Today’s mobile phone penetration rate is 98%, meaning that there is a mobile phone for nearly every member of Ghana’s population. In comparison, the rate for landlines is 1%, and for internet services is 36%. Most of the service providers in Ghana are privately owned.
Ghanaian numbers for both fixed lines and cellphones, are 9 digits long.
The country dialling code for Ghana from a foreign country is : +233.
In order to make an international call from outside of Ghana, you will have to add a regional code as well as the international code. Here are a few examples:
- Accra : +233 +21; hence you would dial +233 21 plus the phone number
- Bolgatanga: +233 72...
- Cape Coast: +233 42...
- Koforidua: +233 81...
- Kumasi: +233 51...
- Takoradi: +233 31...
- Tamale: +233 71...
- Tema: +233 22...
To save money on international calls, there are several options. You can purchase international calling cards in places such as petrol stations, chemists or newsagents. However, be aware that in some areas, there is no access to pay phones or landlines.
These cards are prepaid, and offer credit in terms of minutes, for a fixed price. They may also be purchased on the internet, on websites such as www.telephoneghana.com ; in service providers’ offices, or at an airport.
VoIP calls can be a very low cost option. This will often rely on the mobile network that you are using, and so reception may be very bad, and calls very unclear, as most of Ghana does not have 3G network coverage.