FERN2026 travel advice

This page has advice for travel to Ghana, covering departure, arrival, and stay in Ghana throughout the FERN 2026 conference dates. The page shares useful resources, and FERN organizing team highly recommends that you consult this page before arriving in Ghana.

Step 1: Prepare your departure

Consult FERN2026 conference page and ensure that you are registered. Registration is important to pick up your name tags at the conference reception and to access the conference venue. As a reminder, registration is FREE and does not include food. If you would like to include food, e.g., lunch, in your registration, please consult the add-on registration packages (right below) and associated costs in Ghana cedis and US dollars. The add-on registration is optional and only for those who wish to access food throughout the conference. The add-on cost is paid once at the conference venue. Please note that the packages and associated costs are only applicable within the conference venue and do not represent costs for meals in other places of residence. If you are a speaker or delegate, please contact fern@ug.edu.gh to prepare your presentation packages and address any outstanding challenges.

• Add-on for lunch registration, paid only at the conference:
  • GHS 170/person - base price for food from the menu list option*.
  • GHS 70/person for a "heavy" snack.
  • GHS 420/person/day for buffet service throughout the conference.

*Please inform the restaurant of your selected option before mealtime.

Step 2: Land in Ghana through Accra International Airport

You will arrive through Accra International Airport, formerly known as Kotoka International Airport. The airport is located in the centre of Accra, the capital city of Ghana, and is a 40-minute drive to the conference facility, Hephzibah Christian Centre, in Aburi. Accra International Airport is a regional and international hub for most flights. The airport code is “ACC.” You can book a flight to Accra or explore the lowest airline costs from Google Flights. For regional flights, e.g., from Nigeria to Accra, Africa World Airlines  is reliable and offers competitive fares

Step 3: Get your paperwork right!

You will be screened at the port of entry for relevant immigration and vaccination documents.

• Vaccination is the first screening stage, and all screenings are completed by inspecting your personal vaccination card. Ghana has dropped all COVID-19 protocols but requires proof of yellow fever vaccination (see  paragraph 6) at the port of entry. Proof of yellow fever vaccination is a requirement for foreign nationals entering Ghana.
• Immigration is the next screening stage. You will need a passport with at least 6 months' validity before expiry and empty pages for immigration stamps to enter Ghana. You may need an invitation letter from the conference to justify your visit to Ghana. FERN organizing team has sent the invitation letter to all registered participants via email under the subject "FERN Invitation Letter". Ghana is visa-free for most African nations, including Nigeria, Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda. Residents from jurisdictions outside Africa may need a visa before or upon arrival. You can consult eligibility requirements and apply for a visa through the Ghana Immigration Service portal. You can also request a visa support letter from the conference to support your application through the request for a visa letter form. Please note that the invitation letter and the visa support letter are distinct in the information they provide; the latter is designed to increase the acceptability and awarding of a visa; however, the conference does not guarantee such an outcome. Your visa support letter will be issued promptly once you complete the form.

Step 4: Akwaaba to Accra, Ghana!

You will exit Terminal 3 after passing luggage pickup and customs controls for commercial products. Please note that carrying more than two phones might be considered commercial products in Ghana, and customs charges may apply. Upon exiting Terminal 3, you will be greeted by a crowd of private transport service providers who will frantically approach you with offers. You may negotiate a deal to your destination - Hephzibah Christian Centre in Aburi, or an alternative residence of your choice (some options are listed below). On your left, after exiting Terminal 3, there will be a suite of ATMs, e.g., Ecobank, and you may also find more ATMs by returning inside Terminal 3; however, through the arrivals section by using the elevators on either side, left and right, at the far end of the arrivals section. Use the elevators to get to the departure entrance of Terminal 3. You will be allowed inside just to use the ATMs.

Please note the following before you depart from the airport:

• The currency in Ghana is the Ghana cedi. You may obtain Ghana cedis through ATMs or forex bureaus, all located at the airport, before you depart. Transportation fares are typically paid in cash, and hotels are also paid in cash, although some hotels might accept US dollars or Euros. Hotels, unlike transportation services, may accept payment through Visa or Mastercard. Please contact your residence to clarify payment methods before you arrive at the residence. You can consult the exchange rates on XE and consult the cost of living in Accra on NUMBEO. Please note that these estimates are approximate and may vary once in Accra.
• Standard and international private transport: Bolt, Uber, and Yango operate in Ghana. Ride booking is completed through an app, which is available on both the App Store and Play Store. Accra International Airport offers Wi-Fi on arrival, and local SIMs from service providers, e.g., MTN, might be available at the airport, which you may use to secure a ride online. Private local organized transport services are also offered on arrival at Accra International Airport. Providers of such services will frantically approach you upon arrival. Please note that FERN organizing team might not be able to provide third-party communication services for such arrangements.

Step 5: Welcome to your residence

If you decided to stay in Aburi, you probably had an excellent ride through the winding mountain road. The conference venue is Hephzibah Christian Centre, which is located in Aburi, a 40-minute drive from Accra International Airport. The month of November is generally warm and partly cloudy in Aburi. The temperature averages at 32 degrees Celsius, or 90 degrees Fahrenheit, during the day. To remind you, the conference is on November 26, 27, and 28, 2026, so ensure that your booking covers these dates. Please remember to communicate all food allergies with the accommodation or hotel host. Note the information below:

• FERN organising team has selected a few residences around the conference venue. They are organised by distance to the venue: Hephzibah Christian Centre -  HCC (conference venue. Book  a room at HCC ), Peduase Lodge (1.3km/3 mins drive), Hillburi (3.8 km / 7 mins drive), Peduase Springfield Lodge (10.2 km/15 mins drive).
• Ghana power outlet voltage is 230 volts, the frequency is 50 Hz, and power outlets are Type G; therefore carry appropriate power adapters, as hosts and hotels might not be able to supply you with one if needed.
• Depending on your distance from the conference venue, please plan to arrive at the conference venue from 8:30 am each day.
• The conference will start at 9:00 am Ghana time every day.