Ghana’s coastal capital is in many ways a microcosm of West Africa, with its pulsating street life, its tropical heat, its fiercely held identity and its swish new developments. The city itself isn’t the most beautiful in the world, but when you linger here awhile you’re likely to be won over by its various colours and curiosities.

Climate & best time to visit Ghana

Ghana has a typically tropical climate thanks to its proximity to the equator and low elevations – the entire country lies below 1,000m (3300ft). Daytime temperatures are high throughout the year, approaching or surpassing 30°C (86°F) on most days, and humidity is also very high, especially along the coast. Temperatures tend to drop to around 20°C (68°F) at night, more noticeably in the relatively dry north than the humid south. The most temperate part of Ghana is the highlands area flanking the Volta Basin, which is often pleasantly cool after dusk.

There are two rainy seasons: from March to July and from September to October Rainfall is highest in the south, with some areas receiving in excess of 2,000mm each year, but the drier north more typically receives about 800mm annually. The capital Accra, together with the coast running east to Togo and Benin, lies within the Dahomey Gap, a tract of savannah that receives relatively little rain and divides the Upper Guinean forests (running westward from central Ghana) from the Lower Guinean forests (running southward from Nigeria southward to the Congo). A noteworthy climatic phenomenon is the harmattan winds, which blow in from the northeast from December to March, bringing dust from the Sahara and reducing visibility to as little as 1km (0.6 miles).

Telephone/Mobile Telephone

Dialing code: +233

Telephone

Ghana Telecom was privatised in 2008, and Vodafone Ghana is now the main service provider for land lines. Land lines are reasonably efficient (Ghana is one of the easiest African countries to get through to from overseas), but the ubiquity and relative efficiency and portability of mobile phones has caused many hotels and other organisations to discontinue their landlines.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with numerous companies, but if you are spending any time in the country, it is usually cheaper and more efficient to buy a local SIM card. The major networks are MTN, Tigo and Vodafone, all of which offer good network coverage in and around main towns and patchier coverage in more out-of-the-way places. Mobile phone numbers, like land lines, are ten digits long but always start with ’02’ or ’05’.

Key Areas

If you’re in search of colourful West African souvenirs, the Accra Arts Centre (High Street/28th February Road) has a huge range of kente cloth, wooden crafts, artworks and more. For more standard shops and services, the streets on and around Cantonments Road hold various boutiques. The fair-trade goods at Global Mamas (behind Koala in Osu) come highly recommended.

Markets

Makola Market (Kojo Thompson Road) is the biggest outdoor market in the capital, and its range of goods stretches from the eye-popping (edible land snails) to the rainbow-hued (high piles of peppers, socks, jewellery or anything else you might imagine). Its souk-like passageways and adjoining buildings hold plenty of colour.

Social Conventions

Ghanaians should always be addressed by their formal titles unless they specifically request otherwise. Handshaking is the usual form of greeting. It is customary in much of West Africa not to use the left hand for touching food.

Food & Drink

According to the Ghanaian High Commission in London, tap water in cities is safe to drink. Other water sources should be regarded as being potentially contaminated, and water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Inexpensive sachets and bottles of purified water are readily available throughout the country. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

IATA Travel Centre

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