C h e c k l i s t

REQUIRED
1. Passport
2. Visa
3. Yellow Fever vaccination

Highly Recommended
4. Optional Vaccinations
5. Malaria Prophylactics

Other
6. Over the Counter products
7. Toiletries
8. Clothing
9. Cultural Items
10. Money Exchange
11. Communication

Passports
All visitors entering Ghana must present a current, valid passport. Please make sure that your passport is valid and well within its date
of expiry. If you do not currently have a valid passport, please make all the necessary arrangements to obtain one as early as
possible. It may take a while in many cases, and you will need your passport to obtain the visa into the country. Procedures for
obtaining/extending passports vary from country to country, so please contact the appropriate governmental agency in your country
for information on how/where to get it done. This information can usually be obtained online.

Visas
Unless you are a citizen of one of the ECOWAS (The Economic Community of West African States) countries, you are required to
present a valid visa upon entering Ghana. To obtain the visa, you must go through the Ghanaian Embassy or Consulate in your home
country. If you are traveling, you may go through the embassy or consulate in the country where you are currently staying. If you
are near the embassy/consulate and plan on going there in person, it usually takes approximately 3-5 business days between the time
you submit the visa application and the time you are to pick up your visa. If you can’t get there in person, you will have to go
through the mail. The embassy will mail or fax you the application form, and you will have to mail them the completed form, your
passport, some additional documentation, and the visa fee. Please allow several weeks if you are applying through the mail.
Depending on where in the world you are, you may also consider using a private shipping company, like DHL or EMS, as you do not
want to take any risks with your passport getting lost. Whether you go in person, or through the mail, the exact procedure and
required documentation vary from country to country, so please contact the embassy directly for specific instructions. The process
is usually simple and there is a nominal fee. In most cases, the process is just a formality, but an important one, as you will not be
allowed into the country without the visa. To find the exact location and contact information for the Ghanaian Embassy near you, go
to http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/foreign_affairs/abroad.php.

Vaccination – Mandatory
All persons entering Ghana are required by law to provide proof of yellow fever vaccination. The vaccination will protect you against
this mosquito-borne viral disease. Your regular doctor will most likely NOT be able to give you this vaccination. You will have to go
to a Travel Clinic. Travel Clinics specialize in immunizations and provide patients with valuable information about their health and
safety abroad. You can look up a travel clinic near you in the phone book, and in many cases, online. Most cities and larger towns
around the world will have one. Insurance companies usually don’t cover the fee for this vaccination, but you can contact your
carrier to make sure. Once you get the vaccination and receive your yellow fever vaccination card, keep it together with your
passport, in case you are asked to show it at the airport.

Vaccinations – Optional
In addition to the mandatory YF vaccination, we recommend that you also get vaccinated for Diphtheria and Tetanus (usually given
together), Polio, Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, and Tuberculosis. At the travel clinic, the nurse can go over with you the health risks
particular to Ghana, and what, if anything, you can do to avoid them. Based on this discussion, you will decide which of these
vaccinations you would like to get - a decision which is ultimately at your discretion. It is unlikely that you will contract any of these
diseases during your stay, however, it is better to be safe than sorry. Before you go to the travel clinic, have your doctor look at your
vaccination record to see which, if any, you have already had. Some are required by school admissions offices, and it is quite
possible that you have already received some of these vaccines (Bear in mind that some vaccines become ineffective after a certain
number of years and have to be re-administered. Consult with your doctor). Your regular doctor may be able to administer most if
not all of these vaccinations, and some may also be covered by your insurance carrier. Check with your doctor and insurance
company about availability and coverage prior to going to the travel clinic to save time and money. One vaccination we do not
recommend is the Rabies vaccination, which is extremely costly. The risk of you contracting rabies is very low, and even if you do
get bitten by a rabid animal (the chances of which are extremely low) and have had the vaccine course, you will still have to get two
additional shots post-bite. You will not need to show proof of any of the optional vaccinations you decide to get, but we advise that
you have the nurse document them for you on your YF vaccination card for your own information.

