Accra Airport (Kotoka) Arrival & Pickup Guide 2026

Quick answer: Ghana's main airport was renamed from Kotoka International Airport back to Accra International Airport in February 2026, and its code is still ACC. International flights arrive at Terminal 3. After immigration, baggage and customs, the safest way to leave is a pre-booked transfer whose driver you have identified in advance. The UK Foreign Office warns that impostors have posed as drivers in the arrivals area. Ride-hailing (Uber, Bolt) also works from a designated pickup zone. Published private transfers start from around $65.

Touching down in Accra is a wonderful moment, whether it's your first visit or your fiftieth trip home. A little preparation makes the first hour smooth, calm and safe.

Kotoka or Accra International? The name change explained

On 23 February 2026 Ghana's Ministry of Transport announced that Kotoka International Airport would revert to its original name, Accra International Airport. The Daily Graphic reported that the ICAO code remains "ACC" and that operations are unaffected. Signage and websites are being updated gradually, so you will still see both names. Your ticket, your driver and your hotel may use either one.

What happens when you land

According to airport guide airports.guide, Terminal 3 (opened 2018) handles all international and regional flights, while domestic flights use Terminal 2. The arrival sequence is:

Port Health. Your yellow fever certificate may be checked, so keep it to hand.
Immigration. Typically 15–30 minutes, and longer when several long-haul flights land together.
Baggage reclaim.
Customs.
Arrivals hall, where pre-booked drivers wait.

If you are connecting to a domestic flight (for example to Kumasi), you walk to Terminal 2 and check in again.

Meeting your driver safely

This is the most important section of this guide. The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) advises:

"If you're being collected at the airport, confirm the identity of your driver by asking for ID. British nationals have been robbed by impostors who have approached them around the main arrivals area pretending to be their driver."

FCDO also notes that genuine permanent airport staff wear photo ID, and that you should be wary of offers of help from anyone other than uniformed porters or officials.

Our checklist:

Before you fly, get the driver's name, photo, phone number and vehicle registration from your transfer firm.
Agree a name board that shows a code word or your booking reference, not just your surname.
Check the plate against what you were sent before loading any luggage.
Don't accept help from someone who "knows your driver".
Have your hotel or host's number written down in case your phone has no signal.

Your transport options

Pre-booked private transfer

The calmest option, especially for night arrivals, families and heavy luggage. Published example: Transparent Rentals lists airport pickups from $65 within Accra. Many directory firms offer meet-and-greet; compare them on our airport transfers page.

Ride-hailing (Uber, Bolt, Yango)

Uber says you will be directed in-app to a designated pickup point, which may not be the nearest exit. Published fare estimates vary between sources:

airports.guide quotes GH₵30–50 to Osu.
airportexit.com quotes GH₵60–120.

Treat both as rough guides. You'll need working mobile data on landing.

Airport taxi rank

airportexit.com reports the taxi rank charges GH₵200–400, which it says is two to three times the app fare. If you do take one, agree the price before you get in.

Getting connected and paying

Local SIMs can be bought on arrival. MTN, Telecel and AirtelTigo are the main networks, per Secure Travel and Tours' 2026 guide.
The FCDO notes that Mastercard is not widely accepted, so carry a Visa card or some cash as back-up.
Be alert at ATMs, and where possible travel there by pre-arranged transport (FCDO).

What to have ready before you land

A few minutes of preparation at home saves a lot of stress in the arrivals hall:

Printed or offline copies of your transfer confirmation, your accommodation address and your host's phone number. Don't rely on mobile data working the moment you land.
Your yellow fever certificate, kept with your passport for the Port Health check.
A small amount of cedis for porters or tips, if you already have some. Secure Travel and Tours warns that airport exchange rates can be markedly worse than forex bureaux in town.
A flight-tracking arrangement with your transfer firm, so a delay doesn't leave you without a driver. Ask whether waiting time is included or charged.
Child seats. If you need them, request them in writing, because they are not standard in every vehicle.

For families or groups with lots of luggage, ask for a van or a large SUV rather than a saloon. KAYAK lists vans as a distinct, higher-priced category in Accra.

Night arrivals

The FCDO advises avoiding road travel outside the main towns after dark and keeping windows up and doors locked when your vehicle is stationary. If you land late and are staying outside Accra, consider a night in the city and travelling on in daylight.

A closer look at Terminal 3

Terminal 3 opened in 2018. airports.guide describes it as a five-level building with capacity for 5 million passengers a year, 24 immigration booths and four e-gates. It's modern and well signposted, and much calmer than the old terminal many returning visitors remember.

Queues are the main variable. airports.guide puts typical immigration waits at 15–30 minutes, stretching to 45 minutes in the afternoon and evening when several long-haul flights land together. If your flight from London or New York arrives in that window, tell your driver to expect you later rather than earlier. A good transfer firm tracks your flight anyway, but a quick WhatsApp from the baggage hall never hurts.

One rule that catches people out: the FCDO notes that photography near the airport is illegal, as it is near military installations. Save the arrival selfie for the hotel.

