Ghana

Dress modestly in public. Shorts and t-shirts are acceptable for both males and females, but it is best not to wear anything too revealing.

Wearing military clothing including camouflage is illegal.

It is advisable to carry ID. A copy of your passport’s photo page is acceptable. Keep the original in a safe place such as a hotel safe.

The possession of Illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties.  

Bail is not normally granted.

You should expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through the airport.

Even possession of small amounts of cannabis can lead to a prison sentence of more than 5 years, usually after a long and expensive legal process.

Airports in Ghana have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items. This is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers. 

Class A drugs like cocaine are likely to be laced with other substances. Foreign visitors, including British nationals, have died after taking these drugs.

Photography near sensitive sites like military installations or the airport is illegal. Ask permission if you want to take a photograph of a building where there are guards on duty. Beware of self-appointed officials trying to charge fees to let you take pictures of well-known sites of interest.

Some same-sex sexual acts could lead to a prison sentence of between 3 and 25 years. Although there are no records of this being enforced, there were arrests at a gathering of the LGBT+ community in 2021. Ghanaian society is intolerant of people of the same sex showing affection in public. Many Ghanaians do not accept that such relationships exist. 

The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill is not law, but its passage through Ghana’s Parliament could increase the risk of violence and other threats (such as blackmail and intimidation) to the LGBT+ community and their allies. Rhetoric by some politicians, religious leaders, and local media can incite violence and psychological abuse of the LGBT+ community. FCDO are aware of reported attacks against LGBT+ individuals.

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.

Ghanaian family law is very different from UK law, particularly when child custody becomes an issue. Ghana is not a signatory to the Hague Convention. This means:

• the custody process might not be as straightforward as in cases where both countries are signatories
• you might need to initiate legal proceedings in Ghana for custody or to have your child returned to the UK

While ATMs are common in large towns, they may not be available in rural areas. Many hotels, guesthouses and shops accept credit cards except for Mastercard, which is not widely accepted. Check ahead that you can make payment, and have back-up funds.

Contact your card issuer before you travel in case they put a block on your account.