Frequently Asked Questions

 

What to bring

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What should I pack to bring on my placement?

We recommend that you limit your packing as tightly as you can. Resist the temptation to bring much more ‘stuff’ and clothing than you really need Because everything will have to fit into one suitcase and one carry-on bag.

Suitable clothing will vary depending on your placement. We will inform you what is suitable for your placement once you apply.

We recommend you bring the following:

  1. Shorts and T-shirts. 100% cotton is best for the hot, humid climate. Include one long-sleeved shirt for sun protection
  2. Trousers, long-sleeved tops and socks come in handy in the evening as protection against mosquitoes.
  3. Sandals, sneakers, one pair of nice shoes
  4. One or two ‘dressier’ outfits. Ghanaians dress quite formally (neat slacks and collared Shirts for men, modest skirts and tops for women)
  5. Anorak or raincoat
  6. Sunhat
  7. Sun glasses and sunscreen (30+)
  8. Flashlight plus spare batteries (electricity can be sporadic)
  9. Watch
  10. Money Pouch.
  11. Towels
  12. Insect repellent
  13. Mosquito net
  14. Mini First Aid Kit
  15. Beach wear.
  16. Laptop (volunteers have often regretted not bringing them, see below).

Please be aware that Ghanaians are very modest and you have to be sensitive to the environment in which you are working.

Should you wish to bring expensive items such as laptops, digital cameras and mobile phones, please ensure these will be covered by your insurance

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Can I use my mobile (cell) phone in Ghana?

We strongly suggest you bring your mobile phone as access to landlines will be limited. You can insert a Ghanaian "pay-as-you-go" sim card in your UK mobile. Please check with your mobile provider to find out whether your phone has a sim card block on it as this will need to be lifted if you wish to put a Ghanaian sim card in your phone.

The other alternative is to use your own mobile with your own sim card. This is very expensive and you will need to check with your provider as to whether this will work.

You can also rent sim cards and mobile phones from the Ikando Office for a small fee (subject to availability).

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I am on medication - will I be able to buy it in Ghana?

We strongly suggest to bring any medication you need as we cannot guarantee that you will be able to buy it in Ghana.

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Can I bring expensive items such as laptops, phones and digital cameras?

Most volunteers bring laptops, digital cameras and mobile phones, but we strongly recommend you ensure they are covered by your insurance and that you do not flash them around as it may attract unwanted attention. We strongly suggest volunteers do not take laptops to the refugee settlement.

Please ensure that you protect any expensive equipment from power surges through the use of a surge protector. A surge protector is an appliance designed to protect electrical devices from voltage spikes. Surge protectors attempt to regulate the voltage supplied to an electric device by either blocking or shorting to ground voltage above a safe threshold.

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What kind of adapter do I need?

In general Ghana uses UK sockets, but its not uncommon to come across both European and US sockets. In our Accra accommodation we have UK sockets.

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Do I need bedding?

No, you do not need to bring bedding. We will supply it for you. You will need to bring your own towels.

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I want to bring supplies for the organisation where I will be working – what should I bring?

If you would like to bring supplies for the organisation you will be working for we suggest you bring supplies that will aid you in your work.

Here are a couple of suggestions on what to bring:

  • School supplies such as pencils, note books, text books, reading books, art supplies, etc.
  • Teaching supplies such as pens, note books, chalk, etc.
  • T-shirts always go down well.

Remember:

  • If you give one person a present they will all expect one. So we suggest you give supplies to a manager or a headmaster to hand out.
  • Please do not post supplies over as we cannot guarantee that they will arrive.
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What kind of entertainment facilities are available?

Ghana is a vibrant country with lots of things to do and see. We recommend volunteers to bring their own entertainment, such as books, music and dvd players as we do not have TV available at our accommodations. The Accra accommodations are just round the corner from Busy Internet where 24/7 internet connection is available.

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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

Mercy

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

In Accra we have two accommodations just round the corner from each other and located dot in the centre of town.

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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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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"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 - July 2008


"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 - October 2008

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.