Frequently Asked Questions

As you can see our Frequently Asked Questions are very detailed. We have grouped them according to subject matter. If you cannot find what you are looking for please email us with your question.

  1. Choosing the right placement
  2. The application process
  3. Getting ready to travel
  4. The visa application
  5. Payment
  6. Arrival
  7. Health & Safety
  8. What to bring
  9. Living conditions
  10. About Ikando

Choosing the right placement

What can I do during an Ikando Placement ?

Simply, anything. Whether you are looking to develop professional skills or to learn new ones, we can help. Check out our current placements available and if nothing suits, email us at info@ikando.org and we will complete research to find an organisation that needs your expertise and help.

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What are the necessary requirements to be an Ikando volunteer?

You must:

  • Be 18 or over
  • Have fully completed our online application form.
  • Have provided us a personal or professional reference given by an employer, teacher, lawyer or doctor. This reference must include detail of the context in which the referee knows you and stating that he/she knows of no reason why you should not volunteer. This reference cannot be from a family member. The referee should also provide their contact details in order that Ikando can contact them prior to your departure to confirm the reference given. This reference should be emailed by the referee to us.
  • Have made full payment 60 days prior to departure
  • Have thouroughly read our terms & conditions
  • Have provided Ikando with photocopies of your travel and medical insurance certificates
  • Have provided a photocopy of the photo page of your passport (just in case these documents are mislaid during travel).
  • Have sent us information on your travel arrangements (flight number, airline, arrival and departure time and dates). We always recommend volunteers who book via the web to email us their booking.
  • Have provided Ikando with all other required documentation two weeks before arrival.

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Can I take 'Time Out' to travel whilst volunteering?

Yes, on negotiation with your host organisation. At a minimum they will plan for you to have weekends free but if you would like longer, then you will need to notify Ikando on application or discuss with your Ikando co-ordinator when in placement. Please note that you will need to cover the costs of all travel additional to your placement, and must ensure your return at the time and date agreed with your named contact within the host organisation. Ikando will happily give advice on traveling within Ghana BUT please note, Ikando when traveling independently of your placement you do so at your own risk.
We greatly appreciate it if volunteers let us know where they are going on their road trips.

Some placements may require you to be present on weekends.

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Is this for me?

Are you open minded, looking to change your wallpaper and ready to work to make positive change happen? Then this is for you. Our only requirement is that you are over 18 years of age.

Please do think carefully about embarking on a volunteer adventure though, living and working conditions will not be what you are used to and you will need to prepare yourself for this. Just take a minute to imagine what it means to live and work in a developing country. Will you be able to cope occasionally without running water and electricity? How will you deal with people totally different from yourself?

We strongly advise people to do as much research as possible before signing up to a volunteer placement.

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What can I expect from an Ikando placement?

A life enriching experience that will open your horizons, personally and we hope professionally. With Ikando you can expect a quick response to your queries, a detailed application process resulting in a volunteer placement with an organisation that needs you and that you will want to work for.

When you arrive, you will be met at the airport by an Ikando member of staff who will take you to your accommodation. You will be given 24-hour contact details for your Ikando in-country coordinator your contact within the host organisation and for the nearest 24 hour medical care. Our objective is for a placement that brings out the best in you, so if there are any concerns at any time, our in-country members of staff will be happy to help you 24/7.

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I want to volunteer as a teacher, do I need to be a qualified teacher to be able to volunteer as one?

It all depends on the requirements of the school you are applying to. Ideally most schools will require you to have some experience working with children or have a background in the subject area. For more information please see the individual placement pages.

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Can I choose my own dates?

Yes you are completely free to choose your own dates. All we need to know are how many weeks you would like to volunteer for and which date you would like to start.

Please be aware that you can only select whole weeks (not 3.5 weeks for example). The organisation you are applying to will have to approve your dates as they have to make sure they will be operational during that time.

Please ensure you arrive on a weekday to avoid having to pay an additional surcharge for a weekend pick up.

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I am a research student. Can you help me?

Yes, we are very happy to welcome all research students. We can help with finding you the people and organisations to talk to, the accommodation, support network, the necessary university administration, pre-travel arrangements and a letter confirming your research status for your visa application.

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How much help will I be able to give and what will the impact be?

It all depends on the placement, the duration of your placement and most importantly your attitude. You will achieve most if you are realistic about the possibilities and have researched what it means to work in a developing country.
As things move a lot slower in Ghana you have to be realistic what you can achieve. You won't be able to change the world, but you can make significant impact on some people's lives.

