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Arrival procedures in Ghana

From landing in Accra to your first day at your placement: what happens, who meets you and who to call.

Last updated: November 12, 2026

Airport pickup includedOur team meets you in Accra and brings you to Mepe.
Two hours by roadMepe is about two hours from Accra.
24/7 Ghana teamSomeone who knows you is always a call away.

Before you fly

Your acceptance letter and pre-travel checklist confirm your start date. Please wait for your acceptance before you buy a ticket, then tell us your flight details as soon as you book so our Ghana team knows when to expect you.

  • A passport that is valid for at least 6 months after you return
  • Your Ghana visa. See visa and entry
  • Your yellow fever vaccination certificate (your yellow card). Keep it in your carry-on bag
  • Travel and medical insurance, which is required for every intern
  • Your flights. See booking flights

Landing in Accra

Most international flights arrive at Kotoka International Airport (airport code ACC) in Accra. Follow the airport signs through immigration and baggage claim, then head to the arrivals hall, where our team meets you. Have your passport, visa and yellow fever certificate ready.

If you are under 18, a Team Lead or Program Director meets you inside the airport and stays with you on the way to Mepe. See chaperoned flights and our under-18 policy.

Airport pickup and the road to Mepe

Our Ghana team is on standby 24/7 to track your travel and meet you at the airport. Airport pickup and drop-off in Accra are included in your fee. Our team brings you to Mepe, a town on the Volta River about two hours from Accra by road. Travel time depends on traffic, so rest on the way if you can.

Your first evening

In Mepe you meet your host family. Read more about your accommodation. Your host serves home-cooked meals, and you drink bottled or filtered water only.

Orientation

Every changemaker completes an extensive pre-travel orientation, so you know our rules and local customs, the area around Mepe and Dadome, and your project before you arrive. You finish it online in the Changemaker Portal, together with your safeguarding training. When you arrive, our Ghana team gives you a full orientation in person, and you see your placement before work begins.

Your first day at your placement

Real work starts on your second day. You are guided by a named Ghanaian supervisor and a buddy, and your mentor checks in with you every week. Health interns work only within their training and always alongside licensed local professionals.

Help, safety and backup

Our Ghana team is on call 24/7, led by Thelma Dzifah Attiso, our Director of Ghana Operations. Before you travel, you and your family receive the team's direct contact details. Read how we keep you safe.

If your flight is delayed

Message our Ghana team as soon as you know, so we can adjust your pickup. If you booked through one of our travel partners, Chase Travel or Amex Travel, call their 24/7 emergency number for help with your flights.

Good to know

  • Language: English is Ghana's official language. Ewe is widely spoken in the Volta Region, and we will teach you a few greetings.
  • Time: Ghana uses Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0) all year, with no daylight saving.
  • Power: Ghana uses 230-volt power and Type D and Type G plugs, so bring an adapter.
  • Phone and internet: Internet is slower than at home and not guaranteed, so bring an international data plan.
  • Going home: Our team takes you back to the airport in Accra at the end of your stay.

Questions before you fly? Email [email protected] or call or text Godwill Tandoh, Founder, at (801) 404-0485.

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