Ghana Resource Center for Human Development

Akwabba
(Welcome to Ghana)

There are 2 ways to Vacation in Ghana with us, Volunteer Vacation or Holiday Vacation

Please e-Mail Shady Vormanns for more information: Shady@hogrchd.org

See also:
Terms and Conditions
General Information
Knowing Ghana
Staying Healthy

Volunteer Vacation

What's Included

Food: The program fee covers two local meals a day. Food will be healthy, nutritious, and locally available.

Accommodation: Depending upon the volunteers’ particular country, location, and situation, volunteers will either stay with the host family, in lodging cabin, or with the locals. We offer clean, comfortable living spaces, and you will stay either in a single or shared room(depending on the host situation). Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping gear and other accessories.

Personalized Projects: Ghana Resources Center For Human Development (GRCHD) offers the best projects that focus on matching your interests, skills, and experiences of volunteers with their volunteer work.

Airport Reception: Upon the receipt of your flight information, we will meet you at the Kotoka Airport. The address and telephone number of the local contact will be given to you before your departure. Please make sure to send your flight information via email. You will also be provided transportation for your departure.

In-country Transportation: GRCHD manages two-way transportation to the project from Accra to Ho. Volunteers will be responsible for personal travel. Please inform us if you want to rent your own car. You will have to have a valid international drivers license.

Pre-departure Information: You will receive detailed information concerning safety, health, & required immunizations via email or letter.

What's Not Included

♦ Airfare
♦ Visa and Visa extension fee
♦ Transfer to airport and airport taxes
♦ Immunization or medication
♦ Any entrance fee during sightseeing and travel
♦ Laundry
♦ Telephone
♦ Personal expenses for food, drinks, and travel.
♦ Personal insurance

Volunteer Vacation Fee Schedule:

Program (weeks)	2	3	4	5	6
Fee *	$880	$955	$1,030	$1,105	$1,180

* Prices are subject to change

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Holiday Vacation

What's Included
The Holiday Vacation includes only lodging.

What's Not Included

Holiday Vacation Fee Schedule:

Holiday (weeks)	1	2	3	4
Lodging Fee *	$245	$490	$735	$1,050

* Prices are subject to change

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Terms and Conditions

Reservation: Reservations must be made 45 to 60 days in advance before commencement of your trip. In a case where a reservation is made less than 60 days then 60% deposit is required. The remaining 40% should be paid 30 days before arrival.

Payments: A non-refundable deposit of $100 will initiate the program. A deposit of 30% per person is payable upon booking a reservation. Payment can be made via personal check, electronic bank transfer or wire transfer.

Final Payment: Full and final payment is due 30 days prior to the date of departure. If booking is made within the 30 days of the departure date, full payment is due immediately.

Travel Booking Dates: At this time we are currently accepting reservations from September through March. Future new dates upon request.

Price Guarantee: We guarantee to impose no additional charges, whatsoever after you have paid in full within the specified time. Until you have paid in full, however, the price may be subject to change on the following items, government action, and currency fluctuations.

Changes by you: If after the contract has been completed you want to change the holiday, we will do our best to meet your requirements up to 60 days before departure (and after you have paid in full). We cannot however guarantee changes where there is no availability. Please note that changes to the holiday within 60 days of departure may result in the cancellation of the original holiday and charges will be applicable as detailed in the section below.

Cancellation by you: You may cancel the booking at any time, providing, the cancellation is communicated in writing, by the person who made the original booking. You will receive a refund of the amount paid less the cancellation fees specified below:

Period before Scheduled Departure That Notice of Cancellation is Received	Cancellation Charge as a % of the total price
Two months or more	Deposit only
Less than 2 months but One month or more	50%
Less than one month but 15 days or more	75%
14 days or les or "no show"	100%

Your Responsibility: You are responsible for obtaining all passports, visas, health certificates, International drivers licenses, travel documents, vaccination certificates, currency and travelers cheques required for the vacation and ensure that they are in order. You are responsible to arrive at stated departure places and times.

Insurance: We are not responsible for traveling Insurance but would highly advise you to take it, in the event of any unforeseen emergency.

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General Information

Health Vaccinations: All travelers should consult their doctor for proper medical advice and vaccinations before travel. At least 4 weeks before traveling. Obligatory for all visitors to Ghana is the YELLOW FEVER inoculation. The vaccination must be taken at least 10 days before the journey. Ask your doctor or check the CDC web site for more information about how to protect yourself against diseases that occur in West Africa. A yellow-fever certificate is required to bring along.

