# Canada Updates Ghana Travel Advisory: What Ottawa Travellers Need to Know
If you’re an Ottawa resident planning a trip to Ghana, the Canadian government has just updated its travel advisory with important new health information. As of March 24, 2026, Ghana remains at **Level 2 — Exercise a High Degree of Caution**, with fresh details about disease risks that could affect your travel plans.
## What’s Changed and What It Means
The latest update adds critical information about onchocerciasis (river blindness) to the health section of the advisory. While the overall risk level hasn’t changed, this update signals that Ottawa travellers need to take their pre-departure health preparations seriously. Level 2 means you should exercise heightened awareness and take extra precautions throughout your trip.
## Safety Concerns You Should Know About
Crime rates have been climbing in Ghana’s major cities, including Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi. Violent incidents have occurred in specific Accra neighbourhoods like Agbogbloshie, Ashiaman, and Nima—areas you should avoid after dark. Beyond urban crime, the northern border region within 25 kilometres of Burkina Faso poses additional risks due to potential terrorist activity and inter-communal disputes.
Political tensions and chieftaincy conflicts occasionally spark localized violence, particularly in the Upper East, Upper West, and Volta regions. Local authorities may impose curfews during these periods, so monitoring local news and following official instructions is essential.
## Health Risks Require Advance Planning
The newly added onchocerciasis warning joins other existing health concerns for Ghana-bound travellers. This parasitic disease, transmitted through blackfly bites in certain river areas, can cause serious complications. Combined with other tropical diseases like malaria, yellow fever, typhoid, and hepatitis A, the health landscape in Ghana demands thorough medical preparation.
This is where Ottawa travellers gain a significant advantage by consulting with travel health specialists before departure. A comprehensive pre-travel consultation helps you understand which vaccines you need, whether antimalarial medications are appropriate for your itinerary, and how to assemble a proper medical kit for your trip.
## Get Prepared Before You Go
Don’t leave your health preparations until the last minute. Many travel vaccines require multiple doses over several weeks, and some medications need time to reach protective levels in your system. A travel health physician can review your medical history, assess your specific itinerary risks, and create a personalized protection plan.
Beyond vaccinations, you’ll receive guidance on food and water safety, insect bite prevention, and recognizing symptoms that require immediate medical attention abroad. This preparation isn’t just about avoiding illness—it’s about ensuring your Ghana adventure remains the enriching cultural experience you’re planning.
Travelling to Ghana? Before you go, speak with one of our ISTM-certified travel health physicians – virtually, 7 days a week. A pre-travel consultation covers vaccines, medications, and destination-specific health risks. Book your virtual consultation at Orleans Travel Clinic Pharmacy.