Transportation in Ghana
Planning a trip to Ghana but wondering how to get there? Keep your worries at bay, for Ghana has several airports and they are equipped with all the facilities necessary to make your journey hassle-free. A number of international flights service the country. Flights are comfortable and convenient.
All travellers to Ghana should take a ride in a tro-tro; not only is it cheap and fast, it's also a memorable experience!
Our Ghana Transportation Guide below provides practical information for the best ways to get to, from and around Ghana with ease, along with contact details for Ghana transport providers. Let a local provider take you to see the best of Ghana on one of our Ghana tours .
Follow the link to check out our local transportation information for Accra.
Ghana Tranportation Guide
Getting to Ghana
By Air
The most important airport in Ghana, the Kotoka International Airport, is serviced by both Western airlines and African airlines. It is the main hub of Ghana International Airlines, which has flights between London and Accra. In late 2005, when Ghana Airways closed down, Ghana international Airlines took over.
The Ghana airport is large enough to accommodate aircraft such as the Boeing 747-400.
The departure tax of US $35 is included in the ticket fare.
For transport from the airport to the city (or from the city to the airport), we recommend Green Path Transfers, who offer eco-friendly airport transfers in hundreds of destinations around the world, including Accra.
By Road
The road network in Ghana is excellent. All the neighbouring countries are connected to Ghana by road. You can enter the country through border towns such as Aflao while travelling from Toga, Elubo and Sampa from Ivory Coast, and Hamile and Paga from Burkina Faso.
There are buses, pickup trucks, taxis, and tro-tros (minibuses) connecting Ghana to all the places.
By Water
Ghana has two modern ports. A few cruise ships dock at these ports in Ghana and travellers can use their services too.
Tema is located 25 km (16 miles) to the east of Accra and ships sail between Tema and Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, and South Africa.
Visa holders will find border formalities very minimal. Sometimes greasing a palm may make these formalities get over very quickly! Beware of pickpockets at border posts, which are usually crowded.
Getting around Ghana
By Water
To go from Akosombo to Yeji, the most adventurous option is taking the Yapei Queen across Lake Volta. The steamer makes passenger runs round the clock between the two places, with halts at villages in between. Akosombo, located on the shores of Lake Volta, is 104 km (65 miles) to the northeast of Accra. Yeji is 200 km (125 miles) away, on the northwestern shore of the lake. There are ferries from Yeji to Buipe, which is 100 km (62 miles) farther northwest, and to Makonga, located 15 km (10 miles) to the east. There are options to go by road from both places to Tamale.
By Road
Ghana's roads are in pretty good shape except for some potholed sections between Tamale and Kumasi, and along the coast from Accra to Aflao. There are sure to be a few police checkpoints along the way, although they are usually satisfied after receiving a ‘dash' or bribe. Rental cars in Accra are available but are quite expensive. Ghanaians get around in tro-tros, taxis, or mammy wagons, which are a kind of converted pickup truck. Road accidents are not uncommon so take care if you decide to drive.
By Taxi
Taxis operate in two ways, and are great modes of transport in Ghana. The first is the private ‘drop' taxi, which is like any conventional taxi. It stops to pick you up and drops you off at your destination. It is best to negotiate a price before embarking on the trip or you can get fleeced. The second type is the ‘share' taxi, which runs on popular routes and picks up people along the way. You share the taxi and your fare, so to speak, since your fare is about a quarter of the regular fare.
By Bus
There are Greyhound buses in Ghana running between most of the big towns and a few of the smaller ones. The bus service is not excellent and some routes are better travelled by share taxis or tro-tros.
By Train
The railway service is comfortable but slow. A single-track triangular line runs between Takoradi, Kumasi, and Accra, but is frustratingly slow. Road transport is a quicker alternative.
The railway service is quite popular in Ghana. The Ghana railway service is comfortable but slow. A single-track triangular line runs between Takoradi, Kumasi, and Accra, but is frustratingly slow. Road transport is a quicker alternative.network lies north of Kumasi, in the plains to the south of the barrier range. A few of the halts along the train route are at the port and capital city of Accra, the junctions at Tarkwa and Dunkwa, the branch terminuses at Awaso, Kade and Prestea, and at Betkwa, Bekwai, Kofaridua, Kongono, Nkawkaw, Nsawam, Obuasi, Sekondi, Shai Hills, and Tema.
By Overlander
While travelling in a group, you can be adventurous and go around Ghana and beyond in a big truck!
Camp under the open sky, wash and cook together, go abseiling, diving, hiking, white-water rafting, share a cold beer, and have fun together. Not a luxurious holiday by any means, but far more enjoyable for many. It is also a very cheap way to travel in Ghana.
