Wayzata World Factbook 1995/World Factbook - 1995 Edition - Wayzata Technology (1995).iso/mac/text/Build/tvlmactxt/GHANA.TVL

Text File | 1994-12-07 | 6KB | 111 lines

Ghana - Consular Information Sheet
October 20, 1994

Country Description:  Ghana is a developing country on the west coast of
Africa.  Facilities for tourism in Accra are available, but are limited in
some of the more remote areas of the country.

Entry Requirements:  A passport and a visa are required.  Evidence of
immunization for yellow fever and cholera is also required.  All travelers
are required to pay an airport departure tax of 8,000 Ghanaian cedis ($15).
For additional information, travelers may contact the Embassy of Ghana, 3512
International Drive, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone [phone].
 There is also a Ghanaian Consulate General at 19 East 47th Street, New
York, N. Y. 10017, telephone [phone].

Areas of Instability:  Travel to and through the northern region of Ghana
could be dangerous because of the potential for the resumption of ethnic
violence.

Medical Facilities:  Medical facilities in Ghana are limited, particularly
outside the capital city of Accra.  Malaria is common, as are other tropical
diseases.  Doctors and hospitals often request immediate cash payment for
health services.  U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the
United States.  Supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas
coverage has proved to be helpful.  Further information on health matters
may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control's international
travelers hotline at [phone].

Information on Crime:  Petty crime, such as pickpocketing, is common.
Robberies often occur in public places and at the beach.  The loss or theft
abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to local police and
to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  The pamphlets "A Safe Trip
Abroad" and "Tips for Travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa" provide useful
information on protecting personal security while traveling abroad and on
travel in the region in general.  Both are available from the Superintendent
of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.

Drug Penalties:  U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in
which they are traveling.  Penalties for possession, use or trafficking in
illegal drugs are strict.  Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and
fines.

Import-Export Restrictions:  Ghana has strict laws on currency exchange, and
on the import and export of gold, diamonds and other natural resources.
Only designated official agencies are authorized to handle import-export
transactions.  Attempts to evade regulations are punishable by a three-to-
seven-year prison term.  Smuggling of any kind is a serious crime in Ghana;
airport officials have the authority to conduct body searches.  Currency
transactions with private citizens are illegal.  Ghana has roadblock
checkpoints where automobiles and sometimes passengers may be searched.
Visitors arriving in Ghana with electronic equipment, particularly video
cameras and laptop computers, may be required to pay a refundable deposit of
17.5 percent of the value of the item prior to entry into the country.  To
receive a refund of the deposit, visitors must apply to the Customs and
Excise Office, located in central Accra, 48 hours before departure.

Prohibitions on Photography:  In some areas, possession of a camera is
considered to be suspicious.  Individuals have been arrested for taking
pictures near sensitive installations.

Dual Nationality:  The Government of Ghana does not recognize dual
nationality except for minors under 21 years of age.  A dual national who
enters Ghana with a Ghanaian passport will be treated as a Ghanaian citizen
only.  If a dual national Ghanaian-American enters Ghana on a Ghanaian
passport and is later arrested for any reason while in Ghana, the U.S.
Embassy normally is not notified of the arrest by Ghanaian authorities.
Consular assistance for dual U.S.-Ghanaian citizens is limited.

Clothing Prohibitions:  The wearing of any military apparel, such as
camouflage jackets or pants, or any clothing or items which may appear
military in nature is strictly prohibited.

Aviation Issues:  In April 1992 the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration
assessed Ghana's civil aviation as not providing safety oversight in
compliance with international aviation safety standards for Ghanaian airline
operations to the U.S.  Typically, the same level of safety oversight is
applied to Ghanaian airline operations to other destinations.  Airlines
whose aviation safety oversight is provided by Ghana are not allowed to
operate to the U.S.  However, a Ghanaian airline may fly to the U.S. because
the airplane and crew are hired from another country whose civil aviation
authority provides acceptable safety oversight.  For further information,
travelers may contact the Department of Transportation at 1-800-322-7873.

Service of Regional Airlines:  The service provided by a number of regional
air carriers, including Ghana Airways, has been reported to be unreliable.
The airlines have been known to skip scheduled stops, arrive on non-
scheduled days and regularly overbook flights, all of which can cause
unexpected delays and additional expense.  Travelers may be required to
handle increased financing of alternate ticketing and/or increased food and
lodging needs.

Registration:  Americans who register at the U.S. Embassy may obtain updated
information on travel and security within Ghana.

Embassy Location:  The U.S. Embassy is located on Ring Road East, P.O. Box
194, Accra, Ghana  The telephone number is (233-21) 77-53-47.  The Consular
section is located at the Embassy annex, 10th and 11th Lanes, near Danquah
Circle, OSU.  The telephone numbers are (233-21) 77-53-47/8; the consular
section's fax number is (233-21) 77-57-47.

No. 94-243

This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated September 2, 1994, to
note the lifting of the state of emergency in the northern region, to note
the inconsistency of the service of regional air carriers, and to list the
new telephone numbers of the U.S. Embassy.