west africa, ghana?

Question

do they except credit card, to pay for meals and hotel rooms. and can you use your credit card at the western union to pay for having passport renewal.

Answer 1

Yes, you can use your credit car to pay for meals and hotel rooms in Ghana. I think you can do the same for the latter question. Well, you can use your credit cards to pay for meals in most places, but if you are in a little village then you will be SOL.

Answer 2

Hi,

I live in Ghana, and as the victim of credit card fraud while in Ghana, I advise you NOT to use your credit card. Bring cash or travelers checks if necessary, which can be changed at forex bureaus and the big hotels. You don't say which embassy, but I know that the US embassy charges for passport renewal in USD, and can be paid in USD or cedis. On the passport renewal application, there is a line that says that they take US checks drawn on US banks at foreign embassies. I have to admit I've only paid in cash (as recent as last month), and not tried the check route. You can email the embassy in Accra for more information.

Hope this helps.

Barb

PS if you do have to use your credit card here, be sure you alert your credit card company that you are in Ghana... they may not even allow you to use it, as happened to me recently. I had to contact their fraud department in California and provide security info before they would allow for purchases originating in Ghana. And check your statements carefully and frequently, online if possible.

Answer 3

I never heard of anyone using Visa,MasterCard,Discover or any of those cards in Ghana.The electronic cards used in Ghana is usually not an international card.The former "SSB" Social Security Bank has an electronic card and "Sikacard" ,i guess the current one is affiliated with MasterCard but it can't be used outside Ghana.You will be disappointed if you do not have physical cash on you because only a few businesses accept such international cards.You can use the pounds,CFA and dollars to pay for any transaction in Ghana.If you are in the US,you can contact the Ghana Embassy in Washington DC to renew your passport.
the address is:The Consular Section
3512 International Dr. NW
Washington DC,20008
Tel:[phone]
Contact them to find out information about passport renewal.A site was recently establish to deal with that but i can't remember it.You can find out about how to download the form on line,the old method is full of hassle.

Answer 4

Yes, you can use your credit cards in the city but there are tons of little shops set up outside of homes...those require cash...be prepared to barter for EVERYTHING!!! Never settle for the first price they give you either...I have a friend that is from there and currently visiting family...I hear all the stories...yes, foreign currency goes alot further than the local cedi's...

Answer 5

Yes, many hotels will