Things to Know Before Visiting Ghana
Customs, etiquette, plugs, power cuts, taxis, tipping and the cultural details that make the difference between visiting and being welcome.
Planning · 28 November 2025
Ghana is one of the easiest countries in West Africa to travel in, and Ghanaians are famously welcoming. A few things are worth knowing before you land.
Use your right hand
Give, receive, eat, wave and point with your right hand. The left is considered unclean. This one matters, and people notice.
Greet before anything else
A conversation starts with a greeting, always. Walking up and launching into a question reads as rude even when you are in a hurry. Learn a few words of Twi and watch doors open.
Titles and elders
Age is respected. Greet the oldest person in a group first. Many people will call you sister, brother, auntie or uncle as a courtesy. It is warmth, not familiarity.
Dress
Ghanaians dress well and neatly, and casual visitors in beachwear away from the beach stand out. Cover shoulders and knees at churches, mosques, palaces and villages. Friday is a good day to wear something in Ghanaian print.
Power and plugs
230V with UK-style three-pin plugs. Power cuts happen, so bring a power bank and a torch. Most hotels have a generator.
Internet and phones
Buy a local SIM at the airport or any MTN or Telecel shop, and bring your passport for it. Data is cheap and coverage is good in the south. WhatsApp is how the whole country communicates.
Getting around
Ride-hailing apps work well in Accra and Kumasi. Tro-tros are minibuses running fixed routes very cheaply, an experience though not with luggage. Agree taxi fares before getting in.
Tipping
Not obligatory but always appreciated. Ten percent in restaurants where service is not included, and something for your guide and driver at the end of a good tour.
Funerals
You may be invited to one. Ghanaian funerals are large public celebrations of a life, and being asked is a compliment. Wear black and red, or black and white for an elder, and bring a small donation.
More Ghana travel guides
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Ten Places You Should Not Leave Ghana Without Seeing
From the canopy bridges of Kakum to the stilt village of Nzulezu, the places we send every visitor to, and why.
Ghana Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors
Money, visas, transport, greetings, bargaining and the small practical things nobody tells you before you land.
Come as a visitor. Leave with fond memories of Ghana.
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