Ghana is one of the special countries for me because my roots lay in Ghana, although I am originally from the Netherlands.
Formerly known as the Gold Coast, Ghana was the first sub-Saharan country to gain independence from Britain in 1957.
Now, the counry is known for cocoa, the Afrobeat(s) scene, my favorite music genre, and the Ghanaian hospitality.
Accra, the capital of Ghana, has meny museums to go to. Make sure to visit the Makola market too! Head to Kumasi too with the Kejetia Market and Lake Bosomtwe.
Like parks? Mole National Park has plenty of elephants to be seen. The same counts for Kakum National Park, but they also have Diana monkey there and a super cool treetop walkway. In short, there is no reason to be bored while in Ghana.
What will also not bore you is dealing with an expensive roaming bill you will get from roaming with your provider in Ghana. Roaming can be expensive in many cases, which is why many travelers prefer to buy a local SIM card, like a Ghanaian one.
Mobile data rates in Ghana are low compared to the world average, so you should definitely take advantage of that.
In this article, I will go over everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in Ghana. Let's get started.
Telecom Providers in Ghana
Ghana has 4 telecom operators: MTN Ghana, Vodafone Ghana, AirtelTigo, and Glo Ghana. All operators, except for Glo Ghana, have 2G, 3G, and 4G/LTE networks – Glo does not have 4G/LTE.
Additionally, there are 2 4G/LTE-only operators, which are Busy and Blu Telecom. These operators do not have 2G and 3G roaming agreements with the other operators, meaning that there is no fallback with them. They are primarily targeted to those living in places where broadband internet is inaccessible. Therefore, Busy and Blu Telecom cannot be recommended to travelers and will not be discussed in this article.
What SIM card should you buy when visiting Ghana? If you want to buy a SIM card in Ghana, I would recommend going with MTN because they have the best coverage and speeds. They are also the most expensive. If you prefer a lot of variety in data packages, go with Vodafone because they have a lot of plans. AirtelTigo is also a good candidate with their Big Time Data bundles that do not expire.
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Like most countries in West Africa, and Africa in general, you have to register yourself when buying a SIM card.
There is not much more to say about the telecom situation in Ghana, so let’s see what Ghana has to offer to us.
MTN Ghana
MTN Ghana, just MTN, is the largest operator in Ghana, with a market share of more than 45%. MTN also has the best coverage and speeds in Ghana, which is why they are so beloved in the country.
MTN SIM cards can be bought for 2 GHS in MTN stores. MTN recharge cards are sold almost everywhere in the country. To top-up, dial *134*VoucherCode#. For example, if your voucher code is 123456, then you would dial *134*123456#. Dial *124# to check your MTN balance.
MTN offers several data packs, ranging from ones that are valid for 24 hours to plans that are valid for 30 days. To activate a data bundle, you have to dial *138# and select the bundle of choice (or *567# for MTN Mashup (Pulse)). The selection string could look like *138# – option 1 – option 2 – option 3 – option 4.
For example, the 5 GHS plan that comes with 300 MB for one week would have to be purchased by dialing *138#, option 1, option 2, and option 4 – it will be listed as *138#-1-2-4 below.
