Accra - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
Unusual? Perhaps, but expected. You're in the jungle. Unless you're have a newly built house, expect ants, flies, geckos, mosquitoes, cockroaches, etc. I had an ant infestation both in my kitchen and an upstairs bedroom just today, even with a FT housekeeper. - Aug 2024
Mosquitoes, ants, roaches, geckos–the usual for the tropics. I have NEVER seen ants like this and my house was a battle zone. They even infiltrated our clothing dressers and linen closets. Mosquitoes are a problem in some houses and rare in others. It’s mixed bag if people need nets for sleeping. - Sep 2023
I battled ants for two years, and the ants mostly won. Fruit flies were a constant issue, too. It took a lot of kitchen cleanliness lifestyle changes on my part to keep the bugs under control. I also encountered a few cockroaches and one huntsman spider in my housing, but they are harmless. - Nov 2022
Ants are common. I recommend that a gardener spray pesticide around your yard every month and that should keep a lot of other problems away (e.g., roaches, mosquitoes, etc). Sometimes the ACs leak and you have to put in MyService requests to have FAC service them every once in a while. - Sep 2022
Mosquitoes, cockroaches, ants (don't leave anything on your kitchen counter that's not wrapped up). - Mar 2022
Ants have been an issue for us, have to keep all food sealed. Mosquitoes are a big issue when outdoors in the evenings and mornings, make sure to take your med! - Nov 2019
We haven't really had much trouble. There are plenty of insects here but they seem to mostly stay outside; we sometimes see tiny ants in our house. At one point we did end up with a rodent of some kind in our house but the Embassy was quick to help; borrowing a neighbor's cat took care of it even more quickly. - May 2019
Bugs are common here, although I don't hear often of a lot in houses, and the embassy comes quickly if you notice bugs inside (flies, ants, etc). - Apr 2018
This is a tropical location. There are lots of ants, spiders, roaches, mosquitoes, and other bugs. The ants are pretty stubborn. - Aug 2017
Occasional ants and cockroaches but nothing too bad. Depends on the quality of housing. - Aug 2016
Mosquitoes are EVERYWHERE. Malaria is a major issue here. If you aren't willing to take malaria meds, you might want to consider a different post. - May 2014
Mosquitoes during the day carry dengue. Mosquitoes at night carry malaria. Prophylaxis is a must. Ants and spiders can also be a problem. The ants are small and numerous, the spiders can be HUGE. - Apr 2012
Mosquitoes and instances of malaria are very high. - Aug 2011
Little biting flies and mosquitoes. This is a malaria zone. Some houses report a problem with ants. Many people engage a local sprayer regularly to spray yards as the embassy isn't really very keen on spraying. Borax helps cut down on the ant problem. Inexpensive "zappers" can be purchased locally and put in bedrooms. We sleep under mosquito nets, but most embassy people do not and prefer instead to take anti-malarial drugs either in additon to or instead of other measures. Bring your bug spray. - Feb 2010
Mosquitoes - malaria is present but not that frequent. - Feb 2010
Malarial mosquitoes and ants. - May 2009
