Community Service and West African Perspectives in Ghana

In the months before your departure, AFSers have the opportunity to participate in various preparatory activities, including an online Student Learning Journey, which is an interactive course that brings AFSers from around the world together to learn how to develop essential global skills, intercultural communication techniques, and practice social impact, maximizing the outcomes of the AFS learning experience.

AFS-USA will coordinate and share your international travel with you. You will need to coordinate your own travel to the point of international departure. From there, your journey in Ghana will begin when you land at Kotoka International Airport, where you’ll be met by staff, volunteers and meet your fellow AFSers from around the world. After your first night in Accra, you will attend an arrival orientation and get a crash course on Ghanaian culture, living with a host family, staying healthy, safety, support structures, and even pick up some basic Twi, one of Ghana’s most widely spoken languages. In the afternoon, you will meet your host family.

After meeting your host families and settling in, you will have a full day to spend with them before taking a tour of the capital city of Accra! You’ll visit a wide array of sites on your tour, such as the W. E. B. DuBois Centre for Pan African Culture, the Independence (Black Star) Square and Independence Arch, Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Osu Castle, and the National Museum of Ghana. You’ll also explore Jamestown, the colonial section of the city, with its lighthouse and Ussher and James Fort.

On the way to Cape Coast, you’ll stop at Assin Manso Slave River, a solemn memorial to enslaved Africans and an important site of remembrance. During your two nights in Cape Coast, you’ll visit the Kakum National Park and walk among the treetops on its famous canopy walkway, and stop over at the International Stingless Bee Centre, founded by Professor Peter Kwapong, to learn about stingless bees that produce highly medicinal honey, propolis and other products. This trip will also include a tour of the Cape Coast Castle, which houses the West African Historical Museum and where you will learn the history around the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. On your way back to Accra, you’ll visit Elmina Castle, the oldest European building in sub-Saharan Africa, built in 1482 by the Portuguese. First established as a trade settlement, the castle later became one of the most important stops on the route of the Atlantic Slave Trade. During this time you will also walk around the colorful fishing harbor next to the castle to see the fish market and traditional dugout canoes the local people use for their livelihoods.

Departing early from Accra, you’ll get to experience the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary in the Volta Region, where the local community works to protect the forests and Mona monkeys, and offer tours to visitors from around the world. Exploring the nearby Wli Waterfalls is sure to be exciting as you hike the trail to see the wildlife and the tallest waterfall in West Africa! You’ll also visit Amedzofe, Ghana’s highest town, for panoramic mountain views before spending the night in Ho.

Back in Accra, you’ll celebrate new friendships and the memories you’ve made at a farewell dinner with your host families and AFS Ghana staff. On your final morning, you’ll take part in a departure orientation and final reflections before heading to Kotoka International Airport. Medaase (thank you), Ghana!

You will spend most of your time with your host family in Accra. This unique experience offers the chance to enjoy Ghanaian life up-close and share stories with your host parents and siblings. During your stay, your host family will provide breakfast and dinner, and AFS Ghana may provide meals during excursions, so you’ll get to taste homemade foods like waakye, fufu, and red-red, a popular dish that is made with beans, shrimp or prawns, red palm oil, and tomatoes. Ghana is also famous for its delicious street foods, so you may get to purchase some spicy snacks like fried plantains from a local vendor. You’ll also spend a few nights in hotels: your first night after arrival, two nights in Cape Coast, and one night each in Kumasi and Ho.

While in Accra, you’ll likely travel by bus to the majority of your cultural activities. You may need to travel from your host family’s home to a designated pick-up point by local bus or rideshare, and will be escorted by a local volunteer.

“Life-changing” is hard to describe, yet it’s nearly always the first thing that AFSers say when asked about their experience abroad. “Transformed” is another one.

When you return home, if you’re like most AFSers, you’ll bring with you a sense of accomplishment unlike any other. You’ll have gained maturity and independence, discovered new passions, and developed the confidence and resilience to accomplish anything you set out to do.

That transformation isn’t only visible to you, though – others see it as well. AFSers gain critical skills for college and careers. Second language fluency, intercultural competence, creativity, and critical reasoning will help you succeed, whatever path you take. “Life-changing” means it’s only the beginning.
It’s not just an adventure abroad; it’s a whole new reality. The perspectives and personal connections you gained will stay with you and likely draw you back to the second home you found in Ghana.

In fact, our alumni reviews have made AFS one of the top-rated organizations in the study abroad industry.