Chicago to Accra (ORD–ACC) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

US passport holders need a visa to enter Ghana. Apply online for an eVisa at evisa. gh.gov.gh. The single-entry tourist eVisa costs $150, is valid for up to 30 days, and takes 5 to 10 working days to process. Upload a passport scan, a recent photo, proof of accommodation, a return ticket, a yellow fever vaccination certificate, and bank statements. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry with at least 2 blank pages.

Ghana does not issue visas on arrival for US citizens. The eVisa must be approved before boarding. At Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Accra, immigration checks your eVisa approval, yellow fever certificate, and stamps your passport. The yellow fever vaccine is mandatory with no exceptions. Get vaccinated at least 10 days before travel and carry the International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow card). For stays beyond 30 days, apply for an extension at the Ghana Immigration Service in Accra.

Direct flights from New York JFK to Accra run about 10 hours 30 minutes on Delta and United. Washington Dulles (IAD) to Accra runs about 10 hours on United. Ghana uses the Ghanaian cedi (GHS), trading at roughly 16 GHS per $1. ATMs are common in Accra and Kumasi. Mobile money (MTN MoMo) dominates daily transactions and can be used by tourists who buy a local SIM. Card payments work at hotels and larger restaurants. Uber operates in Accra. Shared minibuses (tro-tros) are the main public transport at GHS 2 to GHS 10 per ride depending on distance.

CTA Blue Line runs 24/7 from downtown Loop stations to O'Hare (45 min, $5). Pace buses serve suburbs. Ride-shares cost $35–55 from downtown depending on traffic; add 30+ minutes during rush hour on the Kennedy Expressway.Economy parking lots E/F connect via ATS people mover. Terminal 5 (international) is separate from Terminals 1–3; allow extra time for inter-terminal transfers.