This is the third and final part of the series of blogs about travelling by public transport in Ghana. In this part I answer frequently asked questions about this subject. Is your question not listed and did you not find the necessary information in part 1 and part 2?
Don’t worry! Simply add your question to complete this FAQ about travel in Ghana in the comments and I’ll provide you with the answer!
How is the condition of the roads in Ghana?
I often hear people say that all roads in Ghana are bad. They’re not! The road network in Ghana is a mix of very good roads, unpaved roads and paved roads with lots of holes. The last one is very annoying for drivers and also for you as a traveller. The government tries to maintain it, but it is difficult to keep up. In recent years there has been a lot of infrastructural development in Ghana. Many flyovers have been added at congested areas and many roundabouts on main roads are being removed.
Can I use Google maps and navigation in Ghana?
Yes and no. The roads on Google maps are pretty accurate and therefore the navigation works reasonably well. But the time assessment doesn’t work! Sometimes people tell me that they can reach their hotel within 11 minutes from the airport according to Google maps. Later I hear that it took an hour and a half. The traffic in Accra and Kumasi is heavy, very heavy… And you never know what you will meet along the way.
Google maps also often do not know how bad the condition of a road can be. Instead of the quickest route, it can happen that you end up on a terrible road that really doesn’t make you and the driver happy!
How do I know which means of transport is best to take?
As I wrote in the previous blog, buy a good travel guide book like the Bradt Ghana guide and talk to locals and the staff in the hostels, guesthouses and hotels where you are staying.
But in general you can stick to the following basic rule: between the big cities there are big busses, like VIP and STC. The smaller the places, the smaller the means of transport. The latter is not always true, because when a place is a popular travel destination for Ghanaians, larger buses are being used. For instance, remember the Abesua Prayer mountain, near Moon&Star guesthouse. Regularly there are VIP buses from Accra to Abesua.
Is travelling in Ghana difficult?
No! It takes some getting used to, but just go for it! And when you don’t feel like it, or when you don’t understand which tro tro or shared taxi goes to where. No problem! There are plenty of dropping taxis that can take you anywhere. But negotiate the price in advance! Ask, when you can, in advance a Ghanaian how much it should cost.
A lot of tourists check the price it would cost with Uber. Which is understandable of course, since nowadays we can find everything online. But please keep in mind that the prices with Uber are often not fair prices for the driver. Especially not for the long distances.
Is it expensive to travel across Ghana by public transport?
That’s a tricky question to answer. It depends on what you’re comparing to. If you travel almost entirely with tro tro’s and shared taxis as a tourist then it is very affordable. If you also travel by coach then it is already a bit more expensive. At the moment it costs €9 to travel from Accra to Kumasi with a touring car, a journey of 4 hours. With a tro tro this trip costs €5. You can also take a dropping taxi and that would cost about €85. Flying from Accra to Kumasi is also an option and costs €50 per person.
If you have any additions to this FAQ about travel in Ghana, please let me know in the comments below!
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