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Frequently Asked Questions
Living Conditions
- What kind of accommodation should I expect during my placement?
- What will the food be like?
- Is food included in the fees?
- How much do things cost?
- Can I access the Internet whilst in Ghana?
- What’s the accommodation like in Accra?
- What kind of entertainment facilities are available?
- What's the climate like?
- Will I have to share a room?
More information on our Ghana Accommodation.
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What will the food be like?
Ghanaian food is excellent, with staples including fresh fruit such as pineapple, mango, fresh fish, chicken, soups and stews and a variety of maize meal foods. If you like spice, Ghana is the place to be.
Thick soups are the mainstay of Ghanaian cuisine and are usually eaten with potatoes or rice. Another staple meal is Fufu, which consists of cassava, yam, or plantain that has been cooked, pureed, and mashed into a ball. Fufu is a ubiquitous and much-loved staple throughout most of West Africa. It can be topped with a fiery sauce or served as the bland accompaniment to a main dish. Fufu is traditionally made with cassava, but it can be prepared with everything from rice or yams, to instant mashed potatoes.
On street stalls you can find plenty of foods to stave off your hunger pangs. A popular dessert is fried plantains seasoned with chili pepper and ginger. This is usually washed down with a refreshing non-alcoholic drink made of corn called askenkee.
We strongly suggest volunteers do not drink water from the taps and are careful when eating out (try to avoid salads!)
Traditional Western foods can be bought in Accra, but as these are generally imported volunteers should be aware that they are expensive. Ikando members of staff will point you in the right direction as to where to do your food shopping.
Click here to read a NY Times article on the delights of the Ghanaian Cuisine.
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How much do things cost?
It all really depends on what you buy and where you do so. Western products are generally expensive as they have been imported. On the other hand with a little give you can easily budget $10 per day. If you would like to travel around Ghana you may need to budget more.
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What’s the accommodation like in Accra?
In Accra we have two accommodations just round the corner from one another. Our main house is large and spacious, with a big surrounding garden in the centre of town. Our office is located at the back of the garden in what used to be the staff quarters. The house has a spacious communal living area, dining area and kitchen. Upstairs there is a large balcony where volunteers sit out in the evening, a study area and bedrooms with two bathrooms. All of the upstairs bedrooms have access to balconies. During busy periods throughout the year we may also use other additional accommodations in Accra.
Ghana has a typically tropical climate. Daytime temperatures are high, approaching or topping 30oC on most days but fall at night. Temperatures are reasonably consistent throughout the year. The main seasonal factor is rain, which falls almost exclusively between April-September, peaking in May and June. Another phenomenon in Ghana is the arrival of the Harmattan winds that blow from the northeast during the dry season. They bring dust from the Sahara and reduce visibility to as little as 1km. They generally come in late November or early December and continue until March.
