Zero risk booking! Free changes & full refund options
Medical Volunteer Program in Ghana - Accra Region

Medical Volunteer Program in Ghana - Accra Region

Ready to jump into your scrubs and be a Medical volunteer in Ghana? International Volunteer HQ’s Medical project enables volunteers to gain experience in clinics and outreach efforts in rural towns where people often struggle to access basic healthcare. Medical volunteers can help fill the gap left by a shortage of qualified professionals in these areas, relieving pressure on health initiatives and giving local people the chance to have their health needs attended to.

Highlights:
  • Programs start on the 1st and 15th of every month
  • Affordable fees from £371 for 1 week
  • Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
  • Help in rural areas and mobile outreach wound care clinics

  • Discover Ghana off the beaten track

  • Stay with other volunteers in a rural village

Key information

Improve access to quality healthcare
Based in clinics and communities in rural Ghana
Volunteer house accommodation
Volunteers aged 18+
Fully hosted experience from £371 for 1 week
Durations from 1 - 24 weeks
Explore Ghana’s rural communities
Up to 5 hours volunteering a day

This program is ideal for:

Medical students with at least two years’ experience, as well as qualified healthcare professionals with an interest in expanding their global medical perspective and gaining first-hand experience in a new healthcare medical environment. Nurses and other volunteers in medically-related professions who have completed at least two years of training are also well suited to this project.
Who is this program suited to?

What to expect and how you'll make an impact

The healthcare system in Ghana is considered fairly adequate relative to other African countries, however there is still considerable need for volunteer assistance. Once you get outside the major cities, the standard of healthcare drops considerably and there is a shortage of trained medical professionals.

As a Medical volunteer you can help in small clinics in under-resourced, rural areas for two days a week; and with a mobile wound care outreach service for the remaining three days. You should expect to be working with limited resources, and understand that the healthcare environment you’re volunteering in will be different to what you’re used to.

Volunteer duties will depend on your experience and how much time you’re spending on your program. Longer term and qualified volunteers are more likely to have hands-on tasks, though this should not be expected. Initially at least, your tasks are likely to be mostly observational or administrative. Outreach clinics are more hands-on than clinic-based volunteering.

You will need to provide a copy of your qualifications, or a letter and transcript from your school to the local team in Ghana on arrival.

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #3: Good Health and Well-Being

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #3: Good Health and Well-Being

Good mental and physical health is key to sustainable development and building healthy and happy communities. Now more than ever, we must increase access to free healthcare and health education across the globe to achieve an acceptable standard of living and wellbeing for all.

Why do Medical volunteering in Ghana with IVHQ?

Why do Medical volunteering in Ghana with IVHQ? While volunteering on the Medical project in Ghana you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:

  • Helping rural communities access vital healthcare
  • Observing clinical practice in action
  • Developing your communication skills
  • Gaining medical experience
  • Participating in a cross-cultural exchange of ideas
  • Immersing yourself fully in the Ghanian way of life
  • Exploring Ghana’s rich history and culture

Volunteer requirements

To join the Medical project in Ghana, volunteers need to be medical or nursing students with at least two years’ training; or qualified healthcare professionals. Volunteers in other medically-related professions who have completed at least two years of training may also be eligible to take part.

Volunteers need to be 18 years or over to participate in this program. If you are under the age of 18, IVHQ offers alternative volunteer opportunities for teens. Visit our High School Volunteer Abroad page to learn more. All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance and provide a criminal background check to IVHQ before departure.

Are you eligible to volunteer?

Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.

Apply For Free

Not sure which program to join?

Get personalized recommendations >

What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience

KA
Keisuke Abe
20 Dec 2023

I participated in the medical program for two weeks. We assisted at a local clinic and visited villages with patients to care for their wounds using limited medical supplies. It is a valuable experience that you cannot have in your own country. I highly recommend participating.

...
EL
Elliott Lyles
24 Aug 2023

I felt very supported and prepared before going on my trip because of IVHQ. I was able to practice medical skills in Ghana with students from all over the world, this taught me so much and was very valuable. I learned how to adapt to limited resources and how much there can be done even with little. My advice would be that each experience in life is what you make it, chose to learn and chose to be positive

...
LV
Leisha Vandermey
25 May 2023

The respect and curiosity shown from our nursing students to all the local people they worked with and the kindness and curiosity provided in return had a big impact on me. There were too many favorite experiences to write about. Don't hesitate. Be open and grow.

