Accra to Aflao by Car: Distance, Time & Car Rental

Quick answer: The Accra to Aflao distance by road is about 187 km along the N1 coast highway, according to Citi Newsroom. There's no official journey time, so allow at least half a day and travel in daylight. Aflao is the border town where the N1 meets Togo, and it's less than 10 km from Lomé. If you rent or hire a car, ask the firm in writing before you plan to take it across the border.

Aflao sits in the far south-east corner of Ghana, in the Ketu South area of the Volta Region, right on the border with Togo. People make the trip to cross into Togo, for cross-border trade, or to visit family in the area. This guide covers the route and distance, how long to allow, how bus fares work, what to know at the border, and how to arrange car rental and hire.

If you're heading inland to Ho, Hohoe or Wli instead, see our Accra to the Volta Region guide.

The route and distance

From Accra you drive east through Tema and on along the N1, the coastal highway that runs all the way to the Togo border. The road passes Sogakope, where the Ghana Immigration Service has a checkpoint close to the Volta Bridge, then continues through the Akatsi area to Aflao.

Key fact	What we found
Distance by road	About 187 km on the N1 (Citi Newsroom)
Aflao to Lomé	Less than 10 km (Ghana Ministry of Food and Agriculture)
Main road	N1 coastal highway, Tema to Aflao
Official journey time	None published; see below

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture describes Aflao as "less than 200 kilometers from Accra", which matches the Citi figure.

How long does the drive take?

We couldn't find an official journey time, so we don't give one. Traffic leaving Accra and Tema makes the biggest difference. For a guide figure, Chris Mobility Africa, a chauffeur firm listed on GhanaCarHire, says on its own website that its Accra to Aflao private transfer takes about 3.5 to 5.5 hours, depending on traffic, stops and road conditions.

Things that slow the trip down:

Roadworks east of Tema. Graphic reported on 27 August 2026 that work on the 17 km Tema Roundabout to Dawhenya stretch of the N1 was only 23.11 per cent complete, with diversions in place and Prampram junction traffic sent through Prampram township.
Checkpoints. The Ghana Immigration Service runs an inland checkpoint at Sogakope, close to the Volta Bridge, as well as its posts at Aflao. Have your passport or ID ready.
Speed humps through towns. In 2022, a Daily Graphic editorial complained about makeshift humps on parts of the Accra–Aflao N1 in the Akatsi area. Slow down through villages.

The UK FCDO advises against travelling by road outside the main towns after dark. Leave Accra early so you reach Aflao well before sunset, especially if you plan to cross the border the same day.

Accra to Aflao bus and fares

If you searched for an Accra to Aflao fare or bus, here's how it works. Public transport fares in Ghana, including inter-city routes, are agreed between the transport unions and the Ministry of Transport. Graphic Online reported that fares rose by 8 per cent from 26 September 2026, and that operators must display the revised fare schedules at loading terminals and stations.

In Aflao itself, the local GPRTU and PROTOA driver union branches told the Ghana News Agency on 5 October 2026 that their members were complying with the 8 per cent rise, though they were unhappy with it. Fares move with fuel prices, so check the displayed fare at the station on the day rather than relying on an old figure online.

A car rental or hire is priced differently: firms quote per day or per trip, and a driver, fuel and an overnight stay may be extra. We don't publish average prices because they change often. Check each firm's own page and get a written quote.

Crossing the border at Aflao

The Ghana Immigration Service lists the Aflao border post and the Beat 9 pedestrian crossing as the approved crossing points in Aflao. In February 2026 the GIS warned motorbike riders in Aflao against taking people across through unapproved routes. Use the official crossing only.

What you need depends on your passport:

ECOWAS citizens. The GIS says citizens of ECOWAS states, including Togo, don't need a visa for Ghana, though entry is subject to conditions. Check Togo's rules for your own nationality too.
Other visitors, for example British passport holders. The UK FCDO says you need a Togo visa. You must apply for an e-visa at least 6 days before you arrive, you can't get one on arrival, and you need a yellow fever certificate. You also have to complete an online registration certificate before you arrive in Togo and before you leave. The US State Department says to bring a printed copy of the visa QR code to the checkpoint.
Coming back to Ghana. Make sure your Ghana visa allows you to re-enter. The GIS lists re-entry visas among the visas it issues in Ghana.

The FCDO also warns that Togo's borders can close at short notice, so check the news before you set off.

Can you take a rental or hire car into Togo?

