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Is it safe to visit Ghana? For the most part, Ghana is a safe country. This country can be measured to be one of Africa’s real successes. It has had a steady democracy and has increased their development. Most first time travellers are recommended to visit Ghana as it has a much lower crime rate compared to other African countries.
Yet there is a massive difference between the northern and southern parts of the country regarding cultures, religions and landscapes.
The capital Accra, like any main city, has some level of crime. Tourists, mostly women travelling on their own, could be the target for criminals. The crimes are mostly bag snatchers, petty theft, muggings and could become victims of pickpocketing.  These happen mostly at tourist attractions like local bazaars, markets and tourist sites.
Violent crimes, including armed robberies, rape and house burglaries have augmented minimally, but violence against foreigners is small related to other African countries.
The bazaar of Agbogbloshie is a high-risk area in Accra. This is a volatile area due to various tribes infiltrating the area. Â The community recently suffered some attacks between two tribes which lead to two fatalities.
Another tricky area which is a cause for alarm in Accra is the township of Accra. There was an incident reported when a local policeman was killed after a vehicle theft. Â Local community members reported that there had been an increase in criminal activity in the area and requested assistance from the police.
The circle inter-change where most marketplaces are situated, and which is the centre for transportation has also reported incidents of petty crime. Tourists are always advised to keep their valuables safely on them.
Situated in the Southern part of Ghana, Ashaiman is one of the largest towns in the capital of Accra as it also stands as the capital of Ashaiman Municipal District, a district in Greater Accra Region. But this part of town continues to report worrying cases of crime which is mostly street robberies and the theft of vehicles.
James Town is entrenched with an opulent past and culture about Ghana. There has been a slight increase of reported cases of petty crimes.
When travelling at night, always use a taxi from your hotel to and from bars or restaurants.
Keep all your valuables safe and be aware of your surroundings and be vigilant for anyone watching you, particularly in crowded areas.
Be careful when using your phone in public areas and avoid using it when in a crowded area.
Be vigilant when visiting public beaches. Petty theft is a major problem in these areas. There have also been a few reports of women being sexually assaulted on beaches.
Credit card fraud has increased in the country. Do not let your credit card out of your sight and do not use ATMs at night or the ones situated in public streets.
Local transport consisting mainly of buses and taxis are a relatively safe way to travel around the country. Roads in Ghana are well maintained but some outside roads outside the cities are in a poor condition.
To hire a car and drive in Ghana, you will need an International Drivers Permit (IDP) as well as your local license. Make sure you carry your licence, IDP and rental and insurance papers with you always.
Avoid travelling at night and if you do run late in another area, it would be advisable to get accommodation for the night and continue with your journey the following day.
If you do have a vehicle accident, get to the nearest police station and report the incident immediately.
Always drive with your doors locked and your windows closed.
You should always ask permission to photograph people in a public area or a building. It is prohibited to take photographs of military installations, airports or other sensitive sites even when it is not clearly marked.
Ghana is still an extremely conservative and deeply religious country. Although the country has modernized, you must show respect for their cultures and moral values.
Dress modestly in public.
Do not to smoke in public. While people will still smoke at some bars and restaurants, Ghana is mostly a smoke-free country.
Do not drink large amounts of alcohol. Drunkenness is regarded as shameless.
Do not use profanity.
Wearing camouflage is prohibited in the country.
All contact with another person should be done with the right hand. To show someone a left hand is a direct way of showing disrespect. (This is due to the left-hand in the past been used for cleaning oneself after using the toilet.)
Flexible timekeeping in Ghana can be frustrating for foreigners. ‘I’m almost there’ most of the time means they are not near you and you can wait another hour and a half.  It is best to be patients as the country is extremely laid-back.
The minimum age for drinking, smoking and drinking and buying alcohol is 18 years old.
The age of consent for sex is 16.
Homosexuality is illegal in Ghana and as an end result; there is no open gay scene. There is a zero tolerance towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Ghana. This could lead to a prison sentence between three to 25 years.
Most Ghanaians do not accept that homosexuality exists so same sex couples visiting the country should exercise extreme discretion in public and also when making hotel bookings.
Ghana is a transit area for various illegal drugs inkling heroin and cocaine. The authorities are committed to combat the problem.  There are severe penalties for drug use and trafficking of illegal substances. A small amount of marijuana can put you in prison for five years. Other drugs can hold harsher longer terms in jail. Do not offer to carry a package from an unknown of suspicious source in your luggage as you risk being used as a drug mule.
Bail is not granted for those caught with drugs of any kind.
No import duties are payable by travellers for bringing into the country:
• Maximum of 200 cigarettes,
• Maximum of 50 cigars or 1lb of tobacco
• Maximum of 250ml of spirits or wine
• Maximum of 250ml of perfume
Banned imports into the country include firearms, ammunition and explosives and animals.
