ISEP Ghana

Welcome Letter to Coming Students

I am Theresa Kwakye, your Resident Director during your stay in Ghana. Very soon you will be studying at the University of Ghana.  This should be one of the most exciting steps you will take in your life.    In this letter, I hope to answer some questions you may have to prepare you for this journey and to help make the transition a little easier.

VISA APPLICATION:

We would send you an Introductory Letter in an email introducing you to the Ghana Embassy. Please download, print and add it to your documents to present at the Ghana embassy when applying for your visa to Ghana. Also be sure to apply for a MULTIPLE-ENTRY VISA as it is easier than applying for it here, should you decide to travel to Ghana’s neighboring countries while you are here.

ARRIVAL TIT BITS:

• If you haven’t already, please send us your arrival and flight information even if you are on the group flight.  We need this information at least two weeks before you arrive. This would enable us plan your arrival pick up from the airport.

•  Regardless of your flight, you will be met at the airport.  The airport is quite small and we will be standing outside with a sign that says ‘ISEP’.  Do not pay any money to anyone for anything before exiting the airport where we will be waiting for you.  As I said, the airport is very small and you won’t need any help before you see us waiting for you outside.

•  Please don’t forget your YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION CARD.  If you don’t have it, you may go through some undue hassles upon arrival.  I also recommend carrying a change of clothes and a toothbrush in your carry-on luggage just in case your bags don’t arrive with you.  ISEP does not provide bedding, so please bring those with you as well.

•    When you arrive, you will go through Customs and Immigrations formalities.  Please make sure the Immigration officer knows that you are coming to Ghana to participate in an exchange program that will last through December 2010 or May 2011 for those who would be here for the whole Academic Year. (Please emphasize that you will be in Ghana for 5 months or for 10months). This is very important in order to ensure that you get the 60days automatic visa extension at the point of entry when you first arrive, after which ISEP staff would help you to renew it for the rest of your stay in Ghana when the 60days are over.

• On the night the group flight arrives, you will check into the hostel where you will be staying. After check-in, you will be given the opportunity to make phone calls home to let your families know you have arrived safely have dinner and be briefed about activities for the next day.

 

ORIENTATION

Orientation begins the day after the group arrives and would last throughout that week. We will cover the basics of living in Ghana during this time. We will talk about things such as:

• Where to change money and banking in Ghana, and use of ATMs, (We do not recommend bringing traveler’s checks as cashing these can be burdensome.)  

A note about Debit cards; please make sure that your debit card has a VISA logo on it or you will not be able to use it in Ghana.  Master card, American Express, Discover etc. are not accepted in Ghana.

• How to ride public transportation,
• Health issues
• Registering for Classes.
• Safety Issues
• Cross cultural communication and adjustments

You will also have a guided tour of the cities of Accra during orientation and Cape Coast and Kumasi in the course of the semester

 

DRESSING AND DAILY UPKEEP 

• As far as dressing for classes goes, Ghanaian students, though fashionable and stylish, are a little more conservative than Americans.  We would therefore not recommend planning on wearing cut-offs and see through tee shirts and flip flops to classes.  In other words, bring nice summer clothing.  Also bring some dressier outfits and maybe one nice pair of dressy shoes for social occasions.  Many past students have said that they wished they had been advised to bring more dressy clothes for going out etc.

• You will be arriving at the end of the raining season, which is wet and cool.  You might want to bring a light jacket or sweater and an umbrella with you. Good hiking and walking shoes are a must.  You will do lots of walking in Ghana.  Also bring a bathing suit.  There are many beautiful beaches in Ghana.

• Also, even though shampoos and deodorant are available here I would recommend bringing enough to last for your stay here.  These items tend to be a bit pricey in Ghana.  There will be cooking facilities in your hostel, so bring special spices you like and maybe a few food items for those times when you will really miss some meal that you especially love in the U.S. 

 
CELL PHONE:

If you would like to have direct telephone access I would recommend buying a mobile phone upon arrival.  You should budget about $50 for a phone with pre-paid service (meaning you buy cards to add credits to the phone for making calls). 

POSTAGE, MAILING AND EMAIL:

Your mailing address in Ghana will be:

PHYSICAL ADDRESS: for courier express packages (DHL, FEDEX etc.)

Student Name
C/o ISEP Office
K.A Busia Lecture Theatre
Annie Jiagge Road
University of Ghana
Legon

POSTAL ADDRESS: for letters and small packages

Student Name
Private Mail Bag L4
University Of Ghana
Legon, Ghana
West Africa

ISEP E-MAIL ADDRESSES AND CONTACT INFORMATION:

isep@ug.edu.gh

Mrs. Theresa Kwakye (Resident Director) cell phone: 020-8111154

• It takes about 2 weeks for a letter or small package to arrive in Ghana from the U.S.  Larger packages take longer and normally attract tax and a service fee which differs depending on the size and contents of the package.

• The University does have free email and computer facilities and Internet Cafes are abundant on campus and its environs and are quite inexpensive. 
  
  

Most important, do not forget to start your malaria prophylaxis before coming to Ghana and be prepared to continue taking these through your stay.

 I hope this information helps in your preparation for your journey to Ghana.  You can also look at our Ghana specific website for additional information and advice from past students:  www.ug.edu.gh/isep/index.php

If you have other questions I can be contacted at isep@ug.edu.gh I look forward to meeting each of you.

Sincerely,

Theresa Kwakye
Resident Director