Ghana travel and eSIM guide

Key takeaways

Ghana is West Africa's most welcoming travel destination: vibrant Accra street markets, colonial slave-fort history on the Cape Coast, Ashanti cultural heritage in Kumasi, and elephants at Mole National Park in the north. MTN Ghana is the clear network leader with 4G coverage reaching 99 percent of the population and 5G launching in Accra and Kumasi. A Roamix Ghana eSIM activates before you land, avoiding the SIM-card queues at Kotoka International Airport. Data is affordable and mobile money is essential: nearly everything, from trotros to market stalls, now accepts MTN Mobile Money.

• MTN Ghana leads on both urban speed and rural reach, including the north toward Mole National Park and the Tamale corridor. Choose MTN for any travel outside Accra.
• A Roamix eSIM activates automatically before you fly, so you land connected at Kotoka International Airport without waiting at operator counters.
• MTN Mobile Money (MoMo) is the dominant payment ecosystem in Ghana. Even with a Roamix eSIM, download the MoMo app before travel to pay for food, taxis and small vendors.
• Tamale and the Upper East and West regions have 4G but patchy coverage deep inside Mole National Park. Cache offline maps in Tamale before entering the park.
• The Ghana cedi (GHS) depreciates periodically against USD and GBP. Budget in cedis once you arrive and use ATMs at banks rather than airport bureaux for better rates.

Wi-Fi is available at mid-range and upmarket hotels and guesthouses across Ghana but quality varies widely. Accra's Airport Residential Area and Osu have reliable café and restaurant Wi-Fi. In Kumasi and Cape Coast, hotel Wi-Fi works but speeds are inconsistent. In Tamale, Mole lodge and remote guesthouses, Wi-Fi is often slow or intermittent. Mobile data is the reliable constant.

• 4 GB

  Accra city explorer

  Accra has reliable 4G. 4 GB covers daily Google Maps, WhatsApp, social media, Uber rides and light streaming for a week.

• 8 GB

  Mole and northern Ghana adventure

  Download offline maps and travel guides in Accra before heading north. 8 GB provides buffer for pre-downloads plus city use in Tamale and Kumasi.

• 12 GB

  Ghana roots and heritage tour (two to three weeks)

  A full trip spanning Accra, Cape Coast, Kumasi and the north over two to three weeks benefits from 12 GB to handle extensive offline downloads, daily navigation, WhatsApp calls with tour guides and light video streaming.

1. 1

   Purchase a Roamix Ghana eSIM plan at roamix.app and download the QR code to your email.

2. 2

   On your device go to Settings, then Cellular or Mobile Data, then Add eSIM, and scan the QR code.

3. 3

   Set the Roamix eSIM as your data line; keep your home SIM for calls and texts if needed.

4. 4

   Enable data roaming on the Roamix eSIM line in your cellular settings.

5. 5

   On landing at Kotoka International Airport, your eSIM will connect to MTN Ghana 4G automatically.

eVisa or ETA

E-visa available online via the Ghana Immigration Service portal. Single-entry tourist visa costs approximately USD 80 to 100 for most nationalities. Apply at least one week before travel.

Passport validity

Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended stay. Two blank visa pages required.

Onward ticket

Onward or return ticket is required at immigration. Immigration officers do check.

Submit your Ghana e-visa application online before travel. Keep a PDF of your approval letter downloaded offline in case airport Wi-Fi at Kotoka is busy on arrival.

Entry requirements can change. Verify current requirements at the Ghana Immigration Service website before travel.

Ghana has no internet censorship or app blocks. All mainstream social media, messaging and streaming apps are freely accessible.

• WhatsApp, works

  Works fully. Primary messaging and calling app for Ghanaians.

• Google Maps, works

  Works fully. Cache offline maps for northern Ghana and Mole.

• Instagram, works

  Works fully. No restrictions.

• YouTube, works

  Works fully. Buffer videos before entering Mole.

• FaceTime, works

  Works fully over 4G and Wi-Fi.

• Uber, works

  Uber operates in Accra and is reliable for airport pickups.

• Bolt, works

  Bolt (ride-hailing) is widely used in Accra and Kumasi.

• Ride-hailing (Uber and Bolt)

  Both Uber and Bolt operate in Accra and are app-dependent. Active Roamix data ensures you can book, track and pay without relying on airport Wi-Fi.

• VIP and STC Long-Distance Buses

  VIP Bus and STC coaches run Accra to Kumasi (3 to 4 hours) and Accra to Tamale (10 to 12 hours). Book ahead online. Most coaches have no on-board Wi-Fi; use mobile data on your Roamix eSIM.