Malaria Prophylactics
Malaria Prophylactics are not required but are highly recommended for visitors to Ghana. We wish we could say it is unlikely that
you will contract malaria, but unfortunately, the situation is still that without taking certain precautions, you may become infected.
You can hedge the risk by using insect repellant and also by sleeping under mosquito nets (which are provided at the AAE house).
However, the best way to avoid malaria is by taking a malarial preventative. Many are almost 100% effective in preventing malaria.
Most insurance companies will cover the cost, but check with your carrier to confirm. There are many different malaria pills to
choose from, including herbal ones which are available over the counter. Each pill comes with its own set of side effects and
efficacy rates, and you should choose the one that suits you best (you may discuss this with your doctor or nurse). For a rundown
on malaria prophylactics, check out http://www.cdc.gov/travel/malariadrugs.htm. You will need to start taking the pills one week
prior to your departure and for up to one month (depending on brand) after leaving a high-risk malaria area. Some insurance
companies will only let you fill one month prescription at a time (not including pre and post travel) so make sure you contact your
carrier to inquire about refill guidelines and leave plenty of time to ensure you get the entire supply you need.

Over the Counter Products
Highly Recommended:
Pain reliever - headache, muscle/joint pain, back pain, menstrual pain
Anti-diahrreal
Blister pads and bandaids (lots of them! For hands after hours of carving, and feet if you plan to do a lot of walking)
Antibiotic lotion
Mosquito repellent
Itch cream
Contact solution
alcohol pads

May be useful for some:
Antihistamine/allergy pills
sinus/cold pills
fiber pills/laxatives
antacid
eye drops


Toiletries
Your trusty hair gel and favorite deoderant may keep you comfortable while you're dancing the kpanlogo, wearing batik, and carrying
water on your head, but please bear in mind that the following toiletries are easily available in Accra, should you forget or run out of
anything, or just don't have room to pack it: Shampoo, conditioner, soap, face wash, toothpaste, toothbrush, pads (ultra-thin with
wings), hair gel, deoderant, moisturizing lotion, disposable razors, shaving cream, condoms (not exactly toiletry, but as good a place
as any to list it)

The following items are harder to find, and it's best you bring them with you in adequate amounts, if you use them:
SUN SCREEN - Please bring this item with you as it will be very difficult to purchase it in Accra, and you will almost definitely be
wanting to use it, at least some of the time. The African sun is NO JOKE and is not to be messed with!
After sun gel
Waterless sanitizing lotion
Dental floss
Quality, non-disposable razors
Shaving cream that actually lathers
Tampons


***Please remember to bring with you any prescription medicine, including birth control pills, that
you will need for the duration of your stay***


Clothing
The weather in Ghana is almost always very hot and humid. Because of shifting weather patterns, it is almost impossible to know
when to expect lots of rain (historically, April-September) and when to expect little rain and lots o' heat (normally, October-March).
So to be safe, just plan for both. It's honestly not too bad - when it rains, it pours, but usually only for a short while. And if you're in
the shade, it is amazing how cool and breezy the air feels. While you are carving, it's definitely advisable to wear things that you
won't mind getting stained, cut, or damaged in any way. Walking around town can get a little sticky at midday, so obviously, thin,
cool, comfortable clothing is in order. We discourage you, however, from buying a whole new wardrobe for the trip. Many people
go out and buy a whole set of "tropical" clothes they would never wear at home, and realize once they've gotten here that the jeans
and tops they wear everyday at home would have worked just fine. If you wouldn't be caught dead in a pair of khaki shorts at home,
there's no point wearing them on the streets of Accra (unless, of course, you want to be daring and adventurous, in which case,
we're right behind you, way, way, behind you ;) Without being specific to the point of exclusion, bring with you the coolest,
breeziest, most comfortable version of your wardrobe. One thing we will say, is that Ghanaian society is relatively conservative
fashion-wise as compared to the West. As a foreigner, you will be granted some slack, but try to avoid bringing very short or low-
cut daytime clothing. As for nighttime, go ahead and bring that mini skirt and pair of heels! (that goes for you too, girls ;).