Always keep a copy of your passport with you. Â If you do lose your passport, report it to your nearest police station and get a copy of the police report. You must then notify the People Services and the Ghana Immigration Service. Also report it to your embassy to obtain another passport.
There are private and public government hospitals and clinics in the country which are mostly situated in the major cities. The private hospitals contain more modern equipment than public hospitals and provide a better service. People find that the quality of government hospitals and clinics are inadequate when compared to their counterparts in European countries.
There is a scarcity of ambulances, so most are advised to get to hospitals and clinics on their own accord. The medical staff are also fluent in English. Outside the cities, the healthcare facilities drop to nearly non-existent.
If you take chronic medication or prescription drugs, you need to carry your own supplies which will last you through to the end of your holiday in Ghana. Do not rely on finding a pharmacy as there are few reliable pharmacies in the country.
Pack a selection of medical products to treat minor ailments or injuries. This includes painkillers, cold and flu remedies, anti-inflammatories, anti-indigestion and the usual supply of antiseptic cream, plasters and bandages.
Travel insurance is highly recommended for a holiday to Ghana and should include cover for an emergency evacuation. Check the small print in your travel insurance as some policies do not cover activities such as paragliding, scuba diving, helicopter rides and even motor biking, cycling and hiking and water-skiing.
The required immunisation for Ghana is Yellow Fever. It is advisable to be up to date with all your vaccinations.
The whole of Ghana is a risk area for Malaria. In 2015, Malaria was the cause of 19 percent of the deaths in the country.  Malaria is a life-threatening disease. It is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Infected mosquitoes carry the Plasmodium parasite. When this mosquito bites you, the parasite is released into your bloodstream.
Symptoms can be flu-like or cause shaking chills that can range from moderate to severe. Also, a high fever, profuse sweating, headaches, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, muscle pain and bloody stools.
Travellers need to have a yellow fever vaccination before arriving in Ghana. Yellow fever is spread by infected mosquitoes. Symptoms are similar to malaria, ranging from flu-like chills and fever to server hepatitis and jaundice. If left untreated or not diagnosed early, the disease is life-threatening.
Tourists should drink only bottled water or other bottled beverages as the tap water and ice in Ghana is contaminated and not safe for drinking.
Thoroughly cooked hot foods can be eaten as it will mean most infections can be avoided. Raw fruits can be eaten only if they have an unbroken skin and are peeled. Raw vegetables and salads should be avoided due to contamination.
If food has been left out of a refrigerator for longer than an hour especially eggs, chicken and dairy do not consume them.
Cholera which is a severe form of diarrhoea, is a common disease in Ghana and it can be fatal. Get to your nearest hospital or clinic if you have symptoms of diarrhoea, vomiting, chills and fever. Â It is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called Vibrio cholera.
Don’t go near pets or stray dogs or cats in Ghana. They can carry infectious diseases like Rabies which is life threatening. The animals may bite and scratch you.
Heat exhaustion is a common problem, especially among tourists that have come from cooler climates. Symptoms include a bad headache, dizziness, vomiting and extreme tiredness. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of bottled water or beverages. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and apply sunscreen lotion to prevent yourself from getting sunburn.
Chronic dehydration makes you feel weak, tired, and lightheaded and increases your risk of developing kidney stones.
Move into a cool area or room and elevate your feet and legs. Drink lots of fluids until your body temperature drops. Seek medical treatment if the symptoms persist.
AIDS is a major problem in Ghana and throughout West Africa. The disease is spread through sexual contact or shared blood or contaminated medical equipment. The HIV rate is approximately five percent of the local population and as high as 74 percent among the sex workers in the country. Avoid the risk by avoiding new sexual encounters while on holiday. Â If you cannot abstain, condoms can provide some protection.
Ghana is a relatively easy country in Africa to travel alone as a woman. People are friendly and welcoming. Yet the culture is a physical nation and if you are not used to physical contact as part of communication, it can get unnerving. This is not just for women but men as well.
Female single tourists will get harassed and proposed to persistently. Most of the time the encounters are harmless, but you must learn to be firm.
The culture believes that if you are single you are then looking for a husband, so the simplest way to handle the situation is to say you have a husband.
Also inform them that you have more than one child. In their culture only having one child means you are still on the market.
You will attract a lot of unwanted attention if you are showing too much leg, shoulder or chest. Ghana is a conservative country and the local women dress accordingly. Â In the north of Ghana, these attitudes are even stricter, and you could land up in situations best to avoid.
Women in Ghana do all the cooking, cleaning, do most of the housework.
However, times and attitudes are changing. Women are entering the workforce and holding important positions in the governmental sector and in the business sector.
MoAfrika Tours is a leading tour operator in South Africa that offers an outstanding selection of tours to Ghana. We have a close association with the most reputable tour operators in Ghana that make safety a priority.
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