In September, 2024, I hired Leo (a guy from Ghana) to help me clean out the Chalet pond. While dragging mud out of the pond, we talked about life and I mentioned my love of motorcycle touring. Leo asked if I had ridden in Africa and mentioned Around In Seven. Later that evening I did a little digging and found this.

Around in Seven (AIS) @aroundinseven



Around In Seven(AIS) is a 7 day nationwide tour from Jan 10-Jan 16, 2023. Riders are touching each of the 16 regions visiting major tourist attraction sites in the various regions.
They will also do charity work by donating to hospitals in the Upper Regions to take care of medical bills of the underprivileged (¢50,000 or ~USD$3,140 in 2021).
Follow them on IG @aroundinseven.
The @motochecker Daniel Ashrifie (AKA Dan Lee, Neil Ronaldo, and "The Moto Checker") is the originator of this.

The Moto Checker

Youtube Channel

@aroundinseven

A group of motorcyclists who go on a 7 day nationwide tour around the beautiful country called Ghana on adventure motorcycles.

We highlight Road Safety Advocacy, Charity & Interesting Tourist Sites.

We also have plans of touring neighboring countries also in 7 days.

Past AIS routes

Around In Seven first ran in 2021 and has run every year since. In past years, they have ridden around Ghana for seven days, but this year they plan to ride for fourteen days to Senegal and back. 
    AIS-1 2021
    AIS-2 2022
    AIS-3 2023
    AIS-4 2024
    AIS-5 2025 upcoming, Accra to Dakar

2024 AIS Route

Daniel Ashrife is calling this ride, the "Quintuple Quest" as it visits five countries in 2 weeks.


Route part 1: video 1     map 1
Route part 2: video 2     map 2
Total AIS-4 (2024) route was 52hrs (7.5 google hrs/day) 2542km (363km/day) avg speed 49 kph
Waypoints extracted from those two Instagram video clips

  1. Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park & Mausoleum, Accra, Ghana
  2. SO Energy Filling Station, Alajo St, Accra, Ghana
  3. Rock City Hotel, Agogo-Mpraeso Rd, Nkwatia, Ghana
  4. Lake Bosomtwe, Ghana
  5. Macoba Luxury Apartments, Agyapongmaah Street, Kumasi, Ghana
  6. Boabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, Boabeng, Ghana
  7. Kintampo Waterfalls & Fuller Waterfalls, just after falls rest stop on the kintampo-tamale highway, Kintampo, Ghana
  8. Yakam Hotel, Kintampo, Ghana
  9. Royal Cosy Hills Safari Resort, Jirapa, Ghana
  10. Ganass Hotel, Bolga Stadium, Tamale Rd, Bolgatanga, Ghana
  11. Tongo Hills and Tengzug Shrine, Yinduri, Ghana
  12. Nim Avenue Hotel, Tamale, Ghana
  13. Mognori eco village (Latif's eco tours), Mognori, Ghana
  14. Eusbett Hotel, Sunyani - Berekum Rd, Sunyani, Ghana
  15. Maaha Beach Resort, Near Ghana Gas Ltd, Elonyi, Ghana
  16. Cape Three Points, Ghana
  17. Fort Metal Cross, TortoisePath.com, Dixcove, Ghana
  18. back to Accra

Oct 6 conversation on WhatsApp

With Kathi's help, I contacted @MotoChecker on Instagram and had a conversation with Daniel Ashrifie. 
    7pm
    Hi, I'm Chris Uhlik. My friend Leonid Adotey Brown Maclean from Ghana told me about AIS. 
    I reached out to you via my wife's Instagram account. 
    I look forward to joining your AIS 2025 trip. 
    Where can I find information like the dates, approximate route, etc?

    11:30pm
    Hi Chris. 
    Good to hear.


