About Accra

A historic trading port, Accra is now the centre of the Ghanaian economy and oversees nearly 75% of the entire country's manufacturing output within its immediate regions.

Accra Budget Travel

Accra budget travel is very easy with great value for money backpacking tours and fantastic highlights. Below is useful information on Accra to help you plan your budget holiday in Accra. We offer a variety of budget tours and backpacking advice in Accra.

Airports

Accra airport options include the following:
• Kotoka International Airport

Birdlife

Accra birdlife is rich and diverse, with a number of key habitats which support large numbers of birds. Sakumo Lagoon has a number of species including black-tailed godwit, spotted redshank, common redshank, common greenshank, black-winged stilt, marsh sandpiper, common ringed plover and grey plover. Shai Hills Reserve includes a number of species including lizard buzzard, grey kestrel, red-necked falcon, green and violet tauraco, swallow-tailed bee-eater and double-toothed barbet.

Conservation

There are a number of Accra conservation projects and groups operating within the city, with a strong emphasis on replanting trees and protecting wildlife species. Marine conservation, in particular turtle conservation, also plays a large part in environmental projects within the Accra area.

Culture

Accra cultures include the following influences:
• Music and dance plays an important role in all cultural groups
• Festivals are an important tradition in many groups
• Art plays a key role in history and traditions
• Literature is a key cultural pastime, especially among modern Ghanaians
• Cuisine is a highly social cultural activity

Customs

Accra customs allowances for persons over 16 years of age include:
• 400 cigarettes, 100 cigars or 1 pound of tobacco
• 1 quart of wine and 1 quart of spirits
• 1/2 pint of perfumes and eau de toilette
• Gifts which will need to be declared

Health

Accra health facilities are generally average to poor, and despite the development and of Accra into a relatively modern city; even in the city center the standard is not great. Travellers should take extra precautions to stay healthy and safe on their trips to Accra, and ensure that they take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover any health costs that may arise on their travels.

AIDS

Accra HIV/AIDS is slowly but steadily increasing. Poor health care facilities and lack of treatment, but lack of education and understanding and poverty levels all play a role in the increase of AIDS in Accra, and despite government efforts the rate is still increasing in young adults as well as babies and children who have been infected through their mothers.

Vaccinations

The following Accra inoculations are required:
• Yellow Fever
• Hepatitis A & B
• Typhoid
• Rabies
• Polio

Languages

Accra languages include the following:
• English (official language)
• Akan
• Guan
• Ga
• Ewe
• Mossi-Dagomba
• Hausa

Malaria

Accra malaria medication includes the following:
• Mefloquine (Lariam)
• Doxycycline
• Atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone)

Money

Accra money and banking information includes the following:
• Banking hours are Monday-Thursday from 08h00 - 14h00, and Friday from 08h00 - 15h00
• Credit cards are only accepted at major hotels, stores and restaurants
• Travellers cheques can be exchanged at banks and major hotels
• Ghana currency is the Ghana Cedi (GHS) and Ghana pesewas
• ATM's are situated the city

People

Accra people include the following groups:
• Akan
• Mole-Dagbon
• Ewe
• Ga-Dangme
• Guan

Phrase

Accra local phrase include the following (phonetically written for easy pronunciation):
• Meh daasay - Thanks
• Akwaaba - Welcome!
• Ete sen - How are you?
• Eh ye - I’m fine.
• Na wo so eh - And you, how are you?

Vaccinations

The following Accra inoculations are required:
• Yellow Fever
• Hepatitis A & B
• Typhoid
• Rabies
• Polio

Plants

Accra plants include a number of crops as well as key vegetation area. Plantations such as cocoa, oil palm, coffee and rubber are a common sight, as well as crops including sorghum, maize, millet, cowpeas, groundnuts and yam. Nature reserves near Accra hold a number of key habitats including tropical forests, marine and savannah ecosystems.

Religion

Accra religion includes the following groups:
• Christianity 69%
• Islam 16%
• Traditional and other religions 9%

Safety Tips

Accra safety tips include the following:
• Generally Accra is safe, however petty crime is on the increase, especially in the city center
• Keep valuables safe and out of sight in a moneybag under your clothes
• Do not walk around the beaches after dark ' especially if you are alone
• Avoid large crowds and street demonstrations which may turn violent
• Tro tros (taxis) are very unsafe and many people die in tro tro accidents each year

Transport

Accra transport options include the following:
• Car
• Bus
• Train
• Taxi

Travel Books

Accra recommended travel books include the following:
• Accra Guide Map Ghana by Survey of Ghana
• The rocks of Accra, Ghana: A guide to the Coast along High Street by William J McCallien
• Castles & forts of Ghana: Christiansborg Castle, Accra, Fort Good Hope, Senya Beraku by James Anquandah
• The City of Accra - A Pictorial Visit by Eric Maclean Ntiamoah
• Ghana in Pictures by Yvette Lapierre

Visa Requirements

Get more information on visas in Ghana

What To Buy

What to buy for Accra:
• Accra travel guide, map and phrase book
• Sturdy backpack plus a decent money bag
• First aid kit with a range of basic supplies
• Plug adapter for UK or US travelers
• Sleeping bag and camping mattress if you are overlanding

What To Pack

What to pack for Accra:
• Loose, lightweight long sleeved clothing
• Warm jacket for cooler months and raincoat for rainy season
• Camera, spare batteries, binoculars and extra film or memory
• Sturdy, comfortable walking or hiking shoes
• Swimming costume, sunhat, sunglasses and sunscreen

When To Go

When to go to Accra:
• The best time to travel is from December to April after the rainy season
• The north of the country is hottest during these months however
• The south is clearest during July and August when the rains calm down
• August and September are the best times to see local festivals
• Tourist high season is from June to August

Wildlife

Accra wildlife is fairly diverse, with a number of parks and reserves such as the beautiful Shai Hills Resource Reserve where game such as kob, bushbuck, oribi, primates, monkey, crocodile, buffalo, a number of antelopes and many other species can be seen. There are also a number of marine animals nearby along the coast, including endangered turtles.