Visiting Ghana for the first time is a truly memorable experience. There isn’t a day without something to do. Whether you’re on a weekend trip to Ghana or here for a family vacation in Accra, Ghana has enough tricks to treat you during your short stay here.

Visiting Ghana for the very first time

First time travellers to Ghana from the USA, Europe, Asia, or Africa should not be afraid to make the plunge. 

Truth is that Ghana is a country rich with expressive culture. From the philosphical quotes on trotros to the dominating beauties of the mountainous zones, it is easy to find places of interest around the country.

If this is your first time in Ghana, come let me show you what it means when a man in a minivan shouts Accra, Accra!

What to know when Travelling to Ghana for the first time

1. Trotro, okada, and 3-wheelers

If you are going to Ghana for the first time, you should definitely consider taking a trotro ride. 

Trotros are passenger minibuses that ply specific routes on the streets of Ghana. They are buses imported from Europe, Asia, and America and retrofitted with seats for passengers. Like the taxis, they all have yellow plates.

Trotros normally load at lorry stations. However, you can find one just by standing along the streets or at bus stops. 

Riding a trotro is the best way to feel Ghana. How else can you sample the wares of street hawkers during a traffic stop? I am sorry to say not all trotros are properly maintained. Be choosy, and don’t let anyone shame you into sitting in a death trap.

In addition to trotros, first time travellers should not be surprised to find a motorcycle offering ride services to passengers. This is an okada, an imported tradition from Nigeria. Okadas are popular due to the heavy traffic on Ghana’s roads. Underdeveloped areas with poor road networks and not enough trotros also serve as an important market for okada riders.

Note that okadas are an informal means of transport. If you have to ride one, insist on a helmet and follow traffic regulations. Otherwise, stick to trotros or private car rentals in Ghana.

Three-wheeler passenger vehicles are also popular in the streets of Ghana. They don’t ply major routes due to traffic regulations. But be sure to catch one if you are shopping in some of Ghana’s largest open-air shopping centres.

2. Ride-hailing is here too

Not everybody is a fan of trotro. For one thing, there is no schedule. And despite it being a fun ride for some, others find it lacking in other areas. Anyone coming to Ghana for the first time and looking for a more predictable transport service can easily book a ride with Uber, Bolt, or Yango.

Ride-hailing companies allow you to pay with cash or make card payments. This is perfect for many people if you don’t like giving out your credit/debit card details to tech companies.

3. This is not a jungle

Contrary to what they say, we don’t actually have wild animals running the streets. We barely have lions at our zoos. And the monkeys are all allowed to roam free in sanctuaries and forests in the hinterlands. (Be sure to check out Shai Resource Centres if you are in Ghana for the first time.)

So no, there are no crocodiles on the streets of Accra. Elephants don’t go to people’s funerals. Pythons are not slithering into your girlfriend’s skirt, no matter what Diabolo might have you thinking. This is not Florida, or the New York subway! If any did make it out like that, they’d be in pepper soup!

4. Cash is king

Most transactions in Ghana can be performed with cash. Restaurants, grocery shops, jewellery stalls, all accept cash or mobile money payments.

Don’t worry. We do have cashless systems in Ghana. We have loads of restaurants and groceries where you can pay with a debit card. We even have something better: mobile money. 

If it’s your first time in Ghana, know that all you need to make mobile money payments is to register for it when you buy a local sim card. It’s free to register, though regular transactions attract between 0-0.75% (depending on the network) and an additional 1.5%. You can also get yourself a GhanaPay mobile wallet app to pay for goods and services in Ghana.

5. Respect with your right hand

The right hand is sacred in Ghana. You accept and offer things with your right hand. You point with your right hand. There is a saying that first time visitors to Ghana will no doubt hear, and that is: “Nobody points to his own home with a left hand.” It underscores how much we value what is ‘right’. 

And so while in Ghana, always pay your fares with your right hand and accept everything with your right.

6. Prepare for the noise, and traffic

Accra especially, is noisy. It is easy to find a shop blasting music at full volume in a bid to attract elusive customers. There are religious men and women soliciting deviants at many intersections with loud megaphones. Others are busily dubbing music onto CDs at the various lorry stations.

If you go to Ghana for the first time, you’ll experience this at the major shopping and lorry stations. Night times are no better in these locations. Accra, after all, is popular for its nightlife.

Then there is the traffic. The best way to beat Accra’s traffic is to live around the Airport and Cantonment areas. Otherwise, hop on an okada or leave home early. The other best option is to move outside Accra. There is more to Ghana outside the capital.

7. Be Careful with your thumb

Yeah, we also vote with our thumbs. However, there is a popular insult among Ghanaians that involves a thumb sticking out of your fisted hand. It is our own equivalent of the middle finger. Younger, more expressive folk might even pump the thumb a bit, lifting and dropping it to maximise impact. To avoid any misunderstanding, make sure to vocalise your expressions.

Or, just make fist bump. May Jah guide you, my friend.

8. Chale, get a local guide

It is easy to stand out if you are travelling to Ghana for the first time. Most Ghanaians know how to tell a new visitor from a resident and will sure as hell practice market differentiation with you in mind.

Getting a guide or a Ghanaian buddy will help you negotiate for a fairer price at most places of interest in Accra and beyond. There are many tour guides in Ghana doing day tours in Kumasi, Takoradi, Tamale, and other major cities in Ghana.

9. There is life outside Accra

Accra is Ghana’s capital. It goes without saying that a lot of the big things you want in any city are here. I have lived all my life in the capital and can tell you that there is more fun outside of the capital. There are fantastic scenic drives through Ghana that will leave you feeling great if you know where to look.

For one thing, there is better food outside of Accra. Life is less expensive even in Kumasi, Ghana’s Garden City. There is also less hustling of tourists in these other places. Get to the Volta Region, the Savannah and Northern Regions. Pick up a basket in Bolgatanga. There is more to Ghana than Accra will make you believe.

First time travellers to Ghana should not expect to find all the amazing places of interest in Ghana. For lovers of the wild and beaches, getting out of Accra is the best way to have fun.

10. Get your shots and register with your embassy

Make sure you have been inoculated before you visit Ghana for the first time. The standards are yellow fever and malaria shots. Getting a COVID shot is also crucial for your health and making your trip to Ghana a breeze. 

Also, remember to register with your embassy the moment you come to Ghana. Give your local address and contact number and contact them if you need official documentation in Ghana.

11. Do you want New York or Nima love?

Most of the big hotel chains have branches in Ghana. It’s not difficult to find 5-star hotels and restaurants if you are looking for luxury.

But is that why you went on a trip to Ghana? Did you travel to Ghana for the first time only to sleep in the same hotels you’d find anywhere else? Hide your face behind tinted SUV windows? Eat at the plush restaurants with their expensive dishes?

Travelling to Ghana should be a chance to experience the country proper. This is your opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture.

Hop into a chop bar and eat with your fingers. Dance to local high life music. We got hip hop too, and all the afrobeat dances your feet can move to. And what is better than a night out with a paid local guide, dancing under the night sky while a live band serenades you with Ebo Taylor?

Akwaaba to all first time visitors to Ghana

Ghana is a fun place to be. There is enough entertainment to rid your mind of all the stress. If you are ready, check out how to get a Ghana visa without hassle. If you already have one, check out this detailed Accra City Guide.