremely hazardous and we recommend you avoid travelling by road outside main towns after dark.

For more in-depth general information please download our Preparation and Training document.