Some people might advise you to bring a hat, fanny pack, money belt, or any number of travel accessories being touted at outdoor
stores. That's fine, and you may even get some use out of them. But if you know you hate hats and fanny packs, don't bother, you'll
also be perfectly fine without them. The point is, bring stuff that you feel good in! If there is anything you are missing, there will be
plenty of opportunity to purchase it in town, either at what is affectionately known as the "bend down boutique" in the market, or for
those with a "bad back" one of the clothing stores around the city.

Finally, no matter what it is you'll be wearing, there's one thing to be sure of: You will be sweating, A LOT! The best advice I can
give you is to bring clothes that camouflage that fact as much as possible. When you are sitting in a tro-tro full of neat, crisp, fresh-
looking Ghanaians who look like they just stepped out of a refrigerated meat locker (while you feel like you just stepped out of the
steam room), you'll think back to these words: Camouflaging the sweat - it's your best bet!

Last thing, it's not always heat, heat, heat. It can actually get quite cool at night sometimes, so bring at least one
pullover/sweater/fleece. A very light rain coat is also a good idea.


Gear
Sleeping Bag and other camping equipment: Unless you plan to go camping on your own, a sleeping bag/camping gear is not
necessary. All trips organized by AAE are to hotels or private homes, where beds and sheets are provided.

Mosquito net: AAE provides mozzie nets on all beds in the house. However, when traveling outside Accra, there is no guarantee that
there will be mozzie nets at the lodging. If you feel strongly that you want a mozzie net for those times, you may bring one with you.
However, they are usually a hassle to put up, and you probably will end up not using it, as there are usually screens on the windows
to keep mozzies out, and if you are taking malaria prophylactics, simply dabbing on some mosquito repellent at night should keep you
sleeping soundly.


Cultural Items
Musical instruments - guitar, harmonica, anything you have room for
CDs/tapes of local music - popular music as well as independent music we would have never heard before
Books
Pictorials/travel guides from home country/state/city
Language learning books
Reproductions of or original local artwork to display in house
Personal photos
Games - board, electronic, or imaginary

Money and Currency Exchange
The official currency of the republic of Ghana is the Cedi (pronounced ceedee). The current exchange rate is
approximately 9,100cedis per dollar. You will not be able to exchange your local currency into cedis at
home, you will have to wait until you get here. Once in Ghana, you will be able to easily exchange the
following currencies: US dollar, Euro, British Pound Sterling, Japanes Yen, Danish Franc. If you have a
different currency, please exchange it to one of the aforementioned currencies before leaving home,
otherwise you will not be able to do anything with that money once you get to Ghana. Foreign exchange
bureaus are plentiful in Accra and other major cities and towns. They are available to a lesser extent in
smaller towns and villages.  You can also exchange money at the bank, but you will get a lower exchange
rate there. Lastly, some people exchange money on the black market, through one of the many “agents” found
around the city. This is commonly done and you may get a better exchange rate than going through a forex
bureau or bank.  However, you are strongly cautioned to exchange your money this way only when accompanied
by a known and trusted Ghanaian.  

We recommend that you bring at least US$20 in cash with you to exchange when you get here, so that you
have some spending money on you without having to go to the bank. If you are apprehensive about taking more
that that with you in cash, you may bring the rest in American Express or Thomas Cook Travelers Checks,
which can be exchanged at the bank only. When you exchange them, you will need to show your passport.
You will get a lower exchange rate when changing Travelers Checks.