Route:
IN: Ghana - Burkina - Mali - Senegal 57 hr, 3298 km, (8+ hrs and 470 km/day)
OUT: Senegal - Mali - Ivory Coast - Ghana 48 hr, 2974 km (7 hrs and 425 km/day)
Average speed while moving: 60 kph which implies a lot of highway driving and some pretty long days

Guess about day-by-day itinerary

Jan 10 Accra, Ghana → Kintampo, Ghana8h20m425 km
Jan 11 Kintampo, Ghana →Hamile, Ghana8h00m407 km
Jan 12 Hamile, Ghana →Koudougou, Burkina Faso6h34m354 km
Jan 13 Koudougou, Burkina Faso → Segou, Mali7h47m530 km
Jan 14 Segou, Mali → Toukoto, Mali8h10m493 km
Jan 15 Toukoto, Mali → Tambacounda, Senegal9h14m620 km
Jan 16 Tambacounda, Senegal → Dakar, Senegal7h00m488 km
Jan 17 Dakar, Senegal → Tambacounda, Senegal7h00m505 km
Jan 18 Tambacounda, Senegal → Kayes, Mali4h20m281 km (short)
Jan 19 Kayes, Mali → Bamako, Mali10h0m544 km (long)
Jan 20 Bamako, Mali → Tingrela, Côte d'Ivoire5h47m342 km
Jan 21 Tingrela, Côte d'Ivoire → Bouake, Côte d'Ivoire6h50m436 km
Jan 22 Bouake, Côte d'Ivoire → Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire4h20m347 km (short)
Jan 23 Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire → Accra, Ghana10h10m524 km (long)

Actual Stays and Routes

Tue Jan 7 → TBD Accra, Ghana
Wed Jan 8 → TBD Accra, Ghana
Thu Jan 9 → TBD Accra, Ghana
Fri Jan 10 → TBD
Sat Jan 11 → TBD
Sun Jan 12 → TBD , Burkina Faso
Mon Jan 13 Onomo Hotel, Bamako, Mali
Tue Jan 14 Hotel Kamankloe Palace, Kayes, Mali10h34m551 kmmap
Wed Jan 15 → TBD , Senegal
Thu Jan 16 → TBD Dakar, Senegal
Fri Jan 17 → TBD , Senegal
Sat Jan 18 → TBD Kayes, Mali
Sun Jan 19 Hotel La Maison Blanche, Kéniéba, Maliroute8h58m432 km
Mon Jan 20 Onomo Hotel, Bamako, Mali
Tue Jan 21 → TBD , Côte d'Ivoire
Wed Jan 22 → TBD , Côte d'Ivoire
Thu Jan 23 → TBD Accra, Ghana
Fri Jan 24 → TBD Accra, Ghana
Sat Jan 25 → TBD Accra, Ghana
Sun Jan 26 → TBD Accra, Ghana
    11:32 PM
    Wow, that looks amazing.
    I'd like to learn a bit more about your group. Are you a commercial touring company, group of friends riding together, charitable organization, ...?
    Do you have dates for the ride?
    I'll also need to arrange a bike.  Ideally I could rent from someone or some company you recommend.  But I could also buy a bike if I could find a way to keep it in Ghana for future visits.
    11:35 PM we began a phone call

