IN GENERAL:
Certainly, it is important to prepare carefully for travelling into a tropical country, but according to our experience, many vaccination recommendations and warnings of the “dark continent’s” perils exaggerate the related health risks.
An international vaccination certificate against yellow fever is required for entering Ghana. Malaria prophylactics are indispensable; you should also check (and possibly renew) your polio and tetanus vaccination. – For maximum protection you may also consider vaccination against cholera, hepatitis A (and B), tropical meningitis and typhus.
Detailed, carefully compiled health protection advice will be forwarded to you with the booking confirmation.
SPECIFIALLY ON COVID-19 IN GHANA:
Of course, Ghana is also affected by the coronavirus – but up to now far less than many other African and European countries: Although a “3rd wave” has also formed in Ghana since mid 2021, the incidence rate has not risen above 30.1 (as of 1.1.2022) and currently stands at 2,7 (as of 1.8.2022).
Certainly, this statistic does not capture all Covid 19 infections – but if it were grossly flawed, it would show up in a disproportionate increase in treatment cases and hospitalisations. However, this is not the case. Rather, the following factors are helpful in controlling the pandemic so far:
- Shortly after the start of the pandemic, Ghana closed all national borders at the end of March 2020. Entry via Accra airport was allowed again ½ year later (initially with very tight restrictions); entry by land got possible again only since end of March 2022..
- Intensive contact tracing is continuously carried out via the widespread mobile phones (unhindered by data protection concerns)
- The 1.2 million doses of vaccine that Ghana has received through the WHO Covax programmen as one of the first countries have been administered very quickly and efficiently to vulnerable groups. Meanwhile, more than 11 million vaccinations have been administered to the total population of slightly more than 32 million people. Even if the European vaccination rate is still by far from being reached, the protection of the population against infection will continue to improve.
- A positive role is also played by the generally higher resistance of the population to virus infections: it already develops in children and adolescents, who are exposed to many more microorganisms and parasites than, for example, in Europe
- The fact that the climate in Ghana is warmer and sunnier and that people spend more time outdoors also helps to limit the risk of infection – similar to the European summer
THEREFOR A HOLIDAY IN GHANA IS BY NO MEANS A RISKY CORONA ADVENTURE – especially if you are sufficiently vaccinated yourself. And of course, in our travel offers, we make sure to offer you and our staff as much protection as possible – in the distance and mask rules at the KASAPA centre, in the choice of accommodation and attractions during the trip.
For preliminary considerations and more concrete planning of a Ghana holiday, our tour operator partner Ghana-Reisen will be happy to help you with detailed and up-to-date information.