Ghana’s mains supply is 230 volts at 50 Hz, and you will meet two kinds of socket:
| Type | Looks like | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| G | Three flat pins, as in Britain | Most newer buildings, hotels and offices |
| D | Three large round pins in a triangle | Older houses and buildings |
Many homes have both. Extension boards bought in Accra usually take every shape of plug, which is the simplest fix once you are here.
What to pack
From Britain or Ireland, nothing. Your plugs fit Type G sockets and the voltage is the same.
From Nigeria, nothing for most things: Nigeria uses the same British plug and a similar voltage.
From the US, Canada or Japan, a plug adapter, and a check of every appliance’s label before you plug it in (below).
From Europe, an adapter for the round two-pin plug. A Type G adapter is the one to buy, since it fits most sockets you will find.
A universal travel adapter covers all of these. Buy one with a fuse if you can.
Will it work? Read the label
Every charger and appliance has a small label with an INPUT line:
- 100-240V, 50/60Hz: works anywhere. Phone chargers, laptop chargers, camera chargers and most electric toothbrushes say this. They need only the plug adapter.
- 120V or 110V only: will burn out on 230 volts within seconds. Hair dryers, straighteners, kettles, rice cookers and some shavers from North America are the usual casualties. You need a voltage converter, rated well above the appliance’s wattage, or a new one bought here.
A plug adapter changes the shape of the plug and nothing else. It does not change the voltage.
Anything with a motor or a clock that is timed by the mains - an older clock radio, some kitchen machines - can run wrong on 50 Hz even through a converter.
The power itself
The supply is not steady. Voltage dips and surges are common, and the power goes off, sometimes on a published schedule and sometimes not. — Electricity and dumsor
- Use a surge protector for a laptop, a television or a fridge. Most electronics shops sell them, along with voltage stabilisers for fridges and air conditioners.
- Unplug during storms. A lightning surge is the commonest way to lose a television in the rainy season.
- A power bank carries a phone through an outage.
— Where to buy electronics in Accra — Furnishing a home in Accra — Visiting Accra