• Trotros (minibuses)

  Trotros are the cheapest way to move between neighbourhoods and towns. No booking app; you flag them at roadside. Data useful for Google Maps navigation to the right station.

• Domestic flights

  Africa World Airlines and Passion Air fly Accra to Kumasi, Tamale and Takoradi. Book via airline websites. Check-in often requires a printed or screenshots of your booking confirmation.

Cards and cash

Cash is essential for markets, trotros, small restaurants and rural areas. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at upmarket Accra hotels, supermarkets (Shoprite, Melcom) and some restaurants. Contactless payments are emerging in Accra but not widespread outside the capital.

ATMs

GCB Bank, Ecobank, Stanbic and Barclays Bank ATMs are reliable and dispense cedis. Airport ATMs charge a higher fee. Find a bank branch ATM in central Accra or near Kumasi central for the best transaction rates.

Payment apps

MTN Mobile Money (MoMo) is the dominant mobile payment platform in Ghana with over 20 million registered users. AirtelTigo Money and Vodafone Cash also operate. MoMo works for paying taxis, market vendors, utility bills and even some restaurants. A local MTN SIM number is required to register.

Tipping

Tipping is not mandatory but appreciated. At restaurants, 10 percent is fair if service is not included. Taxi and Uber drivers appreciate rounding up. Tour guides at Mole, Cape Coast and Kakum expect a tip of GHS 20 to 50 for a half-day tour. Hotel staff appreciate GHS 5 to 10 per day.

Language

English is the official language and widely spoken across Ghana, including in markets, hotels and government offices. Twi is the most widely spoken local language in southern Ghana and Ashanti. Basic Twi greetings (Akwaaba means welcome, Medaase means thank you) are warmly received by locals.

Food

Ghanaian cuisine is hearty and flavourful. Jollof rice (the original West African jollof, fiercely contested with Nigeria), fufu with light or groundnut soup, kelewele (spiced fried plantain), banku with tilapia, and waakye (rice and beans) are staples. Osu Oxford Street in Accra has everything from traditional chop bars to international restaurants. Kumasi Kejetia Market is the place for local street food.

Plugs

230V, Type G plugs

Apps worth having

• Bolt

  Transport

  Ride-hailing app dominant in Accra and Kumasi. Cheaper than Uber for short city rides.

• MTN MoMo

  Payments

  Ghana's dominant mobile money platform. Essential for cashless payments at markets, taxis and vendors outside formal retail.

• Jumia Food

  Food Delivery

  Food delivery app covering Accra and Kumasi. Useful for evenings in your accommodation.

Stay reachable

Keep your Roamix eSIM active at all times in Ghana, particularly when travelling between cities or into Mole National Park. Being reachable in an emergency or being able to call for roadside assistance is important on long rural drives in the north.

Health

Yellow fever vaccination is required for all travellers (a Yellow Fever card may be checked on arrival). Malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended for all parts of Ghana, especially the north. Hepatitis A, Typhoid and routine vaccines are advised. Medical facilities in Accra (Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Trust Hospital) are adequate; facilities in rural areas are limited.

Tap water

Tap water is generally not safe to drink. Stick to bottled water (Voltic, Aquafina and Fan Ice sachets are available everywhere) or use a water purification filter. Ice in tourist restaurants is usually made from treated water but confirm in local eateries.

Typical speeds

4G in Accra delivers 20 to 80 Mbps. In regional cities like Kumasi and Cape Coast expect 15 to 50 Mbps. 5G is rolling out in Accra in 2025 to 2026.

5G

MTN Ghana is leading 5G deployment, with initial rollout in Accra central business district and parts of Kumasi. Nationwide 5G expansion continues through 2026.

Mole National Park in the Savanna Region has 4G at the main lodge and Larabanga gate, but signal drops inside the park on game drives. The Volta Region hills, Afadjato mountain trail and deep forest in Kakum National Park canopy walks also have gaps. Expect only 2G or no signal in some remote village areas. Ghana uses LTE Bands 3, 7 and 20 for 4G. All recent unlocked iPhones (XS and newer) and Android flagships support these bands. Older budget phones may be limited to 3G in rural areas.

Off the beaten path

1. March 6

   Ghana Independence Day

   Accra (Black Star Square)

   Ghana celebrated the first African independence south of the Sahara on March 6, 1957. The national parade at Black Star Square in Accra features military displays, cultural performances and the president's address. The day is a public holiday and most Ghanaians celebrate with family gatherings.