MTN Super Savers
First, let’s start with MTN’s combo bundles, which are called Super Saver Bundles. There are 6 of them:
- 5 GHS: 100 MB and 50 minutes for 7 days. Activation: dial *138#-4-1
- 10 GHS: 300 MB and 100 minutes for 7 days. Activation: dial *138#-4-2
- 20 GHS: 700 MB and 300 minutes for 7 days. Activation: dial *138#-4-3
- 30 GHS: 1 GB and 500 minutes for 30 days. Activation: dial *138#-4-4
- 50 GHS: 1.5 GB and 700 minutes for 30 days. Activation: dial *138#-4-5
- 100 GHS: 4 GB and 1500 minutes for 30 days. Activation: dial *138#-4-6
MTN Mashup (Pulse) – Weekly & Monthly
There is also something called MTN Mashup (Pulse), which is another form of weekly bundles:
- 5 GHS: 125 MB and 125 minutes. Activation: dial *567#-2-1
- 5 GHS: 150 MB and 100 minutes. Activation: dial *567#-2-2
- 5 GHS: 200 MB and 50 minutes. Activation: dial *567#-2-3
- 5 GHS: 250 MB. Activation: dial *567#-2-4
MTN Pulse comes in 4 monthly variants as well:
- 10 GHS: 250 MB and 250 minutes. Activation: dial *567#-3-1
- 10 GHS: 300 MB and 200 minutes. Activation: dial *567#-3-2
- 10 GHS: 350 MB and 150 minutes. Activation: dial *567#-3-3
- 10 GHS: 500 MN. Activation: dial *567#-3-4
MTN Daily Bundles
MTN has 4 daily data bundles to choose from, which are valid for 24 hours:
- 0.50 GHS: 20 MB. Activation: dial *138#-1-1-1
- 1 GHS: 50 MB. Activation: dial *138#-1-1-2
- 2 GHS: 120 MB. Activation: dial *138#-1-1-3
- 3 GHS: 500 MB. Activation: dial *138#-1-1-4
MTN Weekly Bundles
Need a data plan that lasts you a full week? Consider one of these 5 MTN weekly bundles:
- 1 GHS: 25 MB. Activation: dial *138#-1-2-1
- 2 GHS: 60 MB. Activation: dial *138#-1-2-2
- 3 GHS: 180 MB. Activation: dial *138#-1-2-3
- 5 GHS: 300 MB. Activation: dial *138#-1-2-4
- 10 GHS: 1 GB. Activation: dial *138#-1-2-5
MTN Monthly Bundles
Staying in Ghana for a month? You have these 8 MTN monthly bundles:
- 10 GHS: 400 MB. Activation: dial *138#-1-3-1
- 20 GHS: 1 GB. Activation: dial *138#-1-3-2
- 40 GHS: 2.5 GB. Activation: dial *138#-1-3-3
- 60 GHS: 4 GB. Activation: dial *138#-1-3-0-4
- 80 GHS: 6 GB. Activation: dial *138#-1-3-0-5
- 120 GHS: 10 GB. Activation: dial *138#-1-3-0-6
- 150 GHS: 15 GB. Activation: dial *138#-1-3-0-7
- 199 GHS: 20 GB. Activation: dial *138#-1-3-0-8
Vodafone Ghana
Vodafone Ghana, just Vodafone, used to be the second-largest operator in Ghana without a doubt. However, since Airtel Ghana and Tigo Ghana merged into AirtelTigo, the subscriber numbers between Vodafone and AirtelTigo have been so close that it is hard to say who is larger.
Vodafone SIM cards are sold for 2 GHS in Vodafone stores. Ask for their 4G/LTE SIM card if you plan on using Vodafone’s 4G/LTE network. Vodafone top-up vouchers are sold almost in probably every street in Ghana. To top-up, dial *125*VoucherCode#. For example, if your voucher code is 123456, then you would dial *125*123456#. Dial *124# to check your Vodafone balance.
Vodafone has many types of bundles, from voice and data bundles and data bundles. There is a total of 12 different bundle categories. I will go through each one, and I will start with the combo bundles.
Vodafone Bossu Bundles
There are 5 Vodafone Bossu bundles. Dial *5888# to activate this bundle.
- 2.15 GHS: 100 MB and 100 minutes for 24 hours
- 5.40 GHS: 5 GB (2.5 GB on Saturday and 2.5 GB on Sunday) and 300 minutes (150 minutes on Saturday and 150 minutes on Sunday) for 1 weekend
- 10.75 GHS: 3.5 GB for 5 days
- 14 GHS: 4.5 GB for 5 days
- 43.50 GHS: 10 GB for 15 days
Do note this Bossa bundles auto-renew. To disable auto-renew, dial *5588#, select option 3, and choose Stop auto-renewal.
Vodafone Freedom Offers
Vodafone has Freedom offers, which is a system that uses units. Depending on the action, you will be charged 1 or 2 unit(s). The following unit rates apply:
- Data: 1 unit/MB
- On-net calls: 1 unit/min
- Off-net calls: 2 units/min
Let’s say you have 100 units. 100 units is good for 100 minutes to other Vodafone (Ghana) numbers, 50 minutes to other Ghanaian operators, or 100 MB. Of course, the number of combinations is limitless.
