Kotoka International Airport handles nearly all international arrivals to Ghana. The facility sits seven kilometers from the center of Accra, inside the cantonment area adjacent to Burma Camp military installation. Terminal 3, opened in 2018, processes most commercial traffic. The older Terminal 2 handles some regional flights. Terminal 1 closed to commercial operations in 2016. The airport code is ACC. Annual passenger volume reached approximately 1.3 million in 2019, though figures fluctuated during subsequent years.
Immigration queues at Kotoka vary by time of day and aircraft size. Peak congestion occurs between 2100 and 0100 when European and North American long-haul flights arrive simultaneously. A single wide-body aircraft can fill the immigration hall. Officers process travelers at approximately 35 to 45 passengers per hour per booth, depending on visa types and document complexity. The hall contains between 12 and 16 active booths during peak periods. Biometric data collection became standard in 2017. Officers scan fingerprints and photograph each arrival. This adds approximately 90 seconds per passenger compared to passport-only processing.
The visa-on-arrival program accepts citizens from certain countries at a designated counter near immigration. Applicants submit passport photos, payment in US dollars, and a completed form. The process requires 20 to 40 minutes when fewer than five people wait. Payment is $150 for tourist visas valid 30 days. Officers do not accept credit cards at this counter. The program does not cover all nationalities. Verify eligibility at ghana.travel or through a Ghanaian embassy before departure. Citizens of ECOWAS member states enter without visas under regional agreements established in 1979.
Baggage claim occupies a single hall with four carousels. Flight information screens above each carousel display arriving flights, though updates sometimes lag 10 to 15 minutes behind actual aircraft arrival. Bags typically appear 25 to 45 minutes after passengers clear immigration. Carousel breakdowns occur periodically. When this happens, staff place bags on the floor in designated zones marked by flight number. Porters wearing yellow vests offer assistance at GHS 20 to GHS 30 per cart, negotiable.
Customs operates a green channel and red channel system. The green channel is for travelers with nothing to declare. The red channel requires declaration forms for amounts exceeding $10,000, commercial goods, or restricted items. Officers sometimes direct passengers from the green channel to inspection tables for random checks. These inspections involve opening bags and questioning about items. Inspectors focus on electronics, medications, and packaged foods. Prescription medications require original packaging and a letter from a physician. Ghana prohibits importation of certain foodstuffs including specific meat and dairy products under regulations updated in 2020.
Currency exchange counters operate in the arrivals area past customs. Rates at the airport counters average 3 to 5 percent below the interbank rate published by the Bank of Ghana. A comparison in March 2024 showed airport counters offering GHS 12.10 per US dollar when the interbank rate was GHS 12.62. Exchange bureaus in central Accra, particularly along Kwame Nkrumah Avenue and near Ministries, offer rates closer to interbank levels. Several counters accept euros, British pounds, and US dollars. Smaller denominations sometimes receive lower rates. Torn or heavily marked US dollar bills are frequently rejected.
ATMs line the wall opposite the exchange counters. Machines dispense Ghana cedis in denominations of GHS 50, GHS 100, and GHS 200. Daily withdrawal limits range from GHS 2,000 to GHS 5,000 depending on the bank. International transaction fees vary by card issuer. Machines operated by Ecobank, GCB Bank, and Stanbic accept most Visa and Mastercard products. Machine outages and cash depletion occur, particularly on weekends and public holidays. A backup machine typically stands within 10 meters. The machines do not dispense US dollars.
Mobile phone SIM cards are sold at kiosks in the arrivals hall. MTN, Vodafone, and AirtelTigo maintain official counters. Starter packages cost GHS 5 to GHS 10 and include a small data allotment, typically 500 MB to 1 GB. Registration requires a passport and Ghanaian contact address. Agents accept hotel addresses. The registration process takes 5 to 15 minutes. Coverage across Greater Accra is comprehensive for all three networks. MTN holds the largest subscriber base at approximately 24 million users as of 2023. Data packages are sold separately. A 5 GB monthly package costs approximately GHS 50 to GHS 60 depending on promotional periods.
Taxi services operate from designated ranks outside the arrivals terminal. The airport shuttle taxi service uses a fixed-rate voucher system. Travelers purchase vouchers at a counter before exiting to the taxi rank. Rates to central Accra hotels range from GHS 80 to GHS 150 depending on destination zone. East Legon and Airport Residential areas fall in Zone 1 at GHS 80. Osu and Labone comprise Zone 2 at GHS 100. Central business district locations and Jamestown reach GHS 120 to GHS 150. The voucher system eliminates negotiation. Non-affiliated taxis operate from a separate area and require negotiation. These drivers initially quote GHS 200 to GHS 300 for central Accra trips. Negotiated fares settle between GHS 100 and GHS 180.
Ride-hailing applications function at Kotoka International Airport. Uber and Bolt both operate in Accra with pickup zones marked outside the terminal. A trip from the airport to Osu costs approximately GHS 35 to GHS 55 depending on time of day and demand pricing. Trips to East Legon range from GHS 25 to GHS 45. The applications display estimated fares before booking. Drivers call or message to confirm pickup location. The designated pickup area is at the far end of the terminal building, approximately 150 meters from the exit. Walk past the taxi rank and follow signs for ride-hailing services. Wait times range from 3 to 12 minutes during normal hours. After midnight, availability decreases and wait times extend to 15 to 25 minutes.
Car rental desks operate in the arrivals area. Europcar, Avis, and local operators including Speedy and Apex maintain counters. Rental rates for a compact sedan start at approximately $45 to $60 per day with basic insurance. Four-wheel-drive vehicles cost $90 to $150 per day. International driving permits are recommended though not legally required for stays under 90 days. A valid license from the home country suffices. Traffic in Accra drives on the right side. Roads around the airport connect to Liberation Road, which leads to Osu, and Independence Avenue, which runs to the central business district. Signage is inconsistent. Traffic congestion peaks between 0630 and 0930, then again from 1630 to 1930 on weekdays.
The airport departure tax is included in ticket prices for flights purchased after 2016. Earlier ticketing systems sometimes required separate payment at the airport. Verify with the airline whether tax is included. Terminal 3 contains restaurants, coffee shops, and a small duty-free store. The food court offers local dishes including waakye, jollof rice, and grilled tilapia at prices 40 to 60 percent above street equivalents. A plate of jollof rice costs GHS 45 to GHS 60 at the airport compared to GHS 25 to GHS 35 in central Accra. Restaurants accept both cedis and major credit cards.
Banking services in the arrivals hall include Ecobank and GCB Bank counters. These provide full banking services including currency exchange at rates identical to airport exchange bureaus. The banks open at 0800 and close at 1700 on weekdays, with limited weekend hours from 0900 to 1300 on Saturdays. For arrivals outside these hours, exchange counters operate continuously when international flights arrive, typically from 0600 to 0100.
Hotel reservation desks occupy space near the exit. Representatives from major Accra hotels including Kempinski, Movenpick, Labadi Beach Hotel, and several mid-range properties maintain irregular presence. Availability depends on time of day and expected occupancy. The desks arrange airport pickup and direct booking. Walk-in rates at the desk match or slightly exceed online rates. Online booking platforms including Booking.com and local platforms like Jovago often show lower prices.