Aflao Travel Guide

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When traveling overland with bus or car you have to get off at Aflao station in Ghana and walk the 300 meters to the border of Togo.

You will meet many people on the way to the border who want to do business with you, change money or carry your baggage. If you havn't changed money to CFA, do it now.

Don't follow the africans when you are approaching the border because they don't need all the paper work as you have to do. First you need to get the Ghana exit stamp in the left building before you cross the border. Just fill out the exit-declaration form and give it to the Ghana immigration officer.

Then you walk to the Togo immigration on the right side at the border. Visa on arrival at Lomè border will be issued for a 7 days stay. The price is 10000 CFA (15 USD). The immigration officer will give you an A4 declaration form. Fill it out and deliver it together with your passport and 10000 CFA. Beware that some immigration officers will ask for a dash bribe (1000-5000 CFA). Play stupid and tell them you don't understand, but be polite. They can make some hassle.

The Ghana immigration office is to the left in the picture (yellow arrow). The Togo immigration office is to the right in the picture (red arrow).

To go to Accra, you can take a private car, it will cost you 300000 cedis.
Or, take a taxi to the STC bus station and take a good bus, you will pay 20000 cedis.
You can also take a trotro, it is very dangerous on a so short distance, so I discourage you to use this.

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The border area of the town is a markedplace for people trading goods between Ghana and Togo. Some places along the street to the border is very hectic. The gravel street was wet and muddy when I was there.

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.