Kumasi is Ghana’s second city and the busiest intercity route from Accra. By road it is a four to five hour journey on a good day, longer with traffic leaving Accra or at Nsawam; by air it is under an hour.
| Way | From | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| STC coach | Kwame Nkrumah Circle | A booked seat, a fixed time, luggage in the hold |
| VIP and other private coaches | Circle | Frequent departures through the day |
| Trotro or shared car | Neoplan station, Circle | The cheapest, leaving when full |
| Driving | Freedom to stop; the road is busy and needs care | |
| Flying | Kotoka, Terminal 2 | Time, when the fare is close to the coach plus a day |
By coach
Intercity STC, the state-owned coach company, runs Accra to Kumasi from its terminal at Kwame Nkrumah Circle. Book a seat at stcticketing.gov.gh or at the terminal, and arrive early.
VIP Jeoun and other private companies run air-conditioned coaches from their stations around Circle, many times a day. You buy a ticket at the station and the coach leaves when it is full or on the hour.
Fares change with fuel prices and are set by each company. Ask at the counter, and never buy a ticket from someone outside the station.
Bring:
- Your Ghana Card or passport
- Water and something to eat
- A jacket - coach air conditioning runs cold
By trotro
Minibuses to Kumasi leave from the Neoplan station near Circle when they fill. It is the cheapest way and the least comfortable: no booked seat, no fixed time, and luggage on your lap or the roof. — Trotros, explained
Driving
The road is the N6 through Nsawam, Bunso and Konongo. It is dual carriageway for part of the way and single lane for much of the rest, shared with heavy trucks. Overtake only where you can see well ahead.
- Leave early to clear Accra before the traffic.
- Drive in daylight. The UK government advises against road travel outside the main towns after dark.
- Carry your licence, the roadworthy certificate and insurance; there are police checkpoints on the way.
Flying
Several airlines fly Accra to Kumasi many times a day from Terminal 2 at Kotoka. Once you count the trip to the airport, the time saved is a few hours, which is worth it for a day trip or a tight schedule. — Domestic flights in Ghana
Other cities
— Accra to Takoradi, Tamale and Aflao — Accra to Lagos and Abidjan by road — Getting around Accra