Travel Alert Status
Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Time Difference:
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Travel Climate:
Ghana's climate is tropical with temperatures between 21°C and 32°C (70°F and 90°F). Rainy seasons extend from April to July (heavy rains) and from September to November (light rains). Annual rainfall exceeds 200 centimeters on the coast, decreasing inland. Accra’s annual rainfall averages about 76 centimeters, low for coastal West Africa. The southern part of the country is humid most of the year, but the north can be very dry.
It is coolest from May until October. In December the harmattan, a dry dusty wind from the Sahara, covers the country, and lasts through February. The desert wind reduces humidity, and early mornings and nights are relatively cool. Visibility during the harmattan can be poor, as the air is filled with fine dust.
Travel Currency:
cedi (GHC)
Language Spoken:
The official language of Ghana is English. There are movements to make several local languages official as well. The Twi dialect of Akan is the language most commonly used on a daily basis to communicate between ethnic groups. Most Ghanaians are at least bilingual.
Languages:
English (official), African languages (including Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga)
Ethnic Groups:
black African 98.5% (major tribes - Akan 44%, Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%, Gurma 3%, Yoruba 1%), European and other 1.5%
National Holiday:
Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Geographic Coordinates:
8 00 N, 2 00 W
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
Airports:
7