Kotoka International Airport is only about 10 km from central Accra, which keeps transport costs relatively low. The main variable is traffic — a trip that costs GHS 50 on Bolt can feel like a bargain at midnight and a frustrating crawl at 5 PM, though the price stays the same with a flat-rate option.
Official airport taxis
The taxi rank outside Terminal 3 arrivals has branded vehicles with semi-fixed pricing. You still negotiate, but drivers at the rank are used to dealing with international arrivals and prices are broadly consistent.
| Destination | Taxi fare | |---|---| | Osu / Oxford Street | GHS 80-120 (€5-8) | | Accra Central / Makola | GHS 80-130 (€5-9) | | East Legon | GHS 60-90 (€4-6) | | Cantonments / Labone | GHS 70-100 (€5-7) | | Airport Residential | GHS 40-60 (€3-4) | | Tema | GHS 150-250 (€10-16) |
These are daytime rates. After 10 PM, expect 10-20% higher fares. Drivers quote flat rates — no meters.
Ride-hailing apps (Uber, Bolt)
Both Uber and Bolt work well at Kotoka Airport and are consistently the cheapest option. You need mobile data to use them.
| Destination | Uber/Bolt estimate | |---|---| | Osu | GHS 40-65 (€3-4) | | Accra Central | GHS 45-70 (€3-5) | | East Legon | GHS 30-50 (€2-3) | | Cantonments | GHS 35-55 (€2-4) | | Tema | GHS 80-130 (€5-9) |
Catch: Surge pricing during peak hours (evening flight arrivals) can push prices up by 30-50%. Late at night, availability drops and surge pricing kicks in. A GHS 50 trip can become GHS 80 during a surge.
Pre-booked private transfer
| Vehicle | Price | |---|---| | Economy sedan | €12-20 | | Business sedan | €18-28 | | SUV | €20-35 | | Minivan (5-7 pax) | €30-50 |
Prices include meet-and-greet inside Terminal 3, luggage assistance, and a fixed rate regardless of traffic. No surge pricing, no negotiation.
Hidden costs to watch for
- Toll booth at Tema Motorway: If heading to Tema, there is a toll of GHS 3-5 — negligible but drivers sometimes claim higher amounts.
- Night surcharge: Unofficial but real. Taxi drivers charge more after dark. Uber and Bolt show surge pricing transparently.
- Luggage fees: Some taxi drivers try to charge extra for large bags. Agree on a total price before loading luggage.
- Currency confusion: The cedi has depreciated significantly in recent years. Check the current GHS/EUR rate before your trip. Airport forex rates are typically 3-5% worse than city rates.
- Traffic delays: If using Uber/Bolt on a metered trip and you hit rush-hour gridlock, the fare increases with time. Flat-rate pre-booked transfers do not.