Nigeria licence Ghana

Driving in Ghana with a Nigeria license

Short answer: to drive in Ghana with a Nigeria license you need an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna format, carried together with your Nigeria license.

Bring an IDP

Yes — to drive in Ghana on a Nigeria licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your Nigeria licence. Ghana expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP.

Convention basisGhana uses the format of the 1968 Vienna Convention. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

At the rental deskAccra desks request an IDP for non-English licences.

CarryCarry BOTH your Nigeria national licence and the IDP at all times. The IDP is a translation of your licence and never replaces it.

Minimum age18+ to drive; rental typically 21+ with a young-driver surcharge under 25

Validity1–3 years (you choose at checkout)

FormatDigital PDF you print yourself, plus a QR-verifiable ID card — accepted alongside printed permits

Last verified July 2026Source: 1968 Vienna Convention

Get my IDP for Ghana Full Ghana guide

Nigerian drivers should carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence when driving abroad. Your International Driving Permit is a certified multilingual translation of your existing licence, prepared in the 1968 Vienna format and carried alongside your national licence.

What driving in Ghana is like

The coastal road west from Accra through Cape Coast and Elmina to their historic forts is the classic Ghana drive tourists search for. For most visitors the real draw is the freedom to reach places trains and tours don't, on your own schedule, with the open road generally capped around 100 km/h on the N1 motorway. Getting behind the wheel is the easy part: your International Driving Permit is a certified translation of your Nigeria licence, carried alongside it, so rental staff and officials in Ghana can read your credentials at a glance.

Driving rules in Ghana

Drive on the right.
Heavy urban congestion in Accra.
0.08% alcohol limit.
Carry passport, IDP and home licence.

Local driving facts in Ghana

Emergency number: 191 (police), 193 (ambulance), 112 (112 also connects from most mobiles). Typical maximum for cars on the fastest road class: 100 km/h on the N1 motorway. Posted limits always take precedence.

Tolls & road charges: Ghana abolished all road and bridge tolls in the 2022 budget (effective late 2021), so there are currently no toll booths or passes to buy on public roads.
Parking: Central Accra parking is largely on-street and informal, with car-park boys and private lots charging a few cedis; congestion, double-parking and obstruction around markets like Makola can lead to clamping or removal, so prefer guarded hotel or mall car parks.
Penalties & enforcement: Police checkpoints are frequent and foreign drivers are stopped for document checks; on-the-spot fines (often cash) apply for speeding, no seatbelt and phone use, and rental companies pass any camera or unpaid fines on to the renter.
If you have an accident: Drive on the right; call the Police on 191 or the national emergency line 112, do not move vehicles after an injury crash, and get a police report, which is mandatory for any insurance or rental claim.
City driving: Accra's traffic is dominated by the heavily congested Ring Road, the N1 George Walker Bush Highway and the Tetteh Quarshie / Spintex interchange, where aggressive tro-tro minibuses stop without warning and gridlock is the daily norm.
Winter driving: No winter-tyre rules - tropical climate; heavy rains (roughly April-July and September-November) cause flash flooding on Accra roads, the main seasonal driving hazard.
Fuel: Fuel is sold by the litre as petrol and diesel (gasoil) at attended stations such as GOIL, Shell and Total; pumps are widely available in cities, prices are deregulated and move with the cedi, and cards are accepted at major-brand urban stations though cash is safer rurally.

Sources: graphic.com.gh, remitly.com, internationaldriversassociation.com, transparentrentals.com

Common questions

Can I drive in Ghana with a Nigeria license?

to drive in Ghana with a Nigeria license you need an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna format, carried together with your Nigeria license. Ghana uses the format of the 1968 Vienna Convention. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

Is my Nigeria driver's license valid in Ghana?

Yes — to drive in Ghana on a Nigeria licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your Nigeria licence. Ghana expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP.

Do I need an International Driving Permit for Ghana?

Yes — to drive in Ghana on a Nigeria licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your Nigeria licence. Ghana expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP.

Can I rent a car in Ghana with a Nigeria license?

Accra desks request an IDP for non-English licences.

What IDP format does Ghana accept?

Ghana uses the format of the 1968 Vienna Convention. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

How do I get an International Driving Permit for Ghana?

An International Driving Permit is a certified multilingual translation of your existing Nigeria license. You apply online, and it is issued as a printable PDF booklet with a QR-verifiable ID card in the 1968 Vienna format Ghana uses — carried alongside your Nigeria license.

Do I still carry my Nigeria license?

Carry BOTH your Nigeria national licence and the IDP at all times. The IDP is a translation of your licence and never replaces it.

What is the emergency number and speed limit in Ghana?

In Ghana, dial 191 (police), 193 (ambulance), 112 for emergencies; 112 also works from most GSM phones. The general maximum for cars on the fastest road class is 100 km/h on the N1 motorway; posted limits in towns and on secondary roads are lower and always take precedence.

How do tolls and road charges work in Ghana?

Ghana abolished all road and bridge tolls in the 2022 budget (effective late 2021), so there are currently no toll booths or passes to buy on public roads.