AccraCity
Accra
Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum, the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre, Jamestown's old quarter and Makola Market for a day on foot.
Entry rules checked 8 Nov 2026
Plan your trip to Ghana
Entry rules, company setup, places to go and day-to-day basics for visitors on business, on holiday or both. Ghana changed how foreigners enter on 25 May 2026, so the guide starts there.
Getting in
Which entry route applies to you
Pick your passport. Fees and timings below are as reported by immigration advisers and news sources. Confirm them on the official portal before you pay.
Before you fly
0 of 8 ready
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For business travelers
Meetings, investment and setting up a company
Visiting for meetings is one thing. Registering a company or hiring staff is another, and it runs through three agencies.
Visiting for work
- Meetings, site visits, trade fairs and negotiations fit a business or tourism ETA or eVisa.
- Paid employment in Ghana needs a work permit. Confirm the category with the Ghana Immigration Service before you travel.
- The portal asks for accommodation and return travel. Keep your host's invitation letter ready in case you are asked for it.
- Greet each person in the room, shake with the right hand and use titles until invited to drop them.
- Accra traffic is heavy at rush hour. Leave slack between meetings and confirm the day before.
Where business happens
- AccraAirport City, Ridge, Cantonments, Osu
- TemaMain port and industrial zone
- KumasiCommercial centre of Ashanti
- TakoradiPort, oil and gas
Setting up a company
- Reserve a company nameName search at the Registrar General's Department. Foreign firms often register as an external company, which is a branch of the parent.
- Get a Taxpayer Identification NumberIssued through the Ghana Revenue Authority process.
- File incorporation documentsConstitution, director and shareholder details, beneficial ownership declaration and registered office. You receive a Certificate of Incorporation, plus a Certificate to Commence Business for companies limited by shares.
- Register with GIPC before you operateRequired when a foreign party holds equity under the GIPC Act, 2013 (Act 865). Bring the certified constitution, Form 3, beneficial ownership details and proof of minimum capital.
- Register for tax and social securityVAT registration applies above GHS 200,000 annual turnover. Register with SSNIT when you hire.
Minimum foreign capital under the current rules
| Structure | Minimum | Also |
|---|---|---|
| Joint venture, at least 10% Ghanaian equity | US$200,000 | Cash or capital goods |
| Wholly foreign-owned, non-trading | US$500,000 | Cash or capital goods |
| Trading enterprise | US$1,000,000 | At least 20 Ghanaian employees |
A bill before Parliament would drop the minimum for joint ventures and non-trading foreign companies and keep it for trading firms. It had not passed as of February 2026, so ask GIPC which rule applies on your filing date. Foreign investment is closed to petty trading, taxi services with fewer than 25 vehicles and small-scale mining. Use a Ghanaian lawyer or accountant for the filings.
For leisure travelers
Where to go
History on the coast, rainforest and lake country in the middle, waterfalls in the Volta Region and wildlife in the north.
Cape CoastHistory
Cape Coast Castle
A former slave-trade fort turned museum on Ghanaian history. Tours cover the dungeons and the Door of No Return.
ElminaHistory
Elmina Castle
Built by the Portuguese in a fishing town and used by the Dutch as their headquarters for more than two centuries.
Central RegionRainforest
Kakum National Park
Tropical forest with a canopy walkway about 30 metres above the ground. Pair it with Cape Coast in one trip.
Near AximCulture
Nzulezu
A village on stilts over the Amansuri Lagoon, reached by canoe from Beyin.
KumasiCulture
Manhyia Palace Museum
The former residence of Asante kings, built in 1925 for Prempeh I. A good anchor for a day in Kumasi.
AshantiNature
Lake Bosumtwi
A crater lake formed by a meteorite and a World Heritage Site, ringed by fishing and farming villages.
Volta RegionWaterfall
Wli Waterfall
Said to be the highest waterfall in West Africa, with a drop of about 143 metres. Roughly 280 km from Accra.
Near HohoeWildlife
Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary
A community-run sanctuary about 45 minutes from Hohoe that funds village projects through visits.
SavannahSafari
Mole National Park
Ghana's largest wildlife park, with elephants, antelope and more than 250 bird species. Check the current travel advisory before planning the north.
When to go
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Dry and hotMain rains in the southLighter rains
This is the pattern for Accra and the south coast. The far north has a single rainy season and a dusty Harmattan wind from roughly December to February. Mid-December to early January is the busiest stretch for flights, hotels and events in Accra, so book early.
On the ground
Basics for your first week
- Airport
- ACCKotoka International, about 10 km from central Accra
- Time zone
- GMT, UTC+0No daylight saving
- Currency
- Ghana cedi, GHSThe cedi has weakened against the dollar through 2026. Check the day's rate before exchanging.
- Paying
- Cards at hotels and mallsCarry cash for markets and small shops. MTN Mobile Money is widely used locally.
- Power
- 230 V, 50 HzPlug types D and G
- Language
- EnglishTwi, Ga, Ewe and Dagbani are widely spoken
- Getting around
- Uber and Bolt in AccraTraffic drives on the right. Allow extra time at rush hour.
- Emergency
- 112National emergency number
Twi
Akwaabawelcome
Ete sen?how are you?
Medaasethank you
Local partners
Places to eat, stay and unwind
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For Ghanaian businesses
Become a partner
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Staying safe
What the advisories say
Level 2 of 4
Exercise increased caution
US State Department advisory issued 7 July 2026. It cites crime, limited health infrastructure, violence against women and violence against lesbian and gay travelers.
Read the full text for your own situation before you book.
Reconsider travel to these areas
- The northern border in the Upper East, Northeast and Upper West Regions. Paga Crocodile Pond sits in this zone.
- Areas west of the N12 highway in the Savannah Region.
- Terrorist attacks have occurred in Burkina Faso near the Ghana border.
Health
- Yellow fever vaccination is required for entry. Airlines and officers check the card.
- Ghana is a malaria area. Ask a travel clinic about prevention.
- Medical care outside the big cities is limited, so insure for evacuation.
Official sources
Check these before you pay or book
Entry details were still being clarified after the May 2026 changes. Some sources disagree on fees and on whether visa on arrival survives, so rely on the portal.
- Ghana Immigration Service e-visa portalApply for the ETA or eVisa here only. Third-party sites add fees.
- Ghana Investment Promotion CentreForeign investor registration and capital rules.
- US State Department advisory for GhanaCurrent level and flagged areas.
- UK government entry requirements for GhanaPassport validity, yellow fever and currency declaration notes.