The Vodafone Freedom Offers come in 6 variants, which can be activated by dialing *151#:
- 1 GHS: 40 Freedom Units for 1 day
- 2 GHS: 80 Freedom Units for 3 days
- 5 GHS: 200 Freedom Units for 7 days
- 10 GHS: 400 Freedom Units for 28 days
- 20 GHS: 800 Freedom Units for 28 days
- 50 GHS: 2000 Freedom Units for 28 days
Vodafone Red Bundles
Then you have 11 Vodafone Red bundles that are overall combo plans that can be activated by dialing *200#:
- 1.08 GHS: 50 MB, unlimited on-net calls, and 10 off-net minutes for 24 hours
- 2 GHS: 50 MB and 50 local minutes with no expiry
- 2.15 GHS: 100 MB, 400 on-net minutes, and 30 off-net minutes for 3 days
- 5.40 GHS: 150 MB and 150 local minutes with no expiry
- 5.40 GHS: 250 MB, 125 on-net minutes, and 125 off-net minutes for 7 days
- 10.75 GHS: 320 MB, 320 local minutes, and 10 SMS for 30 days
- 21.50 GHS: 750 MN, 1200 on-net minutes, 300 off-net minutes, and 20 SMS for 30 days
- 27 GHS: 1.5 GB, 500 local minutes, and 20 SMS for 30 days
- 30 GHS: 1.5 GB, unlimited on-net minutes, 500 off-net minutes, and 20 SMS for 30 days
- 54 GHS: 4 GB, unlimited on-net minutes, 900 off-net minutes, and 20 SMS for 30 days
- 108 GHS: 8 GB, unlimited on-net minutes, 2000 iff0net minutes, and 20 SMS for 30 days.
You have the option to let Vodafone Red Bundles auto-renew or not. If enabled by accident, dial *200#, select option 3, and choose Stop auto-renewal.
Vodafone VIM
If you are between the ages of 18 and 24, then Vodafone VIM may be for you. For 5.40 GHS, you get:
- 300 MB
- 55 GHS credit for on-net calls
- 1.30 GHS credit for off-net calls
You can purchase Vodafone VIM by dialing *566#. Do note that you will receive weekly motivational voice content with this plan, and I am not sure what that is supposed to mean.
Vodafone Hourly Offers
Vodafone has 2 Hourly Offers:
- 1.08 GHS: 60 MB with no expiry. Activation: dial *700#
- 2.15 GHS: 2 GB for 1 hour. Activation: dial *700*52#
Vodafone Daily Offers
Need a data plan that lasts you for a day or two? Then these 2 Daily Offers may be for you:
- 0.54 GHS: 25 MB with no expiry. Activation: dial *700#
- 2.15 GHS: 130 MB with no expiry. Activation: dial *700#
- 3.25 GHS: 550 MB for 24 hours. Activation: dial *700*13#
- 5.4 GHS: 1 GB for 2 days. Activation: dial *700*15#
Vodafone Night King Bundles
Active during the night, especially between 12 AM and 4 AM? Vodafone has 2 Night King Bundles for you:
- 2:15 GHS: 2 GB for 1 night. Activation: dial *700*71#
- 5.40 GHS: 7.5 GB for 1 night. Activation: dial *700*72#
Vodafone Weekly Offers
Staying in Ghana for a week? Consider these 5 Vodafone Weekly offers:
- 2.15 GHS: 130 MB with no expiry. Activation: dial *700*26#
- 5.4 GHS: 600 MB and 600 MB at night (12 AM – 4 AM) with no expiry. Activation: dial *700#
- 10 GHS: 1.5 GB and 1.5 GB at night (12 AM – 4 AM) for 15 days. Activation: dial *700#
- 21.5 GHS: 4 GB for 7 days. Activation: dial *700*230#
Vodafone Monthly Offers
Exploring Ghana for a month? These 3 Vodafone Monthly Offers could be interesting.
