Ghana
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Contents |
Country Information
- AFS Country Code: GHA
- See http://www.usa.afs.org/usa_en/view/8008 for more information on Ghana.
Placement
- Age requirement: 15.0-18.0 years for school programs; 18.0-45.0 years for community service program.
- Language requirement: Basic spoken and written English language.
- Health restrictions: Candidates must be in good medical health and meet partner health criteria.
- Graduates: Graduates can be placed if they are willing to take on a full school schedule.
- Smoking: Students who smoke cannot be accepted. Most parents do not smoke, as such their children and host children are not expected to smoke
- Dietary Restrictions: Most Ghanaians eat meat and fish. It is very difficult to find host families who are willing to take on students who are vegetarians. So we cannot accept vegetarians, unless vegetarians are willing to be flexible with their eating habits once in Ghana.
- Dress: Wearing of bangles, nose rings, rings on the tongue, eye brow etc is not acceptable in school. Males should not wear ear rings and have long hair. It is difficult to place students with tattoos and rings on their bodies. It is not easy to get host families for such participants. At school, students wear sandals (black or brown), a school bag and a calculator for school. AFS will not provide students with these materials.
- Religion/Spirituality: Ghanaians are very religious. A lot of Ghanaians practice Christianity; others practice Islam, African Traditional religion and other religions such as Buddhism, etc.
- Other:
Travel Information
- Visa: Travel requires a student visa, which can be applied for at Ghana Embassies and Consulates. Must have return airline ticket, passport photos (as many as four in some countries), and a completed application form that may ask for two references in Ghana which will be provided by AFS Ghana. Due to Immigration policies in Ghana, whichever visas are issued to foreigners upon arrival at the borders of Ghana the visas are reduced to 30 or 60 days, thereby necessitating visa extensions for people who will stay for more than 60 days. Participants should be advised to apply for a two or three months visa permit into Ghana. Upon arrival AFS Ghana will have the visas extended to cover the duration of the SC program for participants.The cost for extending visas for four months is approximately US$50. Participants are to bring along two (2) passport size photographs for the visa extension process.
- Other Visa Information: On arrival, participants are normally given a 30-60 day visa. AFS Ghana arranges with the Immigration authorities for participants’ visas to be extended for the duration of the program. Participants are to bring along two (2) passport size photographs for the visa extension process. Visa extension fee is $100 to be paid by participants.
- Arrival & Orientation: Participants will be met at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra by staff/volunteers and taken by bus to the orientation site. The orientation lasts 3 days and includes discussion, role plays, intercultural Learning games. Participants will travel to their host communities by public transport. Participants cannot extend their stay.
Host Families
- About: With the extended family system, many homes have extended family members and other relations living together. Single parent families and families who no longer have their biological children at home may have extended family members or relations making unannounced visits and staying for weeks. While visits by natural parents and friends are not encouraged AFS Ghana may give consent if its convenient for host family and school. However, visits by boy and girls friends are culturally unacceptable. Such visits will not be entertained.
All family members are expected to help with household chores.
Support Information
Information needed.
Academics
- Transcript/Diploma: Transcript given, provided student is regular at school and take all tests. AFS Ghana will provide participants with a certificate of participation in the year program. For School-based Programs, you cannot guarantee an applicant who requires a diploma.
- Schools in Ghana have strict rules and all students are expected to abide by these rules.
- day from 8am- 3pm.
- courses offered include French, Ghanaian language, history, geography, science, home economics, agricultural science, business
- flexible in course work: can pick and choose-textiles and cooking
- have to buy composition books and uniform
- bring lunch and snacks, no cafeteria
- As a school-based program, it is a must that students attend school regularly. Students are expected to also participate in extra curricular activities in school such as debate, wildlife, AFS and drama clubs, soccer and cadet corps.
- AFS Ghana would arrange language lessons for students as extracurricular activity. Students will have to wear school uniform and a pair of good leather
- Eight (8) weeks during the months of April and May would be devoted to students’ project work. Student will be expected to research and write a paper on an area of interest within the host community. Papers could cover African History, African Literature, African Art, Ghanaian women, Environment, Social Life, The Ghanaian Youth, Institutions such Marriage, Chieftaincy, Development issues etc. the written project work should be presented to the AFS Ghana at the end of the six week period. This is optional.
- Language: 16 hours language lessons are offered at the local community (2 hours a week for 2 months)
Scholarships & Sponsored Programs
See Scholarships or Sponsored Programs for Sending for more information.
General Country Information
- Description:
- Language:
- Climate:
- Politics:
- Religion: Ghanaians are very religious. A lot of Ghanaians practice Christianity; others practice Islam, African Traditional religion and other religions such as Buddhism etc.
Return to the Country Information page.
For information, questions or concerns, contact the Program Information Specialist or countryinfo@afs.org.
