23 March 2021
There's a ban on overseas travel from Australia. You can’t leave Australia unless you have an exemption from the Department of Home Affairs, or are travelling to a destination that is exempt from the ban.
Our global travel advice remains at 'Do not travel' due to the health risks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant disruptions to global travel. Some destinations were already set at Do Not Travel prior to COVID-19 due to the extreme risk to your safety.
If you’re overseas and wish to return to Australia, be prepared for delays and read our advice on trying to get home.
When you arrive in Australia you must quarantine for 14 days at designated facilities in your port of arrival, unless you have an exemption or are travelling on a quarantine-free flight from a green zone destination. At this time, vaccination against COVID-19 does not change this quarantine requirement. You may be required to pay for the costs of your quarantine. View State and Territory Government COVID-19 information for information about quarantine and domestic borders.
If you're staying overseas, make plans to stay for an extended period. Follow the advice of local authorities and minimise your risk of exposure to COVID-19. Stay in touch with family and friends so they know you're safe.
Our network of embassies and consular posts around the world will provide you with up-to-date local advice and support throughout this difficult period. Be aware consular services may be limited due to local measures.
For the latest information, read and subscribe to our news and travel advice. Also see our COVID-19 information pages.
Call 192.
Call 193 or go to the hospital.
Call 191 or go to the nearest police station.
Do not travel to Ghana.
Do not travel overseas due to the health risks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant disruptions to global travel.
Full travel advice: Safety
Full travel advice: Health
Full travel advice: Local laws
Full travel advice: Travel
Full travel advice: Local contacts
Pay attention to your personal safety and surroundings.
Be cautious around large public gatherings like football matches.
Disputes involving local ethnic groups can also turn violent.
Public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent.
When you're in Ghana:
Political demonstrations can turn violent. Avoid large gatherings in the lead up to, during and immediately following election day.
More information:
Criminals increasingly target Westerners, especially women, for violent crime. This includes kidnapping.
To protect yourself from kidnapping:
In June 2019, two foreigners were kidnapped in Kumasi.
Travellers are a target for:
Your risk increases if you're a woman travelling alone. Take particular care in and around Accra.
Some taxi passengers have been robbed by drivers.
In April 2019, a foreigner was robbed at gunpoint while using a rideshare service (Uber) in Accra.
Power outages may occur after dark. This often leads to more crime, especially if street and traffic lights fail.
Criminals may also target you in:
Officials or people posing as officials may try to detain foreigners or extort money from them, including at the airport.
Legitimate airport staff wear a current ID card with their name and photograph.
To protect yourself from crime:
Internet scams come in many forms, including romance, friendship, business and employment opportunities. These scams often originate in West African countries.
If you travel to West Africa as a scam victim, you're at risk of:
This includes travelling to meet a friend or love interest, as well as looking for compensation or revenge.
Common fraud schemes fall into two main categories — commercial and relationship scams.
In commercial scams, criminals ask for details of 'safe' bank accounts to transfer large amounts of money. They may:
In relationship scams, criminals often meet their victims through internet dating sites, chat rooms or social media. Once they have formed a connection, they may:
Once you transfer money, the relationship often ends. If you travel to Africa to meet the criminals, you may be in danger.
To protect yourself from scams:
If you suspect a scam, get legal advice.
Don't travel to Ghana to get your money back or to get revenge. You could be in danger.
Terrorism is a threat worldwide. This includes in Ghana.
To protect yourself from being involved in a terrorist attack:
More information:
Ghana experiences natural disasters and severe weather, including flooding.
If there's a natural disaster or severe weather:
Register with the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System for alerts.
The wet season is from May to October.
Flooding may happen in the:
Roads can shut quickly, stranding travellers.
If you travel during the wet season or after a natural disaster, check if services at your planned destination have been affected.
Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave. A ban on overseas travel from Australia remains in place. You can’t leave Australia unless you get an exemption from the Department of Home Affairs.
Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.
If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.
If you're not insured, you may have to pay many thousands of dollars up-front for medical care.
Confirm:
Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition. Consider whether you may be in a vulnerable category for COVID-19.
See your doctor or travel clinic to:
Do this at least eight weeks before you leave.
More information:
Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.
If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal in Ghana. Take enough legal medication for your trip.
Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating:
More information:
COVID-19 remains a risk in Ghana.
For information on Ghana's COVID−19 vaccination program, refer to the Ministry of Health’s website. You should consult your local health professional for advice on vaccine options, including assistance that may be available locally. The Australian Government cannot provide advice on the safety, quality and efficacy of vaccines that have been approved for use outside of Australia's regulatory process.
Monitor the media for information on latest developments and follow the advice and precautions of local authorities.
Further information:
Yellow fever (Department of Health) is common in Ghana. Yellow fever is a potentially fatal virus spread by mosquitoes. It's prevented by vaccination. Get vaccinated before you travel.
Malaria (World Health Organization) and other insect-borne diseases are also common.
To protect yourself from disease:
Get medical advice if you have a fever, muscle pain, rash or severe headache.
HIV/AIDS (World Health Organization) is common in Ghana. Take precautions if taking part in activities that put you at risk of infection.
Lassa fever (World Health Organization) may be a risk when you have contact with rodents or with food or household items contaminated with rodent droppings.
To protect yourself from disease:
Get immediate medical help if you develop any symptoms of Lassa fever, including a fever, weakness in your body or unexplained pain.
Waterborne, foodborne, parasitic and other infectious diseases are common, including these listed by the World Health Organization:
Serious outbreaks sometimes occur.
To protect yourself from illness:
Get medical advice if you have a fever or diarrhoea.
Get medical attention straight away if an animal scratches or bites you.