...
MM
Michelle McArthur
09 May 2023

The guidance and support I received was very helpful in making me feel secure and comfortable with my decision to volunteer. The local team was also very supportive and I always felt safe my entire stay which was important to me. Being able to help people in remote places with little or no access to healthcare was an amazing experience.

...
SO
Sheila ODonnell
24 Mar 2023

My Program Manager was fantastic. She was thorough, very responsive and greatly appreciated. I think being there for 6mo, I was able to identify and implement several improvements to the Wound Care program in Ghana which was a big benefit to the patients. Millie is such a wonderful hostess. She works so hard to keep the house clean and comfortable for each and every volunteer. She was very responsive and receptive to giving assistance when needed and she is a kind soul that brightened up our house every day. Elvis was amazing. He could not have been more responsive, receptive, organized and thorough. Not only did he keep our house safe and running smoothly, he also did a tremendous job organizing the weekend getaways. I am extremely impressed with his dedication to his job, the volunteers and his community. I will miss our evening wrap up chats!! Mary is a FANTASTIC cook and a very caring person. She works really hard to provide the best meals possible for the volunteers while working around her food budget and the food options in that community. She met with us regularly asking for feedback and did her best to accommodate us such as increasing fruit and vegetables which are expensive and not always available at the markets as much as we would have liked which is totally out of her control.

My favourite moment was seeing patients in town that had come to our placement for free medical care, then seeing them healthy and thriving again. What a gift we gave to one another-they received the assistance they needed and I received great joy/satisfaction in being able to share my medical skills with these wonderful people. This program impacted me greatly by being finally able to live my dream of helping those across the world who are less fortunate than me just because of the random place of our birth. I truly believe we are all one people on one planet and those of us who have resources have an obligation to help those in need. It is difficult to step out of your comfort zone for sure but the rewards far outweigh the discomfort. Take the step, you won't regret it because it truly can be life-changing for the good! And as an extra bonus, you will meet some really interesting people on this journey from all around the world.

...
JQ
Jennifer Quezada
06 Oct 2022

The local team was great. They always made sure I was comfortable and happy at the volunteer house and the local clinics. There were so many great moments. My absolute favorite would be spending time and getting to know the local children. Everyone in Ghana was so nice and extremely welcoming. They made me feel right at home.

Going to Ghana, I knew it would be an adjustment. I was aware that I would be in a space where they did not have the same resources as I would here at home. It was truly an adjustment for me when I got to see what they actually had. It was amazing to see how they made it work with the supplies they did have. They never complained. It was truly humbling to see the way things worked here.

I am SO grateful to have been able to witness so much love, respect and unity in a community. The other volunteers you meet, the culture, the food, the people will all be worth it! Whether you go to make an impact on the community or to find something within yourself, this will be an unforgettable experience. Do not let fear keep you from trying something new. Get out of your comfort zone and take a leap of faith.

...

To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.

Academic course credit through International Volunteer HQ and Intern Abroad HQ.

Academic course credit

Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!

Learn about course credit
Volunteer Abroad in Ghana with IVHQ

Location

When you volunteer in Ghana with IVHQ, you’ll get the opportunity to experience the country’s vibrant, diverse culture and get to know the people who are said to be some of the friendliest locals in Western Africa. While Ghana is a rapidly developing country which has seen an economic upturn in the last decade, there are still many places where people face the challenges poverty brings. This is especially true outside of the major cities in the rural areas where volunteers are most needed.

Rural volunteer placements are typically in low-income areas which often lack the funding, labour and resources they need to develop their communities. By choosing to volunteer in Ghana you can make a real difference by assisting with local initiatives that seek to improve the quality of life for the people who live there.

Arrival and orientation

The program orientation begins on the 1st and 15th of every month, or just on the 15th of every month for those taking part in the Healthcare Outreach & Education project. Volunteers need to arrive in Accra on the day before orientation.

After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Accra. Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee.

When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and taken to the volunteer accommodation in Accra. Please note that you will stay in Accra city for one night, unless it is the weekend, in which case you will stay in the city until Monday morning. Once you have completed your orientation, you will move to a rural community in the greater Accra region where you will be placed for the remainder of your stay. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation.

If you are travelling in Ghana prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up at a prearranged location in Accra on the day before your program orientation.