Chronology

Oct 6, 2024First phone call with Daniel Ashrifie late at night where I got the information above
Oct 8, 2024Phone call with Daniel Ashrifie and Leo where Leo checked out Daniel for me
Oct 8--12, 2024I do intensive Internet research about Ghana, flight options, travel visas, and vaccination requirements
Oct 12, 2024I gave tentative plans to Daniel about flight plans
Oct 13, 2024After some intensive research into visa requirements for Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire,
I need a Yellow Fever vaccination card to even apply for these visas.
I start to worry about if I have enough time to do all the back and forth
to embassies in Washington DC before the trip begins.
Oct 14, 2024I call Kaiser and schedule a travel consult to get a yellow fever vaccination, earliest available appointment is Oct 28.
Yikes, the delay is too long! I call Passport Health and find I can get a yellow fever jab immediately for... $99 + $424
I look for a cheaper vaccine and find Walgreens doesn't do it, but Costco does, for about $200
Oct 15, 2024I start following Daniel's WhatsApp Updates and learn a bit about the politics of Ghana's upcoming presidential election
Oct 15, 2024I purchase a travel health consult from SafeGard through Costco
Oct 16, 2024I contact G3Visas.com about them doing the leg work of walking my passport to each embassy.
Their fee is roughly $230 additional per country. This is getting expensive!
I start seriously gathering all required documents.
Oct 17, 2024I get the travel consult report back from SafeGard, crap I need a lot of shots!
Oct 17, 2024MotoChecker found a Tènèrè 700 for me
Now I know about visas, vaccinations, and my bike... time to commit!
I get bank info from Daniel Ashrifie.
Oct 17, 2024I buy my airplane tickets
Oct 18, 2024I call Costco, talk with the travel pharmacist and schedule my shots for 12:15pm, by 2pm, I have 6 jabs.
Oct 18, 2024I attempt to send Daniel payment for the motorcycle, but have problems sending Ghanaian Cedi. I first think
it's a 49,000 Cedi limit, but later discover that trading in both Cedi and XOF are suspended due to rule changes and volatility.
Oct 19, 2024I work with Leo all day while feeling like crap.
Oct 20, 2024Feeling much better. I spend all day working on visa applications.
Oct 21, 2024Call Côte d'Ivoire embassy about visa application problems, work with tech support, get application paid for, FedEx passport to DC.
Oct 21, 2024Pay for Burkina Faso eVisa online.
Oct 21, 2024I do lots of research about monetary transfers to West Africa, learn about dollarization of the Ghana economy.
Decide to try testing a USD $500 transfer to Daniel
Oct 22, 2024$500 test transfer succeeds.
Another phone call with Daniel. Discussed money in Ghana issues.
I send the rest ($7500) which takes only about an hour. Bike is now paid for.
Oct 22, 2024Work all day with Leo, find that Daniel lives close (~30min) to Leo's sister Anastasia in Accra.
Learn about Mobile Money restrictions.
Oct 24, 2024passport with Côte d'Ivoire visa received
Oct 26, 2024Completed Ghana application, sending by FedEx, expect 7 business days, Back near Nov 6?
Oct 26, 2024Received AIS invitation letter from Ethel K requesting 10,000 Cedi $620.90
Oct 27, 2024Paid ¢10,000 to Daniel in the form of USD $617.61
Oct 28, 2024Health consult discussion with Kaiser travel nurse
Oct 29, 2024Notification of receipt of Ghana visa application, they say it will be mailed back on Nov 5.
Oct 29, 2024Got my Hepititus A, Hepititus B, Covid, and Flu vaccines from Kaiser
Oct 30, 2024Notification of approval of Ghana visa application
Oct 30, 2024Reactivated Instagram account to help promote AIS
Nov 6, 2024Got my passport back from the Ghana Embassy with a 5yr multiple-entry visa
Nov 8, 2024Mailed my passport and documents to the Embassy of Mali
Nov 12, 2024Passport received by the Embassy of Mali
Nov 14, 2024Communication from the Embassy of Mali, they need my invitation letter and hotel reservation
Nov 15, 2024Second attempt to reserve a hotel in Mali
Nov 22, 2024Mali Embassy mailed out my passport(?)
Nov 25, 2024Passport received
Dec 6, 2024Ghana presidential elections, big day
Dec 15, 2024Daniel gets nervous about security in Burkina Faso and Mali, changes plan to Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia
Dec 15, 2024Sierra Leone eVisa submitted
Dec 15, 2024Guinea eVisa submit attempt, charge failed, after 5 tries, changed to Wells Fargo card and succeeded

Travel Requirements

Visas

Applying for a visa seems to consist of filling out forms, attaching passport photos, paying a substantial application fee, and mailing everything to Washington DC for several days / weeks.

The ECOWAS Free Movement of Persons protocol is theoretically implemented, but in practice, is not reliable yet. This should eventually allow visa-free movement between member countries for 90 days, for holders of an ECOWAS Passport (available only to member states' citizens).