Passports, Visas: Passports should be valid for at least 6 months after the date of return. Coming from the United States, to obtain your visa get in touch with the:

   Embassy of Ghana
   3512 International Dr NW
   Washington, DC 20008

   Telephone: 1 202 686-4520 through 4526
   Fax: 1 202 686-4527
   Web site: http://ghana-embassy.org
   Email: ghemwash@cais.com

Languages: English is the official language and is widely spoken throughout Ghana. There are more than 50 tribal languages, including Ewe, Twi, Fante, and Ga.

Capital: Accra

Population: 1.5 million

Predominant Religions: Animist, Christian, And Islamic

Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Daylight saving time is not observed.

Voltage Requirements: 220 Volts. 120-volt appliances will require an adaptor. Adapters can be purchased at most hardware stores like Home depot.

Telephone Codes: The IDD code for Ghana is + (233). Telephone, fax and telex services are found in all main towns, and in the main hotels.

Transport: Good roads reach most parts of Ghana, and long distance buses, tro-tros(local mini-buses) and taxis are widely available. Car rentals are available. There is a rail service between Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi.

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Knowing Ghana

Location: Ghana is located on the west coast of Africa, along the Gulf of Guinea, and is bordered by Cote d’Ivoire,Togo and Burkina Faso. The Country covers an area of 238,000km2.

Climate/Currency: Ghana has a tropical climate- most of the year temperatures range between 21-30 degrees C (70-90 degrees F). Along the coast there is usually a constant breeze. October to March is dry months and April to September the rainy months. Ghana’s currency is the Cedi. Traveler’s cheques are recommended.

Airport: Kotoka International Airport is situated 12 km from Accra city centre. You will be greeted at the airport when you arrive.

Customs: You can bring in personal items duty free, but for details of trade goods and specialist equipment please contact the Customs, Excise and Preventative Service, or the nearest Ghanaian diplomatic mission.

Currency: Ghana’s currency is the Cedi. Traveler’s cheques are recommended. Banks and forex bureaux post rates of exchange daily. There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency that can be brought into Ghana, but all should be noted on a customs declaration form on arrival. All exchange transaction receipts should be kept for inspection on departure.

Photography: Ghana is a photographer’s paradise, with so many spectacular sights. Film is available in the main towns. However, photography is not permitted at the airport or at military and strategic sites. Also please do not photograph local people without their express consent.

Shopping: Ghana is a great place to shop. Local Ghanaian fashion is world-renowned and Ghana is the home of Kente cloth. Shops in the main towns are filled with jewelry, leather goods and basket ware. The markets are the place to buy excellent handicrafts such as Asante stools, traditional masks and drums, and souvenirs of every description- a great opportunity to practice your bargaining skill.

Exportation of Handicrafts: Anybody wishing to export handicrafts or antiques not exempt must obtain a certificate from the Museums and Monuments Board. This is provided at the main craft centers or the National Museum.

What to wear & bring: Light cotton clothing is preferable. Long-sleeved shirt, long pants, a hat to wear while outside, whenever possible, sun block, sunglasses, shorts, swimsuit, Bed net, Insect repellent containing DEET, Over-the-counter antidiarrheal medicine to take if you have diarrhea,. Iodine tablets to purify water if bottled water is not available, Bath & beach towel. Personal toiletries.

Traditional courtesies: Ghanaians are a conservative people and respect traditional courtesies. Handshakes, using the right hand only are the common greeting. Visitors to remote villages or shines should visit the local elder, taking a small gift such as a bottle of local schnapps.

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Staying Healthy

♦ Wash hands often, with soap and water.
♦ Drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes. If this is not possible, make water safer by BOTH filtering through an “absolute 1-micron or less” filter AND adding iodine tablets to the filtered water. “Absolute 1-micron filters” are found in camping/outdoor supply stores.
♦ Eat only thoroughly cooked food, and eat only fruits or vegetables you have peeled yourself. Remember: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.
♦ Take your Malaria prevention medication before, during, and after travel, as directed by your doctor.
♦ To prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot.
♦ Always use latex condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
♦ Don’t eat food purchase from street vendors.
♦ Don’t drink beverages with ice.
♦ Don’t eat dairy products unless you know they have been pasteurized.
♦ Don’t handle animals (especially monkeys, and dogs).
♦ Don’t swim in fresh water. Salt water is usually safer.
♦ After you return home continue taking your anti-malarial drug for 4 weeks (or as prescribed by your doctor) after leaving the risk area. Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness. If you become ill with a fever or flu-like illness either while traveling in a malaria-risk area or after you return home (for up to 1 year), you should seek immediate medical attention and should tell your health care provider your travel history.

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