Orientation is hosted by our local team in Accra and begins on the morning of your chosen start date. This covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program Ghana – an introduction to Ghana, culture and customs, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities, and an introduction to project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socialising.

After orientation you will be taken to your placement in a rural Ghanian community.

Volunteer schedule example

First Day

On the first day of volunteering, volunteers will be escorted to their placement by a local coordinator and introduced to the placement staff they will be working with. A typical daily schedule would be as follows:

7:30 AM Breakfast at the volunteer house.
8:00 AM Travel to placement to join local placement staff and begin work on your project. There is usually a tea break and a lunch break.
2:00 - 5:00 PM Work at the project usually ends and you are free to relax and use the remainder of the day as you wish.
6:30 PM Dinner at the volunteer accommodation.

Please note this schedule can vary depending on your project and placement.

Weekends

During the weekends, volunteers have spare time and usually just relax or take the opportunity to discover the brilliant colours, music, food, fashion, history and nature that combine to make Ghana a true feast for the senses. Head to the capital city of Accra to see markets, museums and live music, or take a trip to Cape Coast and Elmina where you’ll find the Elmina Slave Castle - the first trading post built South of the Sahara - and pretty, palm-lined beaches where you can relax in the sun. You can also spend long weekends visiting other Western African countries like the neighbouring nations of Côte d’Ivoire and Togo.

Looking for more ideas of things to do in Ghana? Check out our Ghana Travel & Tours page!

Accommodation and WiFi

You’ll stay in a volunteer house with other volunteers. There are separate rooms for male and female volunteers with shared common room and toilet facilities. Living is basic but the majority of volunteer houses have electricity, while only few have running water. Power cuts are common in Ghana and most rural houses do not have running water during times of drought. Pillows and sheets are provided, however it is recommended that you bring your own towels and mosquito nets - or buy them in Ghana.

There is WiFi access available at local cafes and restaurants in a nearby village, which is a 15 to 20 minute walk from the volunteer accommodation. You can also purchase a local SIM card with data for an unlocked mobile phone to keep connected.

Meals

Volunteers in Ghana are served three meals per day. Breakfast generally consists of tea and coffee, and a hot breakfast. A typical lunch and dinner can include meat and vegetables with rice or noodles​.​ If you have special dietary requirements, please let us know ahead of time so that we can make arrangements for you.

Pricing

  • USD
Duration
Program Fee
Due 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
  • USD
1 week £371 Equivalent to £53/day
2 weeks £580 Equivalent to £41/day
3 weeks £752 Equivalent to £36/day
4 weeks £925 Equivalent to £33/day
5 weeks £1098 Equivalent to £31/day
6 weeks £1270 Equivalent to £30/day
8 weeks £1665 Equivalent to £30/day
10 weeks £2060 Equivalent to £29/day
12 weeks £2465 Equivalent to £29/day
16 weeks £3295 Equivalent to £29/day
20 weeks £4125 Equivalent to £29/day
24 weeks £4954 Equivalent to £29/day
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • 24/7 in-country support
  • In-country program orientation
  • Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
  • Airport pick-up
  • Personalised preparation tools, guides and check lists
  • Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
  • Certificate of International Volunteer Service

Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.

  • All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$329 (approximately £272) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services. IVHQ fees are priced in USD but you may elect to pay in GBP.
  • A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
  • Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check, and return to the airport when your program finishes.
  • Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Ghana generally find US$50 to be sufficient for weekly expenses, including water, toilet paper, transport and miscellaneous spending.

Check what's required to visit Ghana

Safety and support with IVHQ

Safety and support

IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.

  • All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
  • All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
  • All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
  • All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Learn more about IVHQ's safety

Essential country information

Capital Accra
Population 30.42 million
Languages English
Currency Ghanian Cedi (GHS)
Time zone UTC+00:00

Weather and climate

Weather and climate: Ghana has a tropical climate and the average temperature falls between 21°C to 28°C (70°F to 82°F). In the north, there is a rainy season from April to June and September to November. The rainy season in the south lasts from April to mid-November. The weather is typically humid however, over the dry season, desert winds in the north can create cooler evenings and a drier atmosphere.

Other projects you may be interested in

How to get started

Pick a destination + project and apply for free
Meet your personal volunteer travel expert
Pay the Registration Fee to secure your place and upgrade your MyIVHQ account
Get ready to volunteer abroad, we’ll support you every step of the way!