The national airline is Ghana International Airlines (website: www.fly-ghana.com). Commercial operations began in October 2005, flying from London to Accra daily.

From London to Accra is six hours 30 minutes (direct) or eight hours 25 minutes (with stopover in Kano). From New York is nine hours 30 minutes (direct).

Accra (ACC) (Kotoka) is 10km (6 miles) north of Accra (travel time – 20 minutes). To/from the airport: Taxis to the city are available. Facilities: Banks/bureaux de change, car hire, duty free shops, restaurants and tourist information.

GHC22,000 for international departures and GHC500 for domestic departures. Rates are subject to change without warning.

Main ports: Takoradi and Tema. Ships run between Tema and Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon and South Africa.

A coast road links Lagos (Nigeria), Cotonou (Benin) and Lomé (Togo) to Accra. The best internal road from Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) runs inland through Kumasi. The main north–south route is also in good condition. Buses and taxis run between Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo and Ghana. The road from Burkina Faso crosses the border at Navrongo. Long-distance taxis operate between Ghana and neighbouring countries. See Travel – Internal for information on documentation.

There are domestic services between Accra, Kumasi and Tamale.

GHC500.

The Yapei Queen, a lake steamer, runs twice weekly across Lake Volta between Akosombo and Yeji. Ferries connect at Yeji for Buipe and Makongo, both from which it is possible to arrange onward transportation to Tamale. Booking is advised and can be organised from the Ministry of Tourism (see Top Things To Do).

The rail network is limited to a 1000km- (600 mile-) loop by the coast connecting the cities of Accra, Takoradi and Kumasi and several intervening towns. There is also a rail link between the two main ports of Tema and Takoradi. Trains run at least twice a day on all three legs of this single-track triangle. There are two classes of ticket. Passenger cars are not air conditioned. Children under three years of age travel free; half-fare is charged for children aged three to 11.

There are 38,940km (24,196 miles) of roads, generally in good condition, but roads outside of the towns are in poor condition. Traffic drives on the right. Car hire: Available but extremely expensive, with or without driver. Coach: State-run and private coach services connect all major towns. The most popular national coach line is the Intercity STC. Vansef STC and Neoplans Buses shuttle hourly between Kumasi and Accra. Other regional capitals and major towns can be reached by bus or by tro tros from Kumasr. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required. A British driving licence is valid for 90 days.

Roads in the major towns have undergone massive renovation to improve traffic flow. Accra has extensive bus and taxi services operated by the private sector. There is an abundance of taxis in the towns. Prices are reasonable. Drivers do not generally expect tips. Other ways of getting around, for the more adventurous traveller, are tro-tros (minibuses) and mammy wagons (converted pick-up trucks).