2. May (first week)

   Aboakyir Deer Hunt Festival

   Winneba, Central Region

   The Aboakyir festival of the Effutu people in Winneba involves two asafo (warrior) companies competing to be the first to capture a live deer by hand in the forest and present it to the chief. One of Ghana's most dramatic and competitive traditional festivals.

3. Late July to early August (biennial in odd years)

   Panafest

   Cape Coast

   The Pan-African Historical Theatre Festival draws diaspora visitors from the Caribbean, North America and Europe to Cape Coast for cultural performances, heritage tours of the slave forts and conferences on African identity and unity. Panafest alternates with Emancipation Day in even years.

4. August to September

   Homowo Festival

   Greater Accra Region (Ga communities)

   Homowo, meaning 'hooting at hunger', is the harvest festival of the Ga people of Greater Accra. Communities prepare palm nut soup with kpokpoi (a traditional dish), pour libations to ancestors and hold processions through Accra neighbourhoods of Jamestown, Labadi and Teshie. One of Ghana's most culturally significant festivals.

5. August

   Chale Wote Street Art Festival

   Jamestown, Accra

   Chale Wote (meaning friend, let's go) is one of Africa's most vibrant street art festivals, transforming the historic Jamestown neighbourhood of Accra into an open-air gallery of murals, installations, performance art, spoken word, skateboarding and Afrobeats music. A magnet for African creative talent.

6. August to October

   Kundum Festival

   Western Region (Ahanta and Nzema communities)

   The Kundum harvest festival of the Ahanta and Nzema peoples in the Western Region near Takoradi features three weeks of ritual music, dance, community feasting and thanksgiving. It is the longest-running traditional festival in Ghana and less commercialised than festivals in the south.

7. September to October

   Odwira Festival

   Akropong-Akuapem, Eastern Region

   The Odwira festival is an Akan purification and harvest ceremony celebrated across the Ashanti and Akuapem-Togo regions. The Akropong-Akuapem version in the Eastern Region highlands is the most accessible for visitors, featuring durbar of chiefs, traditional music and the pouring of libations.

8. October

   Accra Fashion Week

   Accra

   Accra Fashion Week showcases Ghanaian and pan-African fashion designers, attracting buyers, media and diaspora guests. It has grown into one of the most important fashion platforms on the continent, alongside Lagos and Johannesburg fashion weeks. Held at various Accra hotels and event centres.

9. November

   Ghana Jollof Cook-off

   Accra

   The annual celebration and friendly competition of Ghana's most iconic dish, Jollof rice, bringing together home cooks, restaurants and chefs across Accra for tastings and competitions. The Ghana vs Nigeria jollof rivalry provides colourful social media context. Held at various Accra venues.

10. Late December to early January

    Afrochella (now Afro Future)

    Accra

    Now rebranded as Afro Future, this is the signature year-end festival in Accra, attracting Afrobeats superstars and diaspora visitors from across the world for concerts, fashion, food and art installations. It coincides with the Year of Return and Homecoming period making December the busiest travel season in Ghana.

Through the year

Spring

March to May brings the first rains back to southern Ghana in April and May, refreshing and greening the landscape. March is still dry and pleasant. The Ashanti Region's festivals begin to pick up in late March. The coast heats up by April to May. This is a quiet travel period with good prices and few tourists, except around Independence Day on March 6.

Summer

June to August brings the main rainy season in southern Ghana, with heavy afternoon showers in Accra and the Central Region. The north is drier in June but transitions to its own rainy season by July. Temperatures remain warm at 27 to 32 degrees Celsius. The Harmattan (dry dusty wind from the Sahara) is absent. This is actually a good time for the Volta Region, where rivers and waterfalls are at their fullest.

Fall

September to November is a shoulder period in southern Ghana: a brief dry spell in October (the lesser dry season) followed by minor rains returning in October to November. Temperatures hold at 26 to 30 degrees Celsius. The north begins drying out in October, making Mole National Park increasingly accessible. This is a good travel window overall.

Winter

December to February is high season and the best weather across Ghana. The south has its major dry season with low humidity and sunshine. December coincides with Accra's Year of Return festivities and is very busy. January and February see the Harmattan in the north, with dusty haze reducing visibility on the Accra to Tamale road and in Mole. Cooler evenings at 20 to 24 degrees Celsius.

Connection

MTN 4G in Accra delivers speeds sufficient for video calls and cloud work. 5G is rolling out in 2025 to 2026 and will improve further. Outside Accra and Kumasi, remote work is challenging due to variable connectivity.