Ghana's festive season runs roughly from 1 December to early January. The Ghana Tourism Authority's official December in GH 2026 programme is scheduled for 1 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. The busiest stretch, the one people mean by Detty December, is the last two weeks of December through New Year.

If you hold a US, UK, EU, Canadian or most other non-ECOWAS passports, yes, and you must arrange it before you fly. Ghana does not offer visa on arrival to Western passport holders. Apply through the official Ghana Immigration Service e-Visa portal at evisa.immigration.gov.gh. ECOWAS nationals do not need a visa. Checked August 2026. Confirm current requirements before booking.

Accommodation in Accra starts filling from around September, and the last two weeks of December fill first. Flight fares climb through October for December arrivals. Booking flights before that October climb is usually the single biggest saving on the whole trip. If you are reading this in autumn, book the bed first. Late booking costs you location before it costs you money.

Ghana is generally welcoming and the vast majority of visits are trouble-free. December brings the specific risks of any crowded high season: unofficial taxi drivers at the airport, last-minute accommodation cancellations so rooms can be resold higher, mobile money fraud calls, and staged traffic incidents. Check your own government's current travel advice before you go. Our Money & Safety page covers each of these.