About

Information About Accra, Ghana, and the Fifth Africa Forum

The fifth Africa Forum 2011 Conference, Accra Ghana, is being organized by the Institutional Development Programmed (a program of the World Blind Union) in collaboration with the Ghana Blind Union. The forum is an event of the African Decade of the disabled, and is supported by international partners including the African Union of the blind, Sight Savers International, Perkins international of the USA, and the Norwegian association of the blind and partially sighted NABP.

Venue: The Ghana Institute for Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Achimota, Ghana.

Theme: "Access Africa": Exploiting the full benefit of social inclusion for all persons.

Language

The official languages are English and French. There are however several local languages that are spoken across the length and breath of Ghana - including Akan (Twi, Fanti), Nzema, Dagbani, Ewe, Ga-Adangbe, Hausa, Guan and many more. In various parts of the country, you may find a variation of these and other languages in the form of dialects.

But never worry, everywhere you go, if you do not find someone who speaks English or even pidgin English, then you are not in Ghana!!

Find more details by visiting our travel information page.

Electricity Voltage

Ghana's voltage is 230V and the system frequency is 50Hz.

Make sure you bring along a power adaptor if you use 100-110volts equipment as very few places have 110volts facilities. Also check before you use your 110volt equipment. It is recommended that you bring along 100-240volt adaptors for your laptops and mobile phones.

Currency

The currency here is the Ghana Cedi (100 Ghana Pesewas (Gp) = 1 Ghana Cedi (GHC)). You can use your ATM, Debit and Credit Cards on most ATMs to obtain local currency. You can also freely exchange your cash in convertible currency into Ghana Cedis at any bank or bureau de change. The Banks and a few Bureaux de Change may accept your Travelers checks. It is easier to exchange Pounds Sterling, US Dollars, Euros, South African Rand, CFA Francs to Cedis. Some of the major hotels, shops and restaurants will take your VISA or VISA Electron card but cash is most preferable everywhere for purchases and payments. Other cards such as American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard are used but check with your Card issuer for further information.

Your Mobile Phone

There are five mobile phone operators- four of them GSM platform – MTN, Vodafone, Tigo and Zain and one CDMA operator - Kasapa.  You can either roam with your own number or you can buy a local SIM card from the operator of your choice if your phone is not network-locked.

There is a lot to do in Ghana. It is up to your imagination and the time you have on your hands!!

Stay in touch to this site, for further information on the Fifth Africa Forum and the launching of techshare Africa. We look forward to seeing and greeting you in Ghana for this significant event on the calendar of activities in 2011

The Fifth Africa Forum and Techshare: Access Africa: Exploiting the full benefit of social inclusion for all persons.