G3 Global Services

G3 Visas fees

G3 has a visa application assistance process, info requested Oct 16 by a phone call to 888-883-8472
No visa required for Senegal
eVisa for Burkina Faso
consular visas required for Mali, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire which they can help with.
Senegal no visa needed
Burkina Faso 4--10 days $80 $120 eVisa
Ghana 15 days $200 $150
Ghana 10 days $200 $230
Ghana 5 days $265 $320
Mali 10 days $160 $150
Mali 5 days $160 $230
Mali 1 days $160 $320
Côte d'Ivoire 4--10 days $80 $120 eVisa

Invitation letter from AIS needs to include route and stop information.
Ghana
Sierra Leone
Guinea
Liberia
Burkina Faso
Mali
Senegal
Côte d'Ivoire

Currency

How to pay

It looks like my Wise debit card will not be useful for paying in Ghanaian Cedi GHS or West African Francs XOF. Leo recommends bringing about $2000 in cash, then changing some at the FOREX desk upon arrival. He is not aware of prepaid debit cards. Mobile Money works only in Ghana (different in each country) and requires a local SIM which you cannot get without a Ghana ID card. Maybe Daniel can help me get a local SIM. I will send Daniel some extra USD before I arrive. Daniel says all hotel bookings will be made in advance, so the only payment along the way is basically fuel. But what about food, etc? If I assume $50/day for fuel and misc, I should have $700 for the 14-day ride. Guess: half in local currency, half in USD in $1 and $5 and $20 denominations. (100 × $1, 50 × $5, 10 × $20 = $550)

Recent Financial History

In 2022 Ghana rather sever inflation(>50%/yr). The rest of West Africa does not seem to have been affected.

Cedi weakened a lot recently.
Much more stable.

Dollarization is when the country begins to recognize USD as legal tender alongside or in place of its domestic currency. This occurs when the local currency has become unstable and begun to lose its usefulness as a medium of exchange for market transactions. The inflation in 2022 started / was-caused-by the trend towards USD in Ghana.
Dollarization of Ghana proposals are being floated to make USD legal tender in Ghana. The dollar is already de facto the tender for buying motorcycles, real-estate, school tuition, and other major purchases. It seems that hotels also set their prices in dollars.

Ghananian Cedi


Ghana uses the Ghananian Cedi ¢ about $0.063 USD, ¢16.15:$1, but still falling by about half percent per week
¢1 $0.06
¢5 $0.32
¢10 $0.63
¢20 $1.26
¢50 $6.30

West African CFA franc

The former French Colonies use a unified West African CFA (African Financial Community) franc tied to the Euro, about 600 CFA : $1. Also abbreviated XOF and F.CFA. This includes Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, and Côte d'Ivoire. They hope to merge the CFA into a new pan-African, common currency called the eco analagous to the euro, but that hasn't happened yet.

The West African Economic and Monetary Union WAEMU also known as UEMOA contains 8 countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo.

The West African Monetary Zone WAMZ is a group of 6 countries: Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone.

My Wise card should work in major cities. ATMs are rare outside of major cities like Dakar.

Notes are in denominations of 1000 and 5000 ($1.66 and $8.33).
Coins are in denominations of CFA F 500 and CFA F 200 ($0.83 and $0.33).

Health

Kaiser International Travel Clinic

503-261-2057 called Mon, Oct 14, 10:50am and started a case by leaving a voice mail
Consultation appointment Oct 28. I'm uncomfortable with how much of my visa application time this consumes.

Passport Health

These guys will do a Yellow Fever vaccination quickly, without a perscription, but they are not transparent about pricing. They charge $99 for the office visit plus $423 for the shot. I looked into cheaper options and found SafeGard.

Costco/SafeGard International Travel Clinic

Costco offers a $39.95 travel consultation from SafeGard and a Yellow Fever vaccination for $182.

Here's the result: Safe Guard Health Report (pdf) 60 pages

Vaccinations


On Oct 18, I went to Costco and got the following vaccinations for $810.10: In 2 weeks, I will go to Kaiser and get I declined the recommended Rabies profilactic because it makes you quite sick, is very expensive, and doesn't really do anything except buy more time for treatment if you get bitten or scratched. I plan to be very careful about exposure to potentially rabid animals.

