Using a credit card in Ghana

Ghana is one of the more popular countries in Africa for tourism. People from all over the world visit to experience the tropical climate, exotic wildlife, waterfalls and beaches.

It’s one of the African countries where it’s easier to spend on your credit card. Ghana’s businesses are aware of the benefits of accepting credit card payments, so it’s worth taking a good credit card that doesn’t charge foreign loading fees.

Visa is the main credit card network in the country. It may be possible to use Mastercard and American Express, although you are more likely to get turned away with these cards.

Cash machines in Ghana

There are millions of cash machines across Ghana. You’ll find them in all Ghanaian cities and towns, at train and bus stations, petrol stations, shopping centres and popular tourist destinations. Bank-affiliated ATMs don’t usually impose additional fees to those your bank may levy.

Cash in Ghana

The currency in Ghana is the cedi (GHS).

There will be plenty of retailers in Ghana, especially in small towns outside of the capital city of Accra, which only accept cash. Many small retailers want to avoid the charges levied on vendors for credit card transactions. As such, you are best off carrying cash to use at certain newspaper vendors, cafes, restaurants, bars and retailers.

Find a great deal on your travel money for Ghana

Chip and PIN

Chip and PIN is commonly used in Ghana. In the switching of technology, some retailers falsely believe that they can no longer accept magnetic-stripe cards while some others will not let you use them, to do their bit in reducing credit card fraud. All they basically need you to do is swipe your card instead of inserting it into the machine, and then get you to sign for the purchase.

If you use a chip-and-signature card, it’s likely you will be able to use it in Ghana. However, some businesses are hesitant in accepting them because they are not sure if it’s allowed and some others don’t accept them to cut down on credit card fraud. If you are getting tickets from a machine, you will need to enter a PIN, in which case your chip-and-signature card won’t work.

Is it safe to use my card in Ghana?

By exercising some caution when using your credit card in Ghana, you’ll have a relatively trouble-free experience.

• Keep your PIN safe. Use one hand to enter the PIN and the other to shield it from prying eyes and hidden cameras.
• Select cash machines with care. Try and stick to ATMs in banks and avoid using ones in the street.
• Watch out for “skimmers”. When installed in an ATM, a card skimmer works by stealing information from credit and debit cards. If you feel the card slot is not as smooth as it should be or if there is a problem with the keypad, cancel your transaction and look for another ATM.

Keeping your credit card (physically) safe

Remain alert to street crime, especially where two or more people work in distracting victims before decamping with their valuables. Instances of theft at airports are not uncommon, so stay vigilant while arriving and departing. There have been numerous instances of thefts from hired cars so don’t leave your wallet or purse in a parked car.

Potential credit card fees

Credit card fees can leave a noticeable dent in your pocket when you are travelling overseas, so know what you’re up against well in advance and choose a card with no or low fees.

Foreign transaction fees

British credit card issuers typically charge a fee equivalent to 1% to 3% of your transaction, so carefully review your card’s fine print to avoid statement surprises. Some cards designed for travel come with no foreign transaction fees, so this could be a good time to switch.

Learn more about cards designed for overseas spending

Currency conversion fees

If a retailer offers to bill your credit card in sterling, dynamic currency conversion comes into play. While this might sound like a good deal, you will actually end up getting a worse exchange rate, and you might also end up paying currency conversion fees. Whenever you are presented with an option, choose to pay in the local currency.

Cash advance fees

Using your credit card to withdraw money from an ATM may not make sense unless it’s a bona fide emergency. Each time you withdraw funds from an ATM, you are likely to pay a cash advance fee. Your APR for cash advances is normally higher than your purchase APR, and you’ll typically get no grace period on interest – instead, you start paying interest immediately. Again, some cards designed for overseas spending will waive this fee.

The table below serves as an example of how much extra you may pay to use your credit card in Ghana.

Additionally, you can get an idea of costs by using these online currency conversion tools from Mastercard and Visa.

How to prepare before travelling to Ghana

1. Go with Visa or Mastercard. Carry at least two cards on your trip to Ghana, preferably connected with Visa or Mastercard. If you just take an American Express card, you won’t get to use it in many places.
2. Think no foreign transaction fees. When there are cards that come with no foreign transaction fees, using ones that charge 2% or 3% of each overseas transaction does not make sense. Some of these cards don’t charge an annual fee, either.
3. Keep your bank informed. In their efforts to thwart fraudulent transactions, banks block credit cards if they detect suspicious activity such as unexpected overseas transactions. To make sure this does not happen to your card, let your bank know about your travel plans before you leave the UK.
4. Keep the emergency number handy. Know which numbers you will need to call if you end up losing your card or if you need an emergency replacement.
5. Know where you’ll get cash from. Consider using your debit card to withdraw cash from ATMs. If you need to exchange money, stick to banks or official money-exchange offices because possessing counterfeit money in Ghana is a serious crime. Try to avoid exchanging money at airports and popular tourist destinations because of typically poor exchange rates.

