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While we have made every effort to minimize the cost burden of this mission on you, we still
have to inform you that it will be your sole responsibility to secure the proper documentation for your travel to Ghana.   There are fees involved in obtaining these items, so please add that into your cost and start fundraising ASAP. 

Please follow the simple guidelines below in order to expedite the process of securing your
Visas and Passports, and Travel Insurance.

REQUIRED		RECOMMENDED
Passport Visa Travel Insurance Immunizations		Trip Cancellation Insurance

PREPARATION FOR THE TRIP:

1. Acquire Travel Documents
   So you’re planning a trip to Ghana. There are a number of things you need to do before you leave. This article will help you to know what to do.
    
   1. Passport
      For Americans, passport is issued by the Federal Government. You can usually get the forms at the local post office, or the County Clerk’s office. Get the forms and follow the instructions. You will need passport photos to turn in with your application.
      
      NOTE: Make a photocopy of your passport, and take it with you on your trip. Keep it in a place separate from your passport, but keep it safe. It will be quite helpful if your passport is lost or stolen. You will be able to take it to an American Embassy or Consulate so you can get your passport replaced.
       
   2. Visa
      If you're not a Ghanaian citizen, you will be required to obtain an H1 visa in order
      to gain entry into the country.  Complete the form and submit to the applicable consular service center in your country.  There is a small fee, be sure to check with your consular.  If you choose, your travel agent can also help you with this.
       

      	Visa Application Form (click to download)
      	Consular Offices by Country
      	Guidelines for Obtaining Ghanaian Visa

      NOTE: Make a copy of your Visa. If you lose your passport this will be a blessing, helping you demonstrate you are in the country legally.
       

2. Obtaining your Immunizations
   Check with your personal doctor, or medical center for these immunizations. If they cannot give the immunizations, they will be able to tell you where you may obtain them.  Be sure to have your (Yellow) record of your immunizations. Where ever you get the immunizations you will be able to get the record booklet from them.
    
   1. The following immunizations are recommended:
       

      	Yellow Fever
      	Hepatitis A
      	Hepatitis B
      	Meningococcal vaccine
      	Typhoid
      	Be sure your Polio is up to date
      	Update your Tetanus
      	LARIUM is not an immunization but a prophylactic. You take a tablet once each week starting two weeks before leaving and continuing three to four weeks after returning. It is for the prevention of Malaria.

   2. Visit the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
      for any recommendations they might have, and for more information about Malaria, Yellow Fever, etc.  Click here for more information.
       
3. Travel Insurance
   Check with your travel agent for advice concerning travel insurance. There is a medical type of insurance that will pay certain amounts if you get sick in Ghana, and it will pay
   for emergency transportation out of the country for medical care. It is usually very reasonable, about $3.00 per day for each day of the trip. 
   
   Trip Cancellation insurance is highly recommended, especially for trips to the continent of Africa.  Airlines have a notorious habit of overbooking flights.  While we hope that doesn't happen to us, we still need to plan for it.
   
   We recommend the following agencies:
    
   1. World Travel Center
       
   2. Global Underwriters
      
       
   3. AIG Travel Guard
      
       
4. Tickets
   Travel to Ghana will be made via a chartered flight from New York's JFK Airport.  However, for those of you who aren't in the US or Canada, please contact your local travel agent to arrange purchase of roundtrip tickets.
   
   More information coming soon.  Stay tuned.
    
5. Baggage/Luggage
   You are allowed a carry-on bag, as well as a personal item, such as a woman’s purse, camera bag, lap-top or briefcase. The carry-on bag must fit in the overhead bin, or under the seat in front of your seat. It is limited in weight also – check with the airlines.
    
   1. It is wise to have a clean set of clothes, in case of trip interruption, toilet items,
      any medications (If you are taking any medications, make sure your traveling companions, as well as your Ghanaian hosts know what you are taking. Something may happen and they will need to know.) you have to take, as well as some snacks in your carry-on bag.
       
   2. For those of you in the USA, check with TSA to ensure that you're up-to-date on current baggage restrictions.
       
   3. Confirm Your Flight:  About 72 hours before the flight, call the airline and confirm your flight. This is a must for international flights, especially in the summer months, as the flights are usually full and overbooked. If you do not confirm your flight, they may bump you and give your seat to someone else.
       
6. Money
   Carry about $100 in $1.00’s, $5.00’s, $10.00’s and $20.00’s to use during your travel for snacks and incidentals during trip.  Carry money you are expecting to spend in Ghana in NEW, CLEAN, one hundred dollar bills. You will have to exchange the U.S. dollars for the Ghana Cedi. You will get the best rate if you use $100 bills.  Traveler’s checks are not recommended. You will get a very poor exchange rate if you try to cash them in Ghana.
    
7. Credit Cards
   It is recommended that you have at least one credit card with you. It should be a Visa, MasterCard, or American Express, as these are accepted internationally.  Make sure
   you are not over the limit.  Make sure it is a real credit card and not a debit card.
    
8. Driver's License
   Do not expect to drive while in Ghana.  Traffic and laws are different than in the U.S.
    
9. Communications
   There will be opportunity to email.  There is phone service available so you can call
   home, but it is expensive. Plan to pay $1.00+ for each minute
    

WHAT TO EXPECT:

The people of Ghana are very kind. Be polite to them and they will be very polite to you. Respect brings respect.

It is very hot. Expect to sweat.  Ghana's summertime is usually their raining season, so expect humidity.  Expect mosquitoes and prepare for them; wear repellant at night.  Take a mosquito net with you from the States and use it.  Spray your room with bug spray an hour before going
to bed.

BE SURE TO TAKE YOUR LARIUM. It is a prophylactic and will help you keep well.

Expect things to be much different than they are in the States. (See Orientation).  Their culture
is not like your culture, so do not expect them to be like you. They will not expect you to be like them.  While they do speak English, they do not speak like most Americans, Europeans, or Canadians do, and you may not speak their language at all.




 

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Christian Youth Mission is a network of Adventist students, however, not officially affiliated with the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists nor an official entity thereof.