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Can I talk to a previous volunteer about their experience?

Yes you can. Please email us to request their email addresses. There are also a few blogs online from previous volunteers detailing their volunteer experience.

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Can I call Ikando to discuss my placement options?

To keep our costs down we would prefer it if you emailed us. Should you really need to talk to us please request a call back by emailing us your telephone number.

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What's special about Ikando?

Ikando is not like most other volunteer organisations in two important ways:

  1. We only recruit volunteers for organisations in Ghana. Why? This allows us to know the country inside and out and as such we can meet your needs better. Our wide range of placements is an indication of how well known we are in Ghana. From the Ghana Red Cross to architectural projects, Ikando can find you a placement of interest to you.
    It also means that our main office is based in Ghana. Unlike most volunteer organisations we don't just have one member of staff in country. We have our full staff team there to ensure you have a great experience.
  2. We do not recruit for our own projects but for organisations independent of Ikando. This means that our volunteers work for genuine projects in Ghana.

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FAQs Categories

    Resource Centre

    Check out our extensive resource centre where you will find documentation on working with children, fundraising, volunteering with Ikando and much more.

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Our Ghana Team

Our Ten-strong staff team will be available 24/7 to help you throughout your placement.

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Ikando's Aims

  • To help organisations in Ghana through the provision of quality, dedicated and hard-working volunteers.

    To give volunteers and interns a positive perspective of Africa. In many ways Ghanaians are much richer than people in the West and we hope that our volunteers come to appreciate this.

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Our Accommodation
Accra Accommodation

The Agoo Hostel is located centrally in a residential area of Accra.

I'm traveling on my own

Not to worry! 99% of our volunteers are solo travelers. Ikando is also a great way to meet friends and meet people that could become travel buddies for weekend excursions.

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Country Info

    The Republic of Ghana lies on the Gulf of Guinea, on the western coast of tropical Africa, bisected by the Greenwich Meridian. The country lies within GMT zone.It is bordered to the West by Cote d'Ivoire, to the North by Burkina Faso, to the East by Togo and to the South by the Atlantic Ocean. Ghana is equivalent in size to Great Britain or the state of Oregon in the USA. The population of Ghana is approximately 22 million.

    The capital of Ghana is Accra, situated on the Atlantic coast about 25km West of the Greenwich meridian. The current population of Accra is just under 2 million people.

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    History of Ghana

Ghana is a fascinating culture at a cross roads between the past and the present. It is historically rich and amazingly diverse. It boasts the legacy of the great Ashanti Empire of the 11th century along with the dubious distinction of being the most traveled route for the transport of Africans to the new world.

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Ikando volunteer blogs


Want to know previous Ikando volunteer's experiences? Just check out their online blogs detailing their volunteer experience.

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"If you are a first time traveler or a first time volunteer to Ghana, then partnering with an organization such as Ikando is a good approach.  As a first timer myself, I can confidently say that it was reassuring to know that if any problems arose during my stay or my placement, I had someone to either find a viable solution, guide me towards one or act as a liaison between myself and my placement."

Melissa Cyr


"There are so many things I will take away from this experience and the lessons learned will last forever. It is hard to imagine what it will be like living and working in such a completely different culture and lifestyle, so come with as little expectations as possible, patience, flexibility and an open mind. This is a truly rewarding experience, and I think no one will regret coming to Ghana."

Candice Guidry

Fundraising Info

Fundraising is a great way to raise substantial funds to support your journey. In the past, Ikando volunteers have contacted their local community by writing letters to ask for support, or even organized community events - like concerts, art shows, game programmes such as bingo, and bake sales.

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How safe is Ghana?

Ghana is generally a very peaceful and stable country. In the Global Peace Index it is ranked above both the United Kingdom and the US. It is the perfect introduction for first time volunteers to Africa.

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Explore Ghana


Ghana boasts beautiful white sandy beaches, dense tropical rainforests and wild savannahs. Volunteers usually spend their weekends together exploring the country

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In-country support
Hilda Hilda is one of our housekeepers who lives at the Ikando Accommodation. She'll look after you whilst in-country, she also sometimes does airport pick-ups when Quarshi is off -duty.

Do I need a visa?

You must obtain a volunteer visa for travel to Ghana. Once you have secured your placement we will send you a letter confirming your placement for your visa application.

Your visa must be obtained at least ten days prior to traveling. For more information on how to apply for your visa please click here.

To download the Visa form please click here.

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