Ghana
UK Foreign Office travel advice · 2 July 2026
Current safety guidance for Ghana from UK Foreign Office travel advice. We cover 1 city in Ghana, with reported scams for each.
Source: Ghana travel advice — UK Foreign Office travel advice
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Attacks on vehicles are increasing, sometimes involving the use of weapons. A British national died in one such attack in August 2021. Take particular care when your car or taxi is stationary in a busy area. Keep windows up and doors locked.
There have been isolated incidents of crime taking place in all types of taxis, including licensed taxis, minibuses (‘tro tros’) and app-based taxi services. Use licensed taxis and check driver ID and the vehicle’s condition before you travel. Some hotels will book transport to pick you up on arrival. Avoid travelling alone in taxis after dark.
Local police have highlighted the risk to vehicles on specific roads in Accra:
For longer trips outside major cities:
There have been reports in the media of criminally motivated kidnapping in Accra, Takoradi and Kumasi, including the targeting of foreign nationals. Kidnaps can be for financial or political gain. If you’re kidnapped, the reason for your presence in Ghana is unlikely to serve as a protection or secure your safe release.
The long-standing policy of the British government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers. The British government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increases the risk of further hostage-taking.
Scam artists target foreign visitors and residents. The scams come in many forms – romance and friendship, business ventures, work and employment opportunities – and can cause great financial loss. Warn your friends and family to be sceptical if they’re asked to transfer funds to you in Ghana. Tell them to contact you to check that you’ve made this request.
Keep your card in sight when paying bills and look closely when you use an ATM in case a skimming device has been attached to it.
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.
This guide also has safety advice for regions of Ghana.
There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.
Terrorist attacks in Ghana cannot be ruled out. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreign nationals, such as:
Several terrorist groups operate in neighbouring Burkina Faso near to Ghana’s northern border, including Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) and Islamic State. JNIM regularly conducts attacks in southern Burkina Faso near to the Ghanaian border. There have also been JNIM attacks in the northern region of Togo, which borders Ghana to the east.
Stay aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports, and follow the advice of local authorities.
Demonstrations in the capital Accra are normally well policed and peaceful, but sometimes they occur at short notice and can cause disruption. Protests may result in restriction of movement. Follow local media for updates on planned routes.
Disputes can occur between local tribes. This can lead to inter-ethnic violence and civil unrest. Seek local advice and take precautions in areas where political tensions are heightened. If you encounter any type of demonstration or disturbance leave the area quickly and do not attempt to watch or photograph any demonstration or disturbance. See Regional risks.
Cases of robbery, burglary and serious assault have become more common since 2021, and in some cases involve the use of weapons. Foreign nationals have been attacked and robbed at gunpoint. Street crime like pickpocketing and bag-snatching is on the increase in Accra. To reduce your personal risk:
Theft is the main problem at beaches, but there have been isolated incidents of violent crime and sexual assault in areas popular with tourists. Do not visit beaches alone and take care on public beaches.
There are reports of a small number of thefts of luggage and travel documents at Kotoka International Airport. Make sure your passport is always secure and do not leave your bags unattended. Be wary of offers of help except from uniformed porters or officials. All permanent staff at the airport wear an ID card showing their name and a photo. ID cards without a photo are not valid.
If you’re being collected at the airport, confirm the identity of your driver by asking for ID. British nationals have been robbed by impostors who have approached them around the main arrivals area pretending to be their driver.
There have been cases of burglaries in areas used by the international community, including Airport Residential, Cantonments, Ridge and Kokrobite, with greater frequency over the Christmas period. Make sure doors and windows are locked and keep all valuables in a secure lockbox. Set the burglar alarm if your accommodation has one.
Ghana is a conservative and deeply religious country. Although attitudes are largely modern and progressive, you should show respect for traditional values and morals.
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:
Swimming is dangerous on the beaches along the southern coast of Ghana due to rip tides and undertows. There are occasional reports of deaths of both adults and children.
See water safety on holiday from the Royal Life Saving Society.
You can drive in Ghana using the 1949 version of the international driving permit (IDP) or a Ghanaian driving licence. Carry your driving documents with you.
Roads can be in a poor condition, particularly in rural areas. Grass or leaves strewn in the road often mean there is an accident or other hazard ahead.
Street lighting is poor or non-existent. Avoid travelling by road outside the main towns after dark, when the risk of serious road accidents is much greater, and there is a heightened risk of attacks on vehicles (see the crime section). If you choose to drive at night be aware of impromptu police checkpoints. Do not give cash to the police as this can be perceived as a bribe.
Safety standards of taxi services in Ghana are low. Driver training and vehicle standards will vary from providers in the UK. Drivers of ‘tro-tros’ and popular app-based taxi services are not centrally licensed. There is no responsible body that is accountable for your safety.
Outside major towns and cities it’s safer to use pre-booked vehicles from reputable taxi companies.
Find out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.
Flooding is common in the Upper West, North East, Northern and Savannah regions during the rainy season, from March to November.
Heavy rainfall can also cause flooding in other parts of Ghana, including urban areas such as Accra and its surroundings. Flooding can disrupt road travel, public transport, electricity and other services, and conditions can change quickly following periods of intense rainfall.
Follow the advice of local authorities, monitor local weather reports and expect difficulties when travelling to affected areas.
Earthquakes and tremors are a risk in Ghana. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake.
This section has safety advice for regions of Ghana. It only covers regions where FCDO has specific advice.
You should also read FCDO’s overall travel advice and safety and security advice.
Civil unrest in specific local regions of Ghana can build up at short notice and may become violent, sometimes involving weapons. Avoid large crowds and political protests. Take local advice if you’re in an area with heightened political tension. Local police may impose curfews to contain the situation. Curfews usually run from 7pm to 5am but times can vary. The authorities may put out a press release which is usually posted on the Ministry of the Interior’s website.
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Bawku Municipal area in the Upper East region of Ghana. This is due to the number of violent incidents. The Ghanaian military have deployed additional military to the region to strengthen security.
If you must travel to Bawku, you are strongly advised to contact the regional police headquarters in Bolgatanga town before travelling. Frequent curfews have been put in place in Bawku, with requirements and times changing. Security checks, including roadblocks, are often in effect and you should be prepared to show identification if asked. Be prepared for the security response to change without notice.
Since October there have been a number of attacks related to the conflict in Bawku on the Nasia -Walewale-Bolgatanga road (Northeast) and the Bolgatanga- Zebilla – Bawku – Pulmankom road (Upper East). Many people are arranging police escorts when travelling along these roads. British citizens should take this into consideration including any precautionary measures before deciding to travel along these roads.
In August, tribal conflict broke out in the western part of Savannah Region, near the Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso borders. This has resulted in a number of deaths and displacement of communities. Visitors travelling in that region should keep informed about the situation, seek local advice and take precautions.
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