ABOUT GHANA

Ghana (Official name Republic of Ghana), formally known as Gold Coast, is a country on the northern coast of the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, bordered by Burkina Faso, Togo, and Côte d'Ivoire. It was one of the first African countries to be colonised and in 1957 became the first sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to be an independent member of the British Commonwealth. The coastline is dominated by colonial Slave Forts and Castles.

Area: 238,500 sq km/92,090 sq mi

Population: 22,931,299 (July 2007 estimate)

Capital: Accra.

Language: English is the official language. The Ewe, Ga, Akan and Housa are the major Ghanaian languages.  

Currency: is the Ghana Cedi (GH¢); 1 GH¢= 100 Ghana Pesewas. Foreign currencies are freely exchanged at forex bureaus, banks, major hotels and airlines.

Religion: Christian denominations, Islam and African traditional religions.

Currency: is the Ghana Cedi (GH¢); 1 GH¢= 100 Ghana Pesewas. Foreign currencies are freely exchanged at forex bureaus, banks, major hotels and airlines.

Religion: Christian denominations, Islam and African traditional religions.

Regions: Ghana has been divided into 10 Regions: Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta and Western Regions. Each of these regions has its own tourism attractions. A Regional Minister governs each region.

Electricity: 220 volts, AC 50hz. Three pin and flat pin plugs are both used.

Posts & Communication: Post offices are open from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm on weekdays and from 8.00 am to 12.00 noon on Saturdays. Phone booths and communication centres are always available at your convenience.

Telephone : International Direct (IDD) Code - 233
Local directory enquiries - 100
International directory enquires - 0175/0176
Collect Calls: UK - 0194 USA - 0191

Weather and Climate: Ghana has a tropical climate. It is warm and comparatively dry along the south-east coast, hot and humid in the south-west, and hot and dry in the north. Daytime temperatures average around 30º C or 86 º F consistently throughout the year.  Due to its equatorial location, Ghana’s seasonal changes are different to those of the North America and Europe. There are two main seasons. The rainy/wet and the dry seasons.

The rainy season starts from April and ends around September. Its peak is in July.  The dry season starts from November to March with Harmattan Winds blowing dust from the North Eastern part of the country.  This will have little effect on most tourists.

Natural Resources: Gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, rubber, fish, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, iron, limestone and petroleum.

Ghana can also boast of beautiful diversities of landscapes and beaches, beach resorts, luxury hotels and guest houses that cater for the wishes of every traveller. These beaches are lined with coconut trees and are generally safe for swimming. Also are enormous cultural diversities, the highest waterfall in West Africa, the Wli falls, and the world’s largest artificial lake-the Lake Volta.
Also are national parks that provide a unique opportunity to view the plants, butterflies and tropical rain forest animals. Ghana is one of the best places in the world to observe large butterfly populations. The Kakum National Park, Bui National Park, Boabeng-Fiena Sanctuary, Amedzofe Mountains, Kibi Butterfly Sanctuary,  forest trails leading to the Wli Falls in the Agumatsa Reserve, Bombiri Reserve and the Aburi Botanical Gardens can boast of such different species of butterflies. They range in size from little Blues of 2 cm to giant Swallowtails of 20 cm. Kakum has at least 650 species of butterflies, more than in the whole of Europe.

In Ghana, you can also see large animals such as the largest forest antelopes, elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos and monkeys. Different bird species such as parrots, hornbills and kingfishers are also represented.

Historical Castles: More than 60 castles and forts were built on the coastline of Ghana by Europeans in the 15th to 18th century. Castles were built for protection against enemies and to facilitate the trade of such commodities as gold and timber in return for guns and alcohol and other goods. Slaves were also traded, particularly in the 17th century. These castles played an important role in the history of Ghana and Africa as a whole.

The first to be built in Ghana is the St. Jorge castle in Elmina. It was built in 1482 by the Portuguese even before Christopher Columbus discovered America.  The castles in Ghana have been declared by UNESCO as World Heritage Monuments. They are worth a visit.

Passports & Visas: All nationalities, except Ghanaians or nationals of certain African and Commonwealth countries need a visa for entry into Ghana.    Please do contact the nearest Ghana High Commission in your country for more information. 

Immunizations and Vaccinations: You will need to consult your doctor 6-8 weeks prior to departure.

Insurance: Personal insurance cover is necessary for your trip.  It is a mandatory requirement for all our trips in Ghana and beyond. Please take out a suitable policy.  This must include personal accident and medical expenses. We also recommend that your policy covers cancellation, curtailment, loss of luggage and personal effects. 

top