The Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) Customs Division has reminded passengers travelling outside Ghana that they are permitted to carry a maximum of GH¢500 in Ghanaian currency, with excess amounts risking seizure at the point of departure .
Revenue Officer at the Accra International Airport Preventive Unit, Conrad Attu, said the restriction is based on the expectation that travellers would use the currency of their destination rather than carry large amounts of Ghanaian currency abroad .
“We assume that in the other country, you might not need to have any Ghana cedis. You use the currency of that particular country,” Mr Attu explained .
Separate Rules for Foreign Currency
While the GH¢500 limit applies specifically to Ghanaian currency being taken out of the country, foreign currencies are subject to separate declaration requirements under guidelines issued by the Bank of Ghana .
Under the central bank’s amended rules, which took effect on September 1, 2025, travellers are permitted to carry up to US$10,000 (or its equivalent in other foreign currencies and monetary instruments) without declaration . Anyone carrying amounts above this threshold must declare the funds in full using the official Foreign Currency Declaration Form (FX-5) from the Customs Division of the GRA, indicating the source and purpose of the funds .
For outbound travellers carrying more than US$50,000, additional supporting documentation is required, including endorsed foreign exchange bureau receipts and bank slips evidencing the withdrawal or purchase of the foreign currency .
Declaration Before Check-In
Customs has also urged travellers to familiarise themselves with currency declaration requirements before arriving at the airport to avoid complications during the departure process .
Senior Revenue Officer at the Accra International Airport Preventive Unit, Comfort Dedaa Omari, advised passengers to visit the Customs office in the departure area to obtain and complete the required declaration forms before checking in their luggage .
“As a passenger, you are supposed to do your declaration. Before you check in, you are supposed to go through all these necessary procedures before you even check in your luggage,” Ms Omari stated .
Screening and Seizure Risks
Ms Omari cautioned travellers against placing undeclared currency in checked luggage, noting that all bags are screened before departure. “If you decide to put them in your luggage to be checked in, mind you, all the bags go through the scanner. So, if it’s detected there, that is a seizure,” she warned .
Passengers carrying undeclared currency on their person could face similar consequences if the money is detected during screening. “If you also decide to carry them on you, once you go through the same scanner, they will be detected on you,” she cautioned .
In such circumstances, passengers may be asked to produce evidence that the currency was declared. Failure to declare could result in “outright seizure and leads to forfeiture” .
Anti-Money Laundering Context
The reminders about currency limits form part of broader efforts by the Bank of Ghana to strengthen compliance with international anti-money laundering standards . The central bank has emphasised that the measures are aimed at safeguarding the integrity of Ghana’s financial system, noting that “undeclared currency flows create room for money laundering, tax evasion and other illicit activity” .
The Bank of Ghana has also inaugurated a joint committee to investigate how undeclared foreign currency seized at the country’s borders is documented, transferred and stored, as part of efforts to close gaps in monitoring intercepted funds .
Practical Advice
Customs advises passengers travelling abroad to plan their currency needs carefully, complete all relevant declaration procedures before checking in luggage, and seek clarification from officers at the airport if they are uncertain about the applicable requirements . Passengers arriving in Ghana with large amounts of foreign currency are also advised to retain declaration documents issued by the country from which they are travelling .
