Aflao Tourist Traps

Around all borders in the world, there are people and forex offices offering you to change your currencies.

If you want to buy CFA, have some dollars or Euros or Pounds, with a preference for dollars.
Check the rate on Internet before.
They will always start by giving you a very bad rate, for instance if rate is 550 for 1$, they bid you 200.
Second cheat: they try to give you less banknotes.
Third cheat: when you give them your banknotes, they go to check that it is not a fake one, change yours with a fake one and come back to tell that you gave them a fake banknote.

Unique Suggestions: 1) Check the rates on Internet or in Accra.
2) Give your banknotes when you have their banknotes in your hand and when you are sure that you have the correct amount. Count at least three times to be sure.
3) Show them that you write the number of the banknotes on a pice of paper. If they come back with another banknote, you can prove they changed it.

Fun Alternatives: In Lome, there are a lot of banks where you can change. (you cannot change cedis there) So, for your first small expenses, change a minimum and go to Lome.