- 20 GHS: 4 GB and 4 GB at night (12 AM – 4 AM). Activation: dial *700*1*1#
- 50 GHS: 10 GB and 10 GB at night (12 AM – 4 AM). Activation: dial *700*1*2#
- 108 GHS: 20 GB. Activation: dial *700*1*3#
Vodafone 2 Moorch Data Plans
Want data during the day and at night? Vodafone as 2 Moorch Data plans that come with a daytime data allowance and a nighttime data allowance, which is between 12 AM and 4 AM. Any 2 Moorch Data plan can be activated by dialing *700# and selecting option 1:
- 10 GHS: 1.5 GB and 1.5 GB at night
- 20 GHS: 4 GB and 4 GB at night
- 50 GHS: 10 GB and 10 GB at night
Vodafone Jumbo Offers
Need a lot of data? These 2 Vodafone Jumbo offers come with at least 40 GB for 30 days – all these plans are valid for 30 days:
- 215 GHS: 40 GB. Activation: dial *700*199#
- 322 GHS: 100 GB. Activation: dial *700*299#
- 430 GHS: 200 GB. Activation: dial *700*399#
AirtelTigo
AirtelTigo is an operator that came from a merger between Airtel Ghana and Tigo Ghana. Both companies wanted to compete with MTN and Vodafone more, so they decided that a merger was the best course of action.
AirtelTigo SIM cards are sold for 2 GHS in AirtelTigo stores. To top-up, dial *134*VoucherCode#. For example, if your voucher code is 123456, then you would dial *134*123456#. Dial *124# to check your AirtelTigo balance.
AirtelTigo has several data plans, such as Big Time Data, Sika Kokoo, and the Night Bundles. But first, let’s talk about the Fuse Bundles, which are their combo plans.
AirtelTigo Fuse Bundles
AirtelTigo Fuse bundles come in 4 variants that do not expire, and they can be purchased by dialing *111*2#:
- 2 GHS: 50 MB, 50 MB at night (12 AM – 4 AM), and 50 minutes
- 5 GHS 145 MB, 145 MB at night (12 AM – 4 AM), and 125 minutes
- 10 GHS: 300 MB, 300 MB at night (12 AM – 4 AM), and 300 minutes
- 15 GHS: 400 MB, 400 MB at night (12 AM – 4 AM), and 400 minutes
AirtelTigo Big Time Data Bundles
Big Time Data bundles do not expire, which is a cool feature. Moreover, you get night data that can be used between 12 AM to 4 AM. The following 6 AirtelTigo Big Time Data bundles are available, which can be activated by dialing *111# and choose option 1:
- 0.5 GHS: 25 MB and 25 MB at night
- 1 GHS: 65 MB and 65 MB at night
- 2 GHS: 150 MB and 150 at night
- 5 GHS: 550 MB and 550 MB at night
- 10 GHS: 1.5 GB and 1.5 GB at night
- 20 GHS: 4 GB and 4 GB at night
- 50 GHS: 10 GB and 10 GB at night
You can get up to 2 GB more (1 GB and 1 GB at night) when you buy your plan with AirtelTigo Money.
AirtelTigo Sika Kokoo Bundles
AirtelTigo also offer the Sika Kokoo bundles. For 5 GHS, you get 1.1 GB for 5 days. For 10 GHS, you will get 3 GB for 5 days. Dial *533# and choose option 2 to activate a Sika Kokoo bundle.
AirtelTigo Night Bundles
Are you active at night, specifically between 12 AM and 4 AM? AirtelTigo has 2 Night Bundes. Although they claim you get unlimited internet browsing with night bundles, there are precise data limits.
You do get unlimited on-net calls, although you would have to find someone who is up at night to take advantage of that perk. Dial *533#, select option 3, then option 1 to purchase a Night Bundle.
- 3 GHS: 5 GB
- 5 GHS: 8 GB
Do note that there is a discrepancy when looking at the Night Bundle on the AirtelTigo site. The Night Bundle page states you will get 3.5 GB and 7.5 GB for 3 GHS and 5 GHS, respectively. But their FAQ states that you will get 5 GB and 8 GB, respectively.
