Ghana Tourist Traps

  Haggling over a price
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  • Haggling over a price
      Haggling over a price
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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Internet dating sites

by Alpha_Ghana

It is a fact: if you become old, it is difficult in Europe to meet sexy young girls (unless you pay).If you go to the Internet cafés of Accra, you will see many men creating profiles of sexy girls who want to marry an American, as old as possible.They know what to say, but there is only one goal: HIT MONEY If the picture is too sexy or looks like a professional picture, it is fake. Don't answer them. If they give you a phone number to call, and a girl is answering, it does not mean that you have a girl behind, it can just be a friend acting on behalve of your "lover". Never send money, never spend money on them.

Busua Beach "Hawkers"

by G33na

Be aware of the many beach hawkers trying to sell you just about anything from coconuts to dried fish.Having learnt the hard way ( by giving in to one ) it is wiser to say a firm no and look away and if that does not work, its time to get mean!They get the message pretty soon and leave you alone to enjoy the sea and surf. My best advice is to stay firm with buying from the hawkers. If you buy once they will only pester you each time they see you. But I know it is hard to say no so just be aware. The alternative would be to take an hours drive west of Busua ( heading towards Ankobra Beach Hotel ) this is a lovely quiet beach resort with food served and accommodation provided in chalet form. It is pricey so it would be great to go for the day. No hawkers in sight there at all. Well worth a visit.

Tip Photo
Kotoka Airport

by Alpha_Ghana

Airport: There are always hundred and hundred of people when you land at Kotoka. There is no problem with the custom, no steal and no tips demanded by police. If nobody is waiting for you, go directly to the FOREX in the airport and make some change. When you go out, there are plenty of people requesting you to carry your bags. It is almost impossible to prevent them from doing it. However, they won't steal, they will find a taxi for you and carry everything to the car.You can then tip them, one banknote of 2000 or 5000 cedis. Not more.There is no counter in the car, so you will have to negociate. The price from the Airport to OSU is 15000. You are very close. The price for one hour of use of the car is between 30000 and 40000. Be careful, they are able to ask you 100000 cedis for the course! It doesn't look very expensive regarding European or US standards, but for that price you go to...

Purchase of African art: handicraft.

by Alpha_Ghana

As you are in Ghana, you will certainly buy wood (ebony) crafts and the fantastic Kente.Craft: when you go to markets or in the street, they give you a very high price. Of course you have to negociate. Some people tell you to reach the half of the price. That's even too much.All crafts are made in large quantities. All those people are not sculptors. The price for a small ebony item is between 2 and 5 dollars when wrapped FOB Tema. If they don't want to reduce the price, don't forget that there is a huge competition, so go somewhere else. There is nothing so particular and be firm with prices. If you want to pay 10$ and they ask you 100$, then make a counter-proposal at 5 cents.Never tell your price, be always far below. On the road to the garden of Aburi, coming from Accra, there are a lot of workshops alongside the road. They have very good quality work and it is cheaper than in...

419

by Alpha_Ghana

NIGERIAN BUSINESS.As you are in West Africa, you can meet people or they can find your address in Europe or US. They will send you a fax or letteror e-mail, even call you, requesting you for a very good business. They are all the son of a very rich man who just died and saved millions of USD in banknotes. You can check the names, they are real. The money is in a security house and they beg you to help to save the money in Europe. They are ready to give you 20%.If you go with them, you see effectively millions in banknotes in a house, but the bags have been there for a very long time and they don't have the first dollar to pay the renting and be able to withdraw the bags from the house. So YOU have to pay. Be careful, all is fake. They are very good actors and even Swiss bankers were had in this business.Never accept any kind of business from people there. Never trust Nigerians, they are...

Tourist Market

by Sheppy

The tourist market in Accra was the only bad experience I had in the two week visit. Once in you are bombarded by eager sellers trying to peddle their goods. Ahh, you say, lightweight westerner, unable to take the pressure of true bargining.... Well I've served my time and can bargin as happily as the next man but that wasn't the problem here. There is actually a nasty undertone. I had people blocking my into their shops while trying to get me to buy (having to push out of shops is not a pleasant experience), people grabbing me and trying, forcefully to get me into their shops, and in general the bargining was not done in good humour.Also every stall sells nearly identical items at nearly identical prices anyway. Buy off the people who DON'T hassle you! They probably have better goods and you're buying experience will definately be more enjoyable.I would say that at the first sign of...

Buying handcrafts

by sarahandgareth

Of course, as a visitor to Ghana you will want to buy some of the distinctive local crafts, but it's important not to be trapped into paying far above the worth of objects, since it only increases the temptation to rip people off, which is hardly in the long-term interests of a burgeoning tourist industry. Don't go out out shopping on your first day: take your time to get oriented, to see some crafts in different settings, to decide what you really want. The large mask which you like so much in the market, or the museum, might not be so appealing when it's in your living room, for example. Think about where you might put pieces. And be creative, too: I bought a long piece of cloth which would normally have been made into a woman's outfit, but instead made a gorgeous tablecloth for my mother! When you finally decide what to buy, bargain away. Don't 'bargain hard' in that 'they'll never...

pick pockets

by abdulwa

make sure you dont fall for petty pickpockets and confident tricksters.dont just start off a conversation or be friendly to everyone you meet.the best guide is to get a trusty ghanaian friend to walk with.you can get one at the tourist board if you dont have a friend here. make sure you are always on guard and watch out for anyone tracing or following you.make sure you know exactly where you are going and not decide when you are out. when it happens report at the nearest police station and your embassy.

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Prices

by Whoopi

The same as in every tourist country with no fixed prices - they try to cheat! Usually they try to ask for three times the price things are worth. If they say they can't go any lower in price, tell them it is too expensive and walk away. If they still can go lower they will call for you. If they have given you the correct price they'll let you go, and then you can safely return and give them what they've asked for...

If you are interested in...

by kwamebroni

If you are interested in african craft and art you have to know this place.There is a nice market around Teteh Quashie runabout.Very good prices not much people nobody will boder you if you move from place to place.Located near by legon university on the way to go to Kotoka airport.

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The Place

Reviews and photos of Ghana attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Ghana sightseeing.

Experience Ghana
 

Questions and Answers

Raskent profile photo

Q:  I'm planning my trip for Ghana for next year and I'm want to bring some food items such as can foods. Is it ok, and if so is there... 

rashepard profile photo

A: Why do you want to carry can goods? You can go to a number of grocery stores in Accra. Although I have carried some specialty items, the Accra airport does not usually... 

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