Is It Safe to Travel to Ghana in 2026?
Ghana - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Ghana, officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It is situated with the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, and shares borders with Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, and Togo to the east.
Is It Safe to Travel to Ghana in 2026?
Ghana is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution in Ghana due to crime and violence against women travelers and LGBTQ+ travelers. Reconsider travel to the Upper East Region, North East Region, Upper West Region, and the western portion of the Savannah Region due to civil unrest and crime.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
- civil_unrest
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: increased risks in specific regions due to civil unrest and crime, violent crimes, such as carjacking, street mugging, assaults, and rape do occur, rhetoric and violence targeting individuals based on sexual orientation have increased.
Active restrictions in Ghana:
- Security escort may be required
Must obtain special authorization to travel to the Upper West Region, Upper East Region, North East Region, and the western area of the Savannah Region.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face significant risks of street crime, including mugging and sexual assault, particularly in urban areas after dark.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to civil unrest in certain regions, but major cities have reliable infrastructure and accommodations.
Families with children should be cautious of health risks such as malaria and limited healthcare access outside urban centers, particularly in the northern regions.
Remote workers can find decent connectivity in urban areas, but should avoid rural regions where infrastructure is less reliable.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Ghana.
Regional Safety Breakdown
▶Level 3 — Reconsider Travel4 regions
▶North East Region
Reconsider travel due to civil unrest and crime.
▶Savannah Region
Reconsider travel due to civil unrest and crime.
▶Upper East Region
Reconsider travel due to civil unrest and crime.
▶Upper West Region
Reconsider travel due to civil unrest and crime.
Ghana has 4 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Ghana has an overall threat severity of 4.2 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 6.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Free — scored 80/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Ghanaian Cedi (GHS)
Language
English
Notable restrictions:
- Ghanaian law prohibits same-sex sexual intimacy, punishable by fines and/or incarceration up to three years.
Vaccinations
Required:
- Yellow Fever: Vaccine is required for all arriving travelers ≥9 months old.
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- alertClade II Monkeypox in Ghana and Liberia: There are outbreaks of clade II monkeypox in Ghana and Liberia, where monkeypox is endemic.
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Ghana
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Ghana?
▶Is it safe to travel to Ghana right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Ghana?
▶What vaccines do I need for Ghana?
▶Is Ghana safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Ghana?
More Ghana Data
Free — 80/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.