Glo Ghana
Glo Ghana, just Glo, is the smallest operator in Ghana. While MTN has around 17 million subscribers, and both Vodafone and AirtelTigo have approximately 10 million subscribers, Glo has about 2 million subscribers. That is probably because of the limited coverage of Glo and the lack of 4G/LTE.
Moreover, the Ghanaian Minister of Communications has warned Glo about their poor performance numerous times and has even threatened to suspend Glo’s operator license.
Although that has not happened yet, Expresso Ghana, a suspended Ghanaian operator, was warned about the same thing, and the National Communication Authority (NCA) did not renew Expresso Ghana’s license when it was due for renewal.
Based on this information, Glo may not be the best option for those who wish to explore rural Ghana. Be also aware of poor network performance. Besides that, Glo is quite cheap compared to the other operator. And the only reason why you should consider them is when you are only staying in a city.
Glo SIM cards can be bought for 2 GHS in Gloworld, which are Glo stores. Refill cards are sold in many places, and dial *124# to check your flow balance.
Glo Yakata PLUS
Glo has a plan called Glo Yakata PLUS, which are their combo plans that come with unlimited on-net minutes. You also get data that can be gifted to other Glo users, which is 1/3 of your data allowance.
Worry not, your actual data balance can be used by you, but let’s say your data allowance is 300 MB, then you get 100 MB to be gifted to someone else. If you have 3 GB, 1 GB can be gifted.
The following 6 Glo YAKATA PLUS plans are available, which can be activated by dialing *555#:
- 1 GHS: 300 MB for 2 days
- 2 GHS: 600 MB for 4 days
- 5 GHS: 1.5 GB for 10 days
- 10 GHS: 3 GB for 20 days
- 20 GHS: 6 GB for 30 days
- 50 GHS: 15 GB for 100 days
Glo Daily Data Plans
Need a data plan that will last you for 1 day? Consider one of these 3 Daily Data Plans:
- 1 GHS: 100 MB. Activation: dial *127*1#
- 2 GHS: 300 MB. Activation: dial *127*12#
- 3 GHS: 750 MB. Activation: dial *127*18#
Glo Saturday & Sunday Data Plans
Need a plan for Saturday specifically? For 2 GHS, you will get 1.5 GB for 1 Saturday. What about Sundays or Public Holidays? Glo has a Sunday/Public Holiday plan that costs 2 GHS and comes with 1.8 GB for a Sunday or public holiday. Both plans can be activated by dialing *555#
Glo Weekly Data Plans
Staying in Ghana for a week? Glo has 5 Weekly Data Plans:
- 1 GHS: 50 MB. Activation: dial *127*10#
- 2 GHS: 200 MB. Activation: dial *127*11#
- 3 GHS: 350 MB. Activation: dial *127*13#
- 5 GHS: 700 MB. Activation: dial *127*2#
- 10 GHS: 4 GB. Activation: dial *127*46#
Glo Long-Term Data Plans
Exploring Ghana for a month, 2 months, or 3 months? Glo has 9 plans that are valid between 30 and 90 days:
- 10 GHS: 1.7 GB for 30 days. Activation: dial *127*14#
- 20 GHS: 4.2 GB for 30 days. Activation: dial *127*22#
- 40 GHS: 10 GB for 30 days. Activation: dial *127*5#
- 50 GHS: 15 GB for 30 days. Activation: dial *127*3#
- 60 GHS: 20 GB for 30 days. Activation: dial *127*6#
- 80 GHS: 30 GB for 60 days. Activation: dial *127*33#
- 100 GHS: 60 GB for 90 days. Activation: dial *127*36#
- 150 GHS: 100 GB for 90 days. Activation: dial *127*37#
- 300 GHS: Unlimited data for 30 days. Activation: dial *127*30#
Other Ways to Stay Connected When Traveling in Ghana
I have discussed the relevant providers in Ghana in this article because using a Ghanaian SIM card would be much cheaper than roaming with your provider… in most cases. However, buying a local SIM card is not the only way to stay connected in Ghana. You can buy an international SIM card, use a mobile hotspot, or use free WIFI connections. Below, I will discuss the alternative options to use your phone in Ghana.
