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Ghana · Safety report last updated
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Ghana · Assessed 13 October 2026
79
/ 100
What drives this score
01 · Official Guidance
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel Bawku Municipality FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Bawku Municipal area in the Upper East region of Ghana.”
Updated 2026-10-07T10:25:24Z
Full advisory →Exercise a high degree of caution
“Canada's official risk level for Ghana: exercise a high degree of caution.”
Updated 2026-09-24T08:53:34.054319-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Mugging & robbery risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
Robbery / mugging
LowArmed robbery is rare; incidents are typically non-confrontational snatch-thefts near the harbor or market after dark
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing and bag-snatching occur in crowded tourist spots, especially around Elmina Castle and the fishing harbor during peak hours
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly positive
86/100
Recent visitor reports indicate most feel safe during the day, particularly at the castle and beaches, though some express unease walking alone at night in unlit areas near the harbor.
Yes. Elmina is generally safe for visitors who take standard precautions against petty crime.
Elmina benefits from low violent crime and a strong sense of personal safety, with 82.7% of residents reporting they feel safe walking alone after dark. However, petty theft and opportunistic scams targeting tourists occur, particularly around the castle and harbor areas. Visitors should remain vigilant in crowded places and avoid walking alone at night in poorly lit zones.
Recent developments
Common scams
Full briefing
Elmina’s safety profile reflects a peaceful coastal town where violent crime is uncommon, supported by a low national homicide rate and high resident confidence in nighttime safety. The dossier shows increased tourism activity following the extension of castle tour hours to 10pm as part of Ghana’s 24-hour tourism economy, bringing more visitors into the evening hours. While no recent incidents of violence against tourists were recorded, the harbor area saw local protests over siltation after a fishing vessel sank, indicating occasional community unrest unrelated to visitors. Pickpocketing remains the primary concern, particularly in the crowded castle grounds and market zones where tourists congregate. Scams involve unofficial guides offering tours at inflated prices and vendors overcharging for crafts, especially near the harbor. To stay safe, travelers should secure belongings, agree on prices upfront, and use registered transport after dark. The town’s strong community feel and low violent crime make it a rewarding destination for culturally interested visitors who exercise standard urban caution.
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06 · Neighbourhoods
Our field research rated 5 Elmina districts for visitors: 1 safer, 4 needing caution. See them plotted on the Elmina safety map.
Elmina Fishing HarbourcautionActive port with potential for petty theft; be aware of local protests or disruptions.
Town CentrecautionModerate risk of pickpocketing and petty theft, especially in crowded areas.
Residential AreascautionGenerally safe, but exercise caution after dark and be aware of your surroundings.
OutskirtscautionLess developed areas may have fewer amenities and require more vigilance.
Elmina Castle AreasaferHigh tourist traffic and presence of security around the historic castle.
07 · After Dark
83% of people in Ghana say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2019).
Armed robbery is rare; incidents are typically non-confrontational snatch-thefts near the harbor or market after dark
After dark, be most careful around Elmina Fishing Harbour, Town Centre, Residential Areas, Outskirts. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Yes. Elmina is generally safe for visitors who take standard precautions against petty crime. Elmina benefits from low violent crime and a strong sense of personal safety, with 82.7% of residents reporting they feel safe walking alone after dark. However, petty theft and opportunistic scams targeting tourists occur, particularly around the castle and harbor areas. Visitors should remain vigilant in crowded places and avoid walking alone at night in poorly lit zones. (Assessed 13 October 2026.)
Safety is not one number, and this Elmina report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
No districts were flagged as no-go areas for visitors at the last assessment.
Elmina ranks #1 of 7 Ghana destinations we've assessed, scoring 79/100. See the Ghana safety overview for the full list.
The score blends 12+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
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Raw data: elmina.json (CC BY 4.0).