The following were not recommended

With my Yellow Fever vaccination, I got a ICVP which is needed for some of the visa applications.

Avoid floodwater, contaminated water, and soil

Leptospirosis
Touching urine or other body fluids from an animal infected with leptospirosis
Swimming or wading in urine-contaminated fresh water, or contact with urine-contaminated mud
Drinking water or eating food contaminated with animal urine
Schistosomiasis
Wading, swimming, bathing, or washing in contaminated freshwater streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, or untreated pools.
Conclusion
Be very careful with river/stream crossings. Don't ride with boots full of possibly-contaminated water.

Avoid bug bites

African Tick-Bite Fever
Tick bite
Chikungunya
Mosquito bite
Dengue
Mosquito bite
Leishmaniasis
Sand fly bite
Conclusion
DEET, use it liberally. Wear long sleeves and long pants. Bring a head net and a repellent-treated bed net.

Airborne & droplet --- Avoid sick people, rodents and areas where they live

Hantavirus
Breathing in air or accidentally eating food contaminated with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents
Bite from an infected rodent
Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus (only occurs with Andes virus)
Lassa Fever
Breathe in air or eat food contaminated with the urine or droppings of infected rats
Touch the body fluids of a person infected with Lassa virus or objects contaminated with infected body fluids
Tuberculosis (TB)
Breathe in TB bacteria that is in the air from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.

Security and Social Instability Warnings

Ghana
In areas near the northern border in the Upper East and Upper West regions, avoid travel at night, avoid blockades, be careful in urban areas and crowded markets.
Burkina Faso
Travel.State.GOV says "Do not travel to Burkina Faso due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping."
Terrorist groups continue plotting attacks in Burkina Faso.
Kidnapping and hostage taking is a threat throughout the country.
Mali
Travel.State.GOV says "Do not travel to Mali due to crime, terrorism, and kidnapping."
Violent crime, such as kidnapping and armed robbery, is common in Mali. Violent crime is a particular concern during local holidays and seasonal events in Bamako, its suburbs, and Mali’s southern regions. Roadblocks and random police checkpoints are commonplace throughout the country, especially at night.
Terrorist and armed groups continue plotting kidnappings and attacks in Mali. They may attack with little or no warning, targeting night clubs, hotels, restaurants, places of worship, international diplomatic missions, and other locations frequented by foreigners. Attacks may target Malian government offices and infrastructure, in addition to locations frequented by Westerners.
The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens throughout much of Mali as U.S. government employee travel outside Bamako is restricted due to security concerns.
Senegal
Exercise normal precautions in Senegal. Some areas have increased risk.
Do not stray from main roads and well-traveled areas in the Casamance region.
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
Côte d'Ivoire Terrorism: Terrorist groups and those inspired by such organizations are intent on attacking U.S. citizens abroad. Terrorists are using simpler methods to attack. These include knives, firearms, and vehicles. They use them to target crowds more effectively. Frequently, their aim is focused on unprotected or vulnerable targets, such as: High-profile public events, Hotels, clubs, and restaurants frequented by tourists, Places of worship, Schools, Parks, Beaches, Shopping malls and markets, Public transportation systems (including subways, buses, trains, and scheduled commercial flights).

Côte d’Ivoire still faces threats from violent extremist groups in the region. These groups are active across the borders of Burkina Faso and Mali. Côte d’Ivoire is not a base for these groups. Violent extremist groups in the region have stated they will target foreigners and/or countries that participate in counterterrorism efforts. For more information, see our Terrorism page.

Crime is common. Property crime includes burglaries and car theft. Violent crime includes carjacking, armed robberies of homes and streets. Illegal firearms are readily available throughout the country. Banditry and other violent crimes continue. They happen day and night in the countryside. During holidays (including major Muslim and Christian holidays), robberies and opportunistic crimes increase. These crimes include burglaries of cars and homes. Criminals seldom harm victims of street crime if they comply with demands. Assailants have used violence if victims refuse to hand over valuables.