Roaming in Ghana with Your Provider
Roaming is a term used in wireless telecommunication that indicates a mobile device is outside the range of its home network and has connected to a different, available cell network. Let’s say your provider is Safaricom from Kenya, then you would be roaming with Safaricom in Ghana.
The issue with roaming is that it can be expensive. There have been many horror stories where people had to pay thousands in roaming fees when coming back from their holidays, which is just a shame, in my opinion. However, roaming does not always have to be expensive, especially when visiting a neighboring country.
Many providers offer roaming plans. Some allow you to roam for free in Ghana, while others would offer you a roaming bundle with a set number of minutes, SMS, and data. Finally, several operators let you use your plan’s allowance for a daily fee.
As you can see, there are many options out there, so be sure to explore the roaming options your provider has. Conveniently for you, I have reviewed the roaming options of many providers (and many more to come) and discussed everything you need to know about roaming with your provider. If you are lucky, you may not even have to buy a SIM card in Ghana and can roam for free there.
No idea how roaming works? I made this comprehensive guide about what roaming is and how it works. It is worth the read – promised!
One thing I would not recommend doing is to Roam As You Go. Just like prepaid cards where you can buy bundles or Pay As You Go (as in, charged per minute, SMS, or MB), Roaming As You Go can be insanely expensive (that is how people get expensive roaming bills). So far, there are a handful of providers I have reviewed that offer affordable Roam As You Go rates. But generally, avoid it. Get a roaming plan if you can or buy a SIM in Ghana.
Using an International SIM Card in Ghana
International SIM cards are cards that have been made for travelers so that they do not have to deal with roaming costs.
The number of international SIM card providers is too many to count, but international SIM cards give you the same convenience as roaming with your provider. A few providers I know are OneSimCard, SimOptions, Surfroam, BNESIM, and SimCorner.
They allow people to call you at one number instead of five in case you are exploring multiple countries in one trip. Moreover, you do not have to deal with multiple SIM cards you will never use again. In short, international SIM cards have been made for the international traveler in mind.
Although this sounds fabulous, international SIM cards are much more expensive than local SIM cards in Ghana. Some international SIM card providers charge ridiculous fees (sometimes, even more than roaming with your provider), while others offer awful service. It is, therefore, important to go with a reputable company so that you do not have to deal with surprised when traveling around the world.
On the other hand, international SIM cards are appealing to those who travel frequently or are visiting multiple destinations in one trip. Many countries in Africa require you to register before you can use a SIM card, which can be a hassle for some. Additionally, the language barrier may be off-putting to some travelers, which is why an international SIM card can be handy. You order it before you depart and can use it in various destinations.
My recommendation, however, is to get a local SIM card if you are only visiting one destination. If you are visiting multiple ones, an international SIM card could be handy. If you want to learn more about international SIM cards, check out my international SIM card comparison article, where I analyze 10 international SIM card providers so that you do not have to.
Using Portable Hotspots (Pocket WIFI) in Ghana
Portable hotspots, also referred to mobile hotspots or pocket WIFI, are routers small enough to bring with you everywhere you go. They are portable, battery-powered wireless routers that allow you to connect your phone, laptop, or tablet without needing multiple SIM cards for those devices to be connected to the internet. They are compact and lightweight so that you take them along with you whenever you need internet access on the go.
Just like with the number of international SIM card providers, there are so many mobile hotspots out there that it is challenging to keep track of them all. Skyroam and Vision Global Wireless are reputable pocket WIFI providers. You can get a discount if you rent a router through Skyroam by using coupon code PHONETRAVELWIZ. Cellular access with Skyroam starts at $8 a day while using a Vision Global device starts at $2 a day. Both services cover more than 130 destinations around the world.
The first time I used a portable hotspot was when I was in Bangkok, Thailand, with my dad. He uses the Dutch telecom provider called KPN, which does not let you roam for free in Thailand. I was with 3 Denmark (3 Danmark), which also did not allow me to roam for free. The router was offered for free by our Airbnb host. Let me tell you how convenient that thing was!