Medical facilities in urban areas are basic.
In rural areas, facilities are limited. The standard of care may be less than what you would expect in Australia.
You may need to pay cash upfront before doctors and hospitals will treat you, even in an emergency.
If you're seriously ill or injured, you may need to be moved to a place with better facilities. Medical evacuation can be very expensive.
Local health services may have difficulty responding to outbreaks of infectious disease.
You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.
If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our Consular Services Charter. But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
The death penalty can apply for serious offences, such as murder.
Penalties for drug offences are severe. This includes mandatory jail terms.
More information:
While being LGBTIQ+ is not formally illegal in Ghana, same-sex activity is illegal. LGBTIQ+ relationships and identities are interpreted as illegal by society
Violence, threats, extortion, eviction and arbitrary arrest of LGBTIQ+ people occur. LGBTIQ+ travellers should consider travel plans and personal security carefully.
It's also illegal to:
More information:
Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.
More information:
Ghana recognises dual nationality.
Always travel on your Australian passport.
Travelling on your Ghanaian passport may affect your rights and responsibilities, including:
Check with the High Commission of Ghana before you travel.
You can get a dual nationality card from the Ghana Ministry of Interior.
More information:
Standards of dress and behaviour are conservative.
Check with locals. Take care to not offend.
You'll need a visa to travel to Ghana.
Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact an embassy or high commission of Ghana for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.
Entry to Ghana
Ghana has introduced strict measures to limit the spread of COVID-19. Some flights in and out of Ghana have resumed. Land and sea borders remain closed. COVID-19 protocols at the airport may be subject to change.
If you arrive on an international flight you have to meet strict health requirements.
Depending on your COVID-19 (PCR) test result or the results of others on your flight, you may have to quarantine at your own cost.
These measures can change at short notice.
Staying in Ghana
Wearing face masks in public is compulsory.
If you're staying in Ghana:
There’s a higher risk of community transmission of COVID-19 in Accra and Kumasi. Avoid intercity travel.
There are nationwide restrictions on public gatherings. Weddings, concerts and theatrical performances are banned. Beaches, night clubs, cinemas and pubs are closed.
If you're permitted to gather, you should follow hygiene protocols. Including temperature checks, physical distancing and handwashing.
You may incur penalties for violating the ban.
Departing Ghana
Ghana has introduced measures to help stop the circulation of fake COVID-19 test results. To leave Ghana, you must present a negative COVID-19 (PCR) test bearing either the African Union Trusted Travel or BIOMARS codes. More information is available on the Ghana Health Service website.
You need to carry a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate to enter Ghana. You may be asked to show your certificate when arrive and when you leave by airport officials. See 'Health'.
You may need a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate to travel to other countries after visiting Ghana
Find out about returning to Australia after exposure to yellow fever (Department of Health).
More information:
Countries with a risk of yellow fever (PDF 74KB) (World Health Organization)
If you'll stay in Ghana for more than 90 days in a year, you must register for a National Identification Authority Non-citizen Ghanacard. You'll need this for ID checks on some transactions.
Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for six months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.
Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.
You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than six months.
The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you're not sure it'll be valid for long enough, consider getting a new passport.
Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.
Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.
If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:
The local currency is the Ghanaian Cedi (GHS).
Declare all GHS or other currency when you arrive in Ghana. This covers all forms of currency, not only cash.
You can't exchange Australian dollars in Ghana. However, you can easily exchange US dollars and euros for GHS at commercial banks and exchange services.
Larger towns have ATMs. Banks and businesses may not accept credit cards other than Visa.
Credit card fraud is common.
To ensure your access to money:
There’s a higher risk of community transmission of COVID-19 in Accra and Kumasi. Avoid intercity travel.
You can drive in Ghana for 12 months with:
You must be over 18 years old.
After 12 months, you'll need a local licence.
More information:
Road safety and driving in Ghana can be dangerous, due to:
These risks increase at night and in rural areas.
Police roadblocks are common. You may need to show:
During the wet season, flooding can make roads impassable.
Crowds can quickly gather at the scene of traffic accidents and become aggressive.
To stay safe on the road:
If you're in an accident, go to the nearest police station.
Your travel insurance policy may not cover you for accidents while driving a motorbike or quad bike. Check before you drive.
Always wear a helmet.
Only use registered taxis and limousines. If you can, arrange these through your hotel.
There are security risks with using unregistered taxis and rideshare services.
Take care when travelling alone at night. See Safety
Public transport is limited.
Safety and maintenance standards can be unreliable.
There are security risks with using public transport. See Safety
Ferry travel is risky due to generally low safety standards and adverse weather.
There may be too many passengers and not enough life jackets. Always wear a life jacket, even if others don't.
Pirates operate in the coastal areas of Ghana. Check piracy reports with the International Maritime Bureau.
More information:
DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.
Check Ghana's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.
More information:
Depending on what you need, contact your:
Call 192.
Call 193 or go to the hospital.
Call 191 or go to the nearest police station.
Other numbers for the police are:
Always get a police report when you report a crime.
Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.
Contact your provider with any complaints about tourist services or products.
Read the Consular Services Charter for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.
The Foreign Minister has decided to direct departures of all remaining non-essential staff and dependants from the Australian High Commission. This will not affect the provision of services to Australians.
2, Second Rangoon Close
(cnr Josef Broz Tito Ave)
Cantonments
Accra, Ghana
Phone: (+233) 302 216 400
Fax: (+233) 302 216 410
Email: AccraHC.Enquiries@dfat.gov.au
Website: ghana.highcommission.gov.au
Facebook: Australian High Commission, Ghana
Twitter: @AusAmbGHA
See the High Commission website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.
In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:
Be the first to know official government advice when travelling.