What actually happens, step by step
You land at Terminal 3, which handles international arrivals. Expect health screening where your yellow fever card is checked, then immigration with separate lanes for Ghanaian and foreign passports, then baggage reclaim, then customs. Trolleys are free and uniformed porters will help for a tip. The whole process is often 30 to 60 minutes, longer when several wide-body flights land together.
- Fill in any arrival form before you reach the desk and keep a pen in your hand luggage.
- Buy data after you clear, or use the airport Wi-Fi, roaming charges are painful.
Money and connectivity on arrival
There are bank and forex counters and ATMs in the arrivals hall, but airport rates are usually worse than in town, so change only a small amount to get you moving. Some ATMs run dry or reject foreign cards, so do not depend on a single machine. SIM cards are sold at the airport for convenience, usually at a premium over city shops.
- Change enough for your first taxi and first meal, then use a forex bureau or ATM in the city.
- If a taxi is your only option late at night, pay the premium and sort out better rates the next day.
Getting into Accra
The airport sits roughly 8 to 10 km from central Accra, which can mean 20 minutes or well over an hour depending on traffic. Uber, Bolt and Yango have designated pickup points, usually a short walk from the terminal, and the app tells you where to meet. Official airport taxis use prepaid or negotiated fares and are the priciest option, and drivers who approach you inside the terminal will quote high, especially to obvious first-timers.
- Install your ride-hailing app and set up payment before you land.
- Agree the fare and confirm it covers luggage before getting into any unmarked taxi.
- Ride-hailing into central Accra usually costs less than an official airport taxi, trust the live app quote rather than a number shouted at you.
Practical details
Staff and signage are in English. There are cafes and a few shops airside, plus forex and mobile-money kiosks. If someone is meeting you, agree the meeting point in advance, because the arrivals hall gets crowded and mobile signal can be patchy. Departing from Terminal 3 there is a decent food court and lounge, but leave extra time in the evening when check-in and security queues spike.
- Screenshot your accommodation address and a contact number before you land.
- Keep small cedi notes handy for tips and short fares; nobody wants to break a large note at 1am.
Rules, fees and opening hours change. Confirm anything that matters before you rely on it.