The short version
- Yellow fever card: required for every traveler over 9 months old. No card, no entry.
- Malaria tablets: malaria is present throughout Ghana. Get a prescription, and take every dose.
- See a travel clinic 4 to 6 weeks before you fly to sort out vaccines like hepatitis A and typhoid.
- Visiting family? Your childhood immunity to malaria fades. You need tablets too.
Every December I watch the same thing happen: someone books flights to Accra for Detty December, plans every outfit, and then realizes the week before they leave that they don't have a yellow fever card. Let's not let that be you. Here's the checklist I give friends and family heading home to Ghana.
1. Yellow fever: the one that can stop you at the airport
Ghana requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for all travelers over nine months old, even if you're flying in from a country with no yellow fever at all. Health officials check at the port of entry.
- Get it at least 10 days before you land. Your certificate isn't valid until 10 days after the shot.
- Not every clinic stocks it. Yellow fever vaccine is only given at registered centers. Use the CDC clinic finder to locate one.
- Guard the yellow card (the "International Certificate of Vaccination"). Keep it with your passport, and take a photo of it as a backup.
- Good news: the World Health Organization considers one dose valid for life, so if you have an old card, it still counts.
- Can't have the vaccine for medical reasons? Ask your doctor about a medical waiver letter well ahead of time.
2. Malaria: the one people underestimate
Malaria is present in every region of Ghana, including Accra, and the strains there are resistant to chloroquine (the old standby). That's why the CDC recommends prescription malaria prevention for travelers to Ghana.
Visiting friends and relatives? This part is for you
Many of us who grew up in Ghana assume we're immune. The truth is that partial immunity fades after living abroad, and travelers visiting family are among the groups most likely to get malaria. Please take the tablets, even if your auntie laughs at you.
Stop the bites, too
- Use an EPA-registered repellent such as DEET or picaridin on exposed skin.
- Treat clothes with permethrin before you go, and sleep under a net or in air-conditioning.
- Fever during or after your trip (even months later)? See a doctor right away and tell them you were in Ghana.
3. Vaccines to ask your travel clinic about
Book a travel clinic or pharmacy visit 4 to 6 weeks before you fly, because some vaccines need time or more than one dose. Depending on your age, health and plans, ask about:
| Vaccine | Why it matters in Ghana |
|---|---|
| Routine shots (MMR, Tdap, flu, COVID-19) | Make sure you're up to date before any international trip. |
| Hepatitis A | Spread through food and water. Recommended for most travelers. |
| Typhoid | Also food- and water-borne. Especially if you'll eat street food or stay with family. |
| Hepatitis B | Spread through blood and body fluids. Worth discussing, especially for long stays. |
| Meningococcal | Northern Ghana sits in Africa's "meningitis belt." Ask if you're heading north, especially in the dry season. |
| Rabies | For long stays, outdoor adventures, or work around animals. |
| Polio booster | Ask whether an adult booster is recommended for your trip. |
4. Your Ghana travel health kit
- All your regular medicines, in your carry-on, plus a week's extra supply
- Copies of your prescriptions, with generic names written out
- Malaria tablets (and a reminder alarm on your phone)
- Insect repellent and a small permethrin spray
- Oral rehydration salts, plus an anti-diarrheal (see my traveler's diarrhea guide)
- Sunscreen, hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) and a small first-aid kit
- A digital thermometer
- Travel medical insurance details (I use SafetyWing)
Ready to plan the fun part?
Once the health side is handled, the rest is joy: Cape Coast Castle, Kakum's canopy walk, Kumasi's markets and Accra's food. Our Ghana hub covers it all, and you can browse Ghana tours here.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a yellow fever vaccine to enter Ghana?
Yes. Ghana requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for all travelers over nine months old, regardless of where you're flying from. Get the shot at least 10 days before you arrive.
Do I need malaria pills for Accra?
Yes. Malaria is present throughout Ghana, including Accra, and the CDC recommends prescription malaria prevention for travelers. Talk to your doctor or a travel clinic about which option suits you.
I grew up in Ghana. Do I still need malaria tablets?
Yes. Partial immunity fades after living abroad, and travelers visiting friends and relatives are among those most likely to get malaria. Take prevention seriously.
How early should I see a travel clinic before Ghana?
Ideally 4 to 6 weeks before you leave, so vaccines have time to work and multi-dose series can be started.
A quick note from me: this guide is general education, not personal medical advice. Your own doctor, pharmacist or a travel clinic knows your health history and can tailor this to you, so please talk to them before you go.