Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Ghana, you are subject to its laws.  Foreign laws and legal systems can be significantly different than our own and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law.  Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses.  In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you.  In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. In some places, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail.  These criminal penalties will vary from country to country.  There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods.  Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.  If you break local laws in Ghana, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.  It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not wherever you go.

Persons violating Ghanaian laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.  Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Ghana are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.  The use of illegal drugs procured in Ghana may have life-threatening consequences.  There have been several deaths of U.S. citizens resulting from the use of narcotics procured locally.

Arrest notifications in host country: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in that country, others may not.  To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Visitors arriving or departing Ghana with more than $5,000 USD in cash are required to declare the amount at the border.  Currency exchange is available at most banks and at licensed foreign exchange bureaus, but currency transactions with private citizens are illegal.  The Government of Ghana also prohibits departing travelers from carrying more than 500 new Ghana Cedis out of the country.  Ghanaian currency must either be spent or exchanged before departure, or it will be confiscated.

Strict customs regulations govern temporary importation into or export from Ghana of items such as gold, diamonds and precious natural resources.  Only agents licensed by the Ghana Precious Minerals Marketing Commission (www.pmmcghana.com), telephone (233)(030) 266-4931 or 266-4579 , may handle import-export transactions of these natural resources.  Any transaction without the commission’s endorsement is illegal and/or fraudulent.  All transactions must be completed through the commission at the price set daily by the London exchange.  Any transaction that discounts this price, or includes a previously negotiated price, is either illegal or fraudulent.  Export of gold dust is rare as it encourages dangerous and environmentally destructive practices, and transactions involving the export of gold dust are likely fraudulent.  Attempts to evade regulations are punishable by imprisonment.  It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Ghana in Washington, D.C., or one of the Ghanaian consulates in the United States, for specific information regarding customs requirements.

In rare instances, visitors arriving in Ghana with sophisticated electronic equipment (e.g., video cameras and laptop computers) may have to deposit 17.5 percent of the item's value with the Customs and Excise office at the airport.  To get the deposit refunded, visitors must apply to the Customs and Excise Office in central Accra 48 hours before departure.

Taking pictures near sensitive installations, including military sites and some government buildings, is prohibited.  These sites are not always clearly marked and application of these restrictions is subject to interpretation.  Permission may be obtained from Ghanaian security personnel.  Permission should also be obtained before photographing anyone in uniform (e.g., police and military officers).  In some cases, film and cameras have been confiscated.  For security reasons, taking photographs of the U.S. Embassy is also prohibited.

It is strictly prohibited to wear any military apparel such as camouflage jackets or trousers, or any clothing or items that may appear military in nature.

WOMEN TRAVELER INFORMATION: If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: Ghana’s criminal code outlaws “unnatural carnal knowledge” which is sometimes interpreted by local authorities as consensual same-sex sexual relations and is criminalized as a misdemeanor in Ghana. The U.S. Embassy is aware of two arrests and related extortion attempts for such activities, but has received no reports of prosecutions.  For more detailed information about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) rights in Ghana, you may review the State Department’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.  For further information on LGBT travel, please read our LGBT Travel Information page.  

ACCESSIBILITY: While in Ghana, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what you find in the United States.  Ghana’s Persons with Disabilities Act (2006) explicitly prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities in employment, health care, air travel and other transportation, and other domains.  The government does not systematically or overtly discriminate against persons with disabilities, but such persons may experience societal discrimination.  The law provides persons with disabilities access to public buildings “as far as is practical.”  However, most buildings, transportation, and educational facilities do not provide for people with special needs.  Because many streets are not well maintained or unpaved, and sidewalks are not prevalent, individuals in wheelchairs or who have difficulty walking face challenges.