I do not remember the exact brand router we used, but we could connect our phones to it, explore Bangkok, and upload highlights of our trip on Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and WhatsApp without the need of connecting to unsecure and slow connections in Thailand.
That is why I often recommend those who are traveling in groups or with families to consider getting a pocket WIFI device so that each individual does not need to buy a local SIM card and data packages. In some countries, the cost of getting a local SIM card or packages is so low that it is not even worth getting a mobile hotspot. In others, it could save you money.
I recently wrote an article analyzing the 7 Best Mobile Hotspots for Travelers like yourself, which should be an interesting read if pocket WIFI is something you are considering. I do reviews of individual devices every now and then, so check out my mobile hotspot category to stay up to date.
Connecting to Free WIFI Networks in Ghana
Finally, we have the most cost-effective way to stay connected in Ghana which is using free WIFI networks.
Using WIFI networks should not cost you any money (unless you are connecting to premium hotspots), which is why it is a popular option for travelers. Go to a local café, buy a coffee, connect to their WIFI, and post your pictures to Facebook or Instagram. Straightforward, right? Well, let’s see if that is indeed the case.
First, you need to find hotspots. In some regions, they are readily available. In others, you cannot find any, require you to give your personal details (for commercial purposes), are restricted for those who are a subscriber of an operator’s, or are so slow that you wished you never connected to them.
In the case of Ghana, you will find many hotspots. Some of them can, however, be slow.
Public WIFI hotspots are unsecure. They are a prime target for hackers to steal your data and use it for illicit purposes. That is I use, and would recommend you to start using, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) if you connect to a public hotspot. What a VPN does is creating an encrypted tunnel between your device and the hotspot so that your data will stay private. I use NordVPN, and you can get up to 70% off when you get a NordVPN subscription. Get your subscription now or learn more about NordVPN.
The Best Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in Ghana
Getting a SIM card from either MTN or Vodafone would do you well when considering a Ghanaian SIM card. Be sure to explore the roaming options your provider offers you, as they may offer free or cheap roaming bundles.
You could also consider getting an international SIM card or using a portable hotspot. International SIM cards are attractive for those visiting multiple destinations at once or within a year. Portable hotspots will be useful when traveling with multiple people so that not each individual has to get a SIM card but can use the hotspot.
Visiting other countries in Africa? Check out my Africa SIM card buying guide, covering other African countries, such as Algeria, Botswana, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Egypt, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Going to other places around the world? Then you should also check out my sim card buying guides for other destinations around the world.
What is next?
Looking for the best companies and gadgets to enhance your travel experience? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! Save money on plane tickets, bus rides, cruises, and accommodation. Besides that, I also list services and items I use to make my life easier – and I believe they will help you too!
Book Your Flight for Ghana
It is time to book your flight. Find cheap flights with AirWander so that you can add free or cheap stopovers in destinations you have not considered yet before going to Ghana. If you are not ready to take off yet, set up flight alerts with Airfarewatchdog, and they will notify you once ticket prices to Ghana drop.
Book Your Accommodation for Ghana
I am a huge fan of Airbnb because it allows me to live with a local or get a local place for myself. Staying in someone’s house or apartment feels much different than being in a ho(s)tel, especially in Ghana. At least, that is how I see it. Moreover, Airbnb can often be much cheaper than staying in a Ghanaian hotel.
Get Your Travel Insurance for Ghana
You will regret not having travel insurance once you actually need it and “forgot” to get it. Nowadays, travel insurance is cheap and comprehensive unlike back in the days. World Nomads is by far the best travel insurance for adventurous travelers like yourself. You can even get insured WHILE already traveling in Ghana, which is not something many insurance companies allow you to do.
Get a Travel Debit Card
Travel Cheques are outdated. Paying with your credit card or debit card can be expensive because of all the exchange commissions banks charge you. TransferWise allows you to convert your main currency to Ghanaian Cedi for a small fee (up to 8 times less than with your bank!) Getting a Transferwise Borderless account is FREE, so you will get an instant return on your investment.
Enjoy your trip!