Only if the firm agrees. Policies vary from firm to firm, so don't assume. Before you book:

Ask the firm directly whether the car may leave Ghana, and get the permission in writing.
Ask what paperwork the car needs. The US State Department advises having your driving licence, the vehicle registration and proof of insurance ready at Togolese checkpoints.
Ask about insurance. Graphic has explained that the ECOWAS Brown Card extends a vehicle's third-party motor insurance for travel within ECOWAS countries, and that it's issued through the vehicle's insurer. Ask whether the car has one.
Ask who pays border costs. Chris Mobility Africa, for example, lists "border or permit fees" as not included on its Accra car rental page.

Some chauffeur firms offer cross-border trips. Chris Mobility Africa says on its own website that it offers chauffeur-driven transfers to Togo, Benin and Côte d'Ivoire on request, and that its head office is in Denu-Tokor in the Volta Region. Its GhanaCarHire listing is unclaimed and not verified, so confirm the details with the firm.

If the firm won't allow cross-border use, another option is to be driven to Aflao, cross on foot at the official crossing, and arrange onward transport on the Togo side.

If you plan to drive yourself, you'll need your licence and a 1949 International Driving Permit for Ghana; see our IDP guide. The FCDO says a UK photocard licence is accepted in Togo for up to 6 months, but hire firms often set stricter rules.

Car rental and hire for the Aflao trip

There are no car rental firms based in Aflao on GhanaCarHire yet; see our Aflao page and the Volta Region page for what's listed nearby. Most people arrange the car in Accra:

Rent or hire a car with a driver in Accra for the round trip or a one-way drop at the border. Compare firms offering car rental and hire with a driver in Accra.
Agree in writing the pickup time, the drop-off point at Aflao, waiting time, and who pays for the driver's meals and room if you stay overnight.
Tell the firm about the border at the start, even if you're only being dropped off.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Aflao from Accra by road?

About 187 km along the N1, according to Citi Newsroom. Ghana's Ministry of Food and Agriculture describes Aflao as less than 200 km from Accra.

How long does it take to drive from Accra to Aflao?

There's no official figure. One chauffeur firm listed on GhanaCarHire, Chris Mobility Africa, quotes about 3.5 to 5.5 hours for its private transfer, depending on traffic, stops and road conditions. Roadworks east of Tema can add time, so leave early and drive in daylight.

How much is the Accra to Aflao fare?

Public transport fares are set by the transport unions with the Ministry of Transport and rose by 8 per cent from 26 September 2026. Check the fare displayed at the station. For a private car with a driver, get a written quote from each firm.

Can I take a rental or hire car from Ghana into Togo?

Only with the firm's written permission. Ask what documents and insurance the car needs, including the ECOWAS Brown Card, and who pays any border costs.

Do I need a visa to cross from Aflao into Togo?

ECOWAS citizens are visa-exempt for Ghana; check Togo's rules for your nationality. The UK FCDO says British passport holders need a Togo e-visa, applied for at least 6 days ahead, plus a yellow fever certificate.

How far is Lomé from Aflao?

Less than 10 km, according to Ghana's Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

Plan your trip

Compare car rental and hire with a driver in Accra, see what's listed in Aflao and the Volta Region, and read our Volta Region road trip guide if you're heading inland too.

Sources

Bleeding roads: the major highways killing Ghanaians (Aflao–Accra stretch, 187 km of the N1) (Citi Newsroom)
Ketu South District (Aflao less than 10 km from Lomé and less than 200 km from Accra) (Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ghana)
Speed up Tema Roundabout to Dawhenya road works, Minister urges contractors (27 August 2026) (Graphic Online)
Averting disasters on our highways (speed humps on the Accra–Aflao N1, November 2022) (Graphic Online)
Volta Regional Command: Aflao border post, Beat 9 pedestrian crossing and Sogakope checkpoint (Ghana Immigration Service)
Visas: ECOWAS exemption and re-entry visas (Ghana Immigration Service)
Stop aiding irregular border crossings: GIS warns Aflao motor riders (24 February 2026) (Ghana News Agency)
Togo travel advice: entry requirements (UK FCDO)
Togo travel advice: safety and security (borders, road travel) (UK FCDO)
Ghana travel advice: safety and security (UK FCDO)
Togo International Travel Information (US Department of State)
Transport fares to go up on Saturday (8% from 26 September 2026) (Graphic Online)
Though unhappy with 8 per cent fare, we are complying: Aflao driver unions (5 October 2026) (Ghana News Agency)
Automatic Brown Card for motorists? (ECOWAS Brown Card insurance, 2016) (Graphic Online)
Chris Mobility Africa: chauffeur-driven transfers, including Accra to Aflao and cross-border (the firm's own website) (Chris Mobility Africa Ltd)

Last checked: 18 October 2026. Rules, prices and advice change, so recheck official sources before you travel.

Accra to Aflao (Togo Border) by Car: Distance, Time, Crossing Notes and Car Rental & Hire