West Africa's gateway for diaspora return travel — the slave forts of Cape Coast where the Door of No Return opens onto the Atlantic, the Ashanti Golden Stool, and Accra's exploding art and music scene.
- Capital
- Accra
- Population
- 33,742,380
- Area
- 239,460 km²
- Languages
- English
- Currency
- Ghanaian Cedi (3rd) (GHS)
- GDP
- $88,332M
Good to know
Driving side
Right
National dish
Fufu
Annual visitors
897,000 (2015)
Safety
Low (1.83/100k)
Avg temp
27.7°C
Religion
Christianity
Coast
Coastal
☎ Police 999 · Ambulance 776111-5 · Fire 192
Travel guide
Ghana is a country in West Africa. It's a gratifying destination for first-time visitors to West Africa (it's sometimes called "Africa for beginners"), owing to its good infrastructure, political stability and widespread use of English. The people are generally very helpful and welcoming. While their laid-back attitude and a lack of organised tourist sights or trips can be a little annoying to begin with, you'll quickly realise that it is one of the delights of this country. Tourism in Ghana is growing very quickly, and tour operators are seeing increased requests for Ghana as a travel destination. Ghana has gold mines, and is a stable country with good potential for growth.
© Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA)
Explore Ghana
Best time to visit
November–March is the dry season and the best time to visit. Harmattan winds blow December–February bringing dust from the Sahara. The rainy seasons are April–June and September–October. Ghana's heat is consistent year-round.
Visa
Most nationalities including US, UK, EU, Canada, and Australia require a visa obtained in advance at the Ghanaian embassy or through the online portal. Ghana is welcoming and the process is straightforward.
Public holidays
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (2)
Book your trip to Ghana
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Major cities
Accra
West Africa's most vibrant capital — the National Museum, Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, and an exploding arts and food scene.
Cape Coast
Ghana's historic slave fort city, a UNESCO site confronting the brutal history of the transatlantic slave trade.
Kumasi
The Ashanti capital and cultural heart of Ghana, home to the world's largest open-air market and the Manhyia Palace.