Where your driver should be waiting

A properly arranged driver waits inside the arrivals hall, past customs, holding a printed board. Ghana Travel & Tour, a local operator, describes this as the arrangement to insist on, because it means you don't need a working phone to find your ride. Read the boards rather than scanning faces, and check the vehicle registration against your booking before your bags go in the boot.

MyAirportPickup, another transfer company, notes that the airport doesn't run an official shuttle bus. Your realistic choices are a pre-booked transfer, the taxi rank or a ride-hailing app.

How long to your hotel?

airportexit.com suggests planning for 30–60 minutes to most areas in traffic. Airport Residential and Cantonments are close, while Tema, Kasoa or the far end of Spintex take considerably longer at rush hour. If you're heading straight out of the city, to Aburi or Cape Coast say, it's worth thinking twice about doing that leg on the night you land. The FCDO advises avoiding road travel outside the main towns after dark, and you'll be tired.

Ride-hailing: when it works and when it doesn't

Bolt and Uber are used daily by Accra residents, and for a light-luggage daytime arrival to a central address they can be perfectly fine. airports.guide puts daytime wait times at 3–10 minutes, longer after midnight.

The catch is the first ten minutes. You need data before you can order, which means roaming switched on or a SIM bought in the terminal. Drivers can't always wait at the kerb, so you'll be walking to a pickup zone with your bags. And the FCDO notes there have been isolated crimes in all kinds of taxis, including app-based ones, and advises against travelling alone in a taxi after dark.

Our view is simple. If you land after 10pm, have small children with you or a lot of luggage, book a driver in advance. It's the one part of the trip where paying a bit more buys a lot of calm.

Flying home: departures

Coming back the other way, airports.guide says the airport authority recommends arriving three hours early for international departures. In December, take that seriously. Traffic to the airport on a Friday evening can swallow an hour by itself. Book your drop-off for a time that builds in that buffer, and confirm it the day before.

If you've been staying outside Accra, say in Kumasi or Takoradi, consider flying into Accra on a domestic flight the same day or coming down the day before. airports.guide recommends allowing at least three hours between a domestic arrival and an international departure on separate tickets. Domestic flights use Terminal 2, a 10–15 minute walk from Terminal 3.

Connecting to a domestic flight

If you're flying straight on to Kumasi or Takoradi, you'll collect your bags, clear customs, then walk to Terminal 2 via the covered walkway and check in again (airports.guide). Domestic flights from Kumasi arrive at Terminal 2, per FlightsFrom, so expect the reverse on the way back. Allow plenty of time on separate tickets; three hours is the guide's minimum.

Arriving for a family occasion

A lot of diaspora travellers fly in for a funeral, a wedding or an outdooring, often with suitcases full of fabric, gifts and things relatives have asked for. That changes the transport maths. Four adults with two large cases each won't fit in a standard saloon, and a ride-hail driver may simply cancel when they see the pile.

If that's you, book a van or a large SUV. KAYAK lists vans as their own category in Accra, at around $163 a day self-drive, and many local chauffeur firms run Toyota Hiace minibuses. Tell the firm how many people and how many bags, and ask them to confirm the vehicle by name.

It's also worth thinking about who meets you. Relatives often want to come to the airport, which is lovely, but the arrivals area gets crowded. Agree in advance whether family will meet you inside or wait with the driver outside, so you're not trying to coordinate three phone calls while pushing a trolley.

One small but useful habit is to message your driver as soon as you're through immigration, not when you've collected your bags. Baggage reclaim on a full long-haul flight can take a while, and the heads-up lets your driver move from the car park into the arrivals hall at the right moment.

A last word on money at the airport

Secure Travel and Tours suggests that exchange rates at the airport are noticeably worse than at forex bureaux in town, so change only what you need for tips and the first day. The FCDO adds that ATMs are common in large towns but you should be alert when using them, and ideally travel to them by pre-arranged transport. A driver who can stop at a bank in Osu on the way to your hotel is a small but genuinely useful thing.

Frequently asked questions

Is Kotoka Airport the same as Accra International Airport?

Yes. The government restored the original name, Accra International Airport, in February 2026. The airport code is still ACC.

Which terminal do international flights use in Accra?

Terminal 3 handles international and regional flights. Terminal 2 is domestic.

Do Uber and Bolt work at Accra airport?

Yes. Both operate from a designated pickup area outside arrivals. You need mobile data, and fares vary with demand.

How much is an airport transfer in Accra?

Published private transfers start from about $65 (Transparent Rentals, within Accra). Prices vary by vehicle and destination.

How do I know my driver is genuine?

Get the driver's name, photo and plate number in advance, and ask for ID on arrival, as the UK FCDO recommends.

Book a trusted pickup

Compare verified airport transfer firms, or browse chauffeur services in Accra for the rest of your stay.

Information checked 13 October 2026.

Sources (11)

Accra (Kotoka) International Airport Arrival & Pickup Guide