ghana

area
population
capital
head of state
official language
currency
exchange rate

(source: lonely planet)

238,540 sq km
19 million
accra
john kufour
english
cedi
check out oanda.com
for current exchange rates

 

this information comes from a visit to the country in april 2002. things might have changed since then. these are my personal impressions and it's well possible that other travellers will not share my views.
visa

from abidjan. the address of the ghanian embassy has changed. itˇs now hidden somewhere on rue des jardins, on deux plateaux.


the receptionist is some kind of a dragonˇ youˇll have to bring 4 photographs (they must look alikeˇ not one in b/w the other in colour, the next with a different shirtˇ), pay cfa 12ˇ000 in fees and fill in 4 forms. (write clearly, and in capital letters, otherwise youˇll have to do it again!)

you can deposit your passport every day (mon ˇ fr) until 13:00 and pick it up the following day between 13:00 ˇ 14:30.

from lome, togo: visa was issued for CFA 12’000 within 24 hours. deposit until 13:00, pick up from 13:30.

the location of the embassy has changed: drive past the lagoon on rte de kpalime and turn left after the cap gas station (GPS n6*08,326 / e1*12,099)

 

getting in and out

 

if you tavel with your own vehicule, you need a carnet de passage. upon entering the country. the officials are very correct, never asked for a cadau.

places to stay

 

cape coast: the savoy hotel is good value

elmina: nyansapow hotel is the cheapest option and it's good value for the price

 

other

 

you can get michelin desert (and other tyres) in accra:
mr. c. duewer
woermann
naswam road
avenor junction
accra
tel: 221 777 / fax: 221 657 / mobile: 024 323 506 / email: woermann@africaonline.com.gh

 

there are atm in accra, but they only give cedis 20ˇ000 at a time. you can get a cash advance without limits at barclay banks main office, on high street, ussher town.