Law enforcement is somewhat effective at deterring crime but lacks adequate resources. Security services often lack radios, guns, and cars. This severely limits their ability to respond. Many gendarmes and police stations outside of Abidjan have one vehicle for the whole precinct. They often get distress calls from the public via cell phone because they lack a centralized dispatch system. Responses to incidents of crime are often slow and generally limited to writing a report. The legal system lacks resources and tools to handle its current cases, and cannot jail criminals according to global standards.

U.S. citizens should be careful when visiting the Abobo, Adjame, Angre, Koumassi, Marcory, and Yopougon districts in Abidjan. They should also be careful in popular night areas, including Plateau, Treichville, and Zone 4.

Always carry identification to minimize the risk of harassment at police checkpoints.

Uniformed police, military, and gendarmes routinely stop vehicles. They do so for traffic violations and security checks. If you find yourself at such a stop, politely present your identification. Police and security officials rarely speak English. Incidents of police or security force harassment or detention of foreigners are rare but do occur. If an officer asks you to pay a bribe, politely refuse and present a photocopy of your U.S. passport, visa, and entry stamp.

There are weapons are left over from the civil war. They are a security threat. Criminals, rogue soldiers, and groups with common political views can exploit them. They pose an ongoing risk to Côte d’Ivoire’s fragile democracy.
Guinea
Reconsider travel to Guinea due to fuel shortages impacting local infrastructure, civil unrest, and health and exercise increased caution in Guinea due to crime.
Avoid demonstrations and crowds.

Schedule and Flights

just the itinerary
  Mon Jan 06  7:00am PDX-5h24m->JFK 3:24pm   Delta 451  (47m layover)
              4:20pm JFK-9h40m->ACC 7:00am+1 Delta 156
  Tue Jan 07  arrive 7am, check into hotel, rest
  Wed Jan 08  explore Accra, warmup ride with Daniel Ashrifie
  Thu Jan 09  explore Accra
  Fri Jan 10  Day  1   ride motorcycles 528 km  Accra, Ghana → Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
  Sat Jan 11  Day  2   ride motorcycles 567 km  Abidjan → Man, Côte d'Ivoire
  Sun Jan 12  Day  3   ride motorcycles 465 km  Man → Monrovia, Liberia
  Mon Jan 13  Day  4   ride motorcycles 515 km  Monrovia → Freetown, Sierra Leone
  Tue Jan 14  Day  5   ride motorcycles 444 km  Freetown → Mamou, Guinea
  Wed Jan 15  Day  6   ride motorcycles 395 km  Mamou → Labé → Koundara, Guinea
  Thu Jan 16  Day  7   ride motorcycles 460 km  Koundara → Kaolack, Senegal
  Fri Jan 17  Day  8   ride motorcycles 215 km  Kaolack → Dakar, Senegal
  Sat Jan 18  Day  9   rest day in Dakar
  Sun Jan 19  Day 10   ride motorcycles 496 km  Dakar → Tambacounda, Senegal
  Mon Jan 20  Day 11   ride motorcycles 458 km  Tambacounda → Labé, Guinea
  Tue Jan 21  Day 12   ride motorcycles 475 km  Labé → Kissidougou, Guinea
  Wed Jan 22  Day 13   ride motorcycles 512 km  Kissidougou → Man, Côte d'Ivoire
  Thu Jan 23  Day 14   ride motorcycles 564 km  Man → Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
  Fri Jan 24  Day 15   ride motorcycles 528 km  Abidjan → Accra, Ghana  Total 6,622 km or ~4,150 miles, avg 366 miles/day.
  Sat Jan 25  contingency day / explore Ghana / shopping
  Sun Jan 26  contingency day / explore Ghana / shopping
  Mon Jan 27  10:15pm ACC-6h35m->AMS   5:50am KLM 590 (4h35m layover in Amsterdam)
  Tue Jan 28  10:25am AMS-10h0m->PDX  11:25am KLM 615
sum([528 567 465 515 444 395 460 215 496 458 475 512 564 528 ])

ECOWAS


The Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS includes these 15 member states, some currently suspended: ECOWAS is a NATO-like mutual defense organization as well as a a regional political and economic union.