Next steps

Ask yourself these simple questions before you leave so your spending in Ghana does not hit any roadblocks.

• Which cards will I take? A Visa card is your best bet if you’re planning on using a credit card regularly. Perhaps you’d consider having a look for cards that give you complimentary airport lounge access. If you’re planning well in advance, consider earning air miles for your trip with a frequent flyer credit card.
• Have I let my bank know? If you don’t inform your bank about your travel plans, you may end up with a temporarily suspended card.
• What fees do I need to pay? If your existing cards come with foreign transaction fees, look for one that does not. Paying in sterling outside of the UK might come with currency conversion fees.
• How will I get cash? Using your debit card at an ATM is the simplest way to access your own money. You can carry cash and traveller’s cheques with you. Exchanging sterling to cedis is simple enough and you’ll get several options.

When you’re in Ghana, you don’t have to worry about where and when you can use your credit card. Just keep some cash handy to pay for small purchases.

Compare cards with fee-free currency conversion in Ghana

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Name	Product UKCCF	Finder Score	Finder score	Purchases	Annual/monthly fees	Initial credit limits	Representative APR	Incentive	Link
Monzo Flex Additional account needed		3.9 ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	0% if paid in full monthly or over 3 months. Reverting to 29% (variable) in 6, 12 or 24 monthly payments.	£0	Min. limit not specified, max. limit not specified.	29% APR (variable)	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 29% APR (variable).	Go to site Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Santander All in One Credit Card		4.4 ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	0% for 15 months reverting to 23.9%	£3 per month	Min. limit £500, max. limit not specified.	29.8% APR (variable)	0.5% after £1 of monthly spend. Maximum of £10 cashback paid per month. Cashback paid Monthly into Card Account. Maximum spend for cashback purposes is limited to credit limit. Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 23.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £3 per month, your representative rate is 29.8% APR (variable).	Check eligibility Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...
118 118 Money Guaranteed Rate Card		3.8 ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	49%	£0	Min. limit £500, max. limit not specified.	49% APR (variable)	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 49% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 49% APR (variable).	Check eligibility Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Yonder Credit Card Finder Award		4.5 ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	29.94%	1 month for £0, £15 per month thereafter	Min. limit not specified, max. limit not specified.	66.7% APR (variable)	First month free for new members, £15 p/m thereafter. Plus, 10,000 bonus points. Earn 5 points per £1 spent and up to 25 points per £1 at selected partners. Membership includes worldwide travel insurance, no FX fees and use your points towards any flight. Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.94% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £15 per month, your representative rate is 66.7% APR (variable).	Check eligibility Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...
NatWest Credit Card		4.7 ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	12.9%	£0	Min. limit £250, max. limit not specified.	12.9% APR (variable)	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 12.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 12.9% APR (variable).	Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...
The Ulster Bank Credit Card Mastercard		4.7 ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	12.9%	£0	Min. limit £350, max. limit not specified.	12.9% APR (variable)	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 12.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 12.9% APR (variable).	Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Frequently asked questions

• What is the sterling to cedis exchange rate?

• How do I send money to Ghana?

  You can send money to Ghana by international money transfer, either online or through a bank. It’s recommended to have a variety of ways to access your money from overseas, perhaps through multiple accounts as well as carrying emergency cash, before you leave home.
  We use banks to take care of all our other financial needs, so surely we should use them when sending an international money transfer, right? Not necessarily. While major UK banks offer money transfer services, they typically present less competitive exchange rates coupled with high transfer fees. Learn how to send money to Ghana the smart way.

• What is the most commonly used credit card network in Ghana?

  Visa is far and away the most common credit card network.

• Are there any currency restrictions for entry into Ghana?

  There are no currency restrictions, although you will need to declare if you are bringing in more than $10,000 or its equivalent in another currency.

Written by

Chris Lilly

Head of publishing

Chris Lilly is Head of publishing at finder.com. He's a specialist in personal finance, from day-to-day banking to investing to borrowing, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their money. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more. See full bio

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