ATMs are commonly found in Accra and other cities. If your ATM/debit card has a Visa logo on it, you will be
able to withdraw money from your bank account directly at the ATM machine. If your ATM/debit card is
MasterCard, you will only be able to withdraw money through the teller at the main branch of the Barclay’s
bank in Accra (10 min. walk from the Art Center) and other major cities. Barclay’s Bank will charge you
approx US$4 for this transaction, and there may be additional fees imposed by your bank (call you bank to
find out). You will need to show your passport to the teller and you will be paid out in cedis. This is
quite a convenient way of accessing your money, because you may withdraw it in small increments as you
need it, rather than taking one large sum with you from the start.

Bank hours are 9am-5pm mon-fri. However, they usually close their doors at 3:30pm, so you have get in before
that time.

Credit cards are accepted at major hotels, upmarket restaurants, travel agents, and other select
locations. However, as an AAE student, you will probably not have much occasion to use your credit
card, as it is not commonly used in non-tourist destinations. If you have one, we recommend you bring
it with you just in case, though it is likely it may never see the light of day during your stay.

Communication
Telephone
When you get to Accra, you may want to contact someone back home to let them know you have arrived safely.
There is a cell phone in the house, which you may use upon arrival to make a short call just to let your
family/friends know you have arrived and are doing well. After that you may receive calls on that phone,
but you will not be able to make any more calls with it. Calls are generally made at what are known as
communication centers (or comm centers). These are small kiosks with one or multiple phones where you
will be charged per minute at varying rates for local and international calls. The best thing to do if you
do not want to carry the cost of a long international call is to call someone at home from the comm center
and arrange a time for them to call you back on the house cell phone (you can also arrange a time via
email, or have a regular standing phone “date”).  Of course, in an emergency, they may call you at any
time, but in general, it’s best if you arrange a time. This way, you can be sure you are home to receive the
call, and you won’t waste their money or have other people in the house running around looking for you.
Comm centers are found throughout the country, in cities and small villages. Wherever you are, you can
be sure there will be a comm center very close to you. There are also public payphones, which you may use to
make local and international calls. You may purchase a public payphone calling card at vendors throughout the
country.

If you have a calling card at home, chances are you will NOT be able to use it to make calls from Ghana,
but you can contact the calling card company to make sure.

Cell phones are very common in Ghana and are almost always pay-as-you-go. If you have a cell phone at
home, you can remove the chip from it, and buy a chip in Accra for approx. US$40. Depending on the type of
phone you have, you may be able to simply switch chips, or they might have to decode the phone for you
before inserting a new chip (in which case, it is probably not a good idea to do it). Once you insert a
new chip, you will have to purchase airtime, which comes in increments of approx. US$10, US$20, and
US$30. It is not recommended that you use a cell phone to make long international calls, as the rates are
very high, but it may be very useful to make short international calls (no more than a couple of
minutes), to make local calls, and for emergencies.

Email
There are many internet cafes in and around Accra and other major cities. Almost every neighbourhood in
Accra has at least one, if not several, cafes. Some have excruciatingly slow connections, others have
bearably slow connections, some are quite good, and a few have excellent, high-speed connections. There is a
small internet café at the Art Center with a decent connection and there are several high-speed cafes
around Kwame Nkrumah Circle and at the University Of Ghana campus (both easily accessible from the house
and the Art Center). You may be charged anywhere from US$.50-US$1 per hour, depending on the café.

Note: As a general practice at most cafes, it’s best to write your email in notepad or Word, save it to the
computer, then copy and paste the contents into your email. There have been many a long, thought-out email
lost in cyberspace due to any number of technical difficulties that can arise.

We hope this information sheet has covered most if not all of your questions. Please make sure you comply
with at least the first 3 items –  passport, visa, and yellow fever vaccination –
otherwise there may be problems entering the country. You are encouraged to consult other sources, as well,
about any of the topics covered. If you find any information elsewhere that is contradictory to what
you have read here, please let us know, and we can try to amend the conflict. Additionally, if there is
anything you feel is missing, let us know, and we will address your topic.