Notably among ECOWAS's protocols and plans are the ECOWAS Free Movement of Persons, Residences and Establishment Protocol and the Ecotour Action Plan 2019–2029. The Free Movement of Persons Protocol permits citizens the right to enter and reside in any member state's territory,[10] and the Ecotour Action Plan aims to develop and integrate the tourist industry of each member state. Unfortunately, these components are not yet implemented. Algeria,Cameroon,Andorra,Monaco,Chad, Gambia,Morocco, Mauritania,and Tunisia

U.S. Embassy Accra

No. 24 Fourth Circular Road,
Cantonments, Accra, Ghana
Telephone: +233-(0)30-274-1000
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +233-(0)30-274-1000
Email: ACSaccra@state.gov
https://gh.usembassy.gov/

The 16 Regions of Ghana


Region (Capital)
  1. Ashanti (Kumasi)
  2. Bono (Sunyani)
  3. Bono East (Techiman)
  4. Ahafo (Goaso)
  5. Central (Cape Coast)
  6. Eastern (Koforidua)
  7. Greater Accra (Accra)
  8. Northern Tamale Northern (Tamale)
  9. Savannah (Damongo)
  10. North East (Nalerigu)
  11. East (Bolgatanga)
  12. Upper West (Wa)
  13. Volta (Ho)
  14. Oti (Dambai)
  15. Western (Takoradi)
  16. Western North (Wiawso)

Costs

DateCost Description
2024/10/15 $39.95Travel Consultation Costco / SafeGard Travel Medicine
2024/10/17 $1,538.61Flight Delta and KLM
2024/10/18 $810.10Six Vaccinations, malaria and antibiotic pills
2024/10/18 $24.91Passport photos for visas
2024/10/20 $150.00Ivory Coast visa application fee
2024/10/21 $111.73Ivory Coast visa application fee, part 2
2024/10/21 $172.73Burkina Faso visa application fee
2024/10/21 $68.30FedEx to Ivory Coast Embassy
2024/10/22 $518.95Test transfer $500 to Daniel Ashifie + transfer fee
2024/10/22 $7,518.95Motorcycle + $18.95 transfer fee
2024/10/25 $30.75Ghana FedEx return charge
2024/10/25 $207.00Ghana Visa application fee
2024/10/26 $47.55FedEx to Ghana Embassy (Sat to Monday by end of day)
2024/10/26 $636.64Future tour fee deposit 10,000 cedi to AIS $617.61 plus $18.95 transfer fee
2024/10/29 $7.72Doxycycline
2024/10/30 $427.04Tenere rack and luggage + water treatments
2024/11/06 $190.00Mali visa application fee ($185 + $5 money order)
2024/11/15 $1,523.65Tour fee balance (¢24,000 = $1,504.70 + transfer fee)
2024/12/15 $168.03Sierra Leone eVisa application fee
2024/12/15 $153.54Guinea eVisa application fee
2024/12/17 $260.00Liberia money order visa application fee
2024/12/15 $136.60FedEx to/from Liberian Embassy
Total $13,952.75Total expenses incurred so far
future items

Data Plans

Cellular Data Info in Africa

Notable things to see in West Africa

Future Trips / Miscellaneous

ghanamotorbiketours.com buys and sells bikes for travellers and can recommend guides and routes.
ADV Rider thread recommends Mole park, The Cow Milk business map, Koala or Game shopping center, the Survey Department near the airport has detailed (if dated) 1:50,000 maps, Kwau Tafo is a nice town a few hours north out of Accra situated on a plateau that will give some respite from the heat, ferry and cross Lake Volta, Waterfall Lodge outside of Hohoe, Ivory Coast Axim Beach near Dix Cove.

TOBUY list

TODO list

Packing list

Thoughts for future rides in Africa


Congo Overland Tours