Disabled access to this High Commission

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office and this High Commission are keen to ensure that our buildings and services are fully accessible to disabled members of the public. Wherever possible, we have made our buildings and services accessible. Sometimes however, this is not possible due to security or other restrictions. In these situations we will endeavour to provide a service or access to a building in an alternative way to ensure equality of access for disabled people.

To assist disabled visitors, we have set out below details of disabled access at this High Commission. We hope this information is helpful. The British High Commission in Accra has two main buildings: Chancery and Consular Visa Building. This information covers the two buildings.

General physical access

• General access: Main entrances to both buildings are clear and unobstructed
• Steps and staircases: Stairs to the Consular/Visa building have clear edging but no clear edges for chancery building
• Ramps: Permanent ramps at main entrance for chancery building for wheelchairs. Also ramps at both staff and visitor entrances at the Visa Section. At present ramp to negotiate curb from car park for the chancery building. Assistance would be needed.
• Lifts: One lift available at Consular section but none in Chancery building.
• Toilets: Good disabled toilet on all floors of the Consular/Visa Building. One disabled toilet on ground floor of the Chancery building. You may need help to negotiate the double doors leading to this.
• Parking: No marked disabled spaces at present at both buildings
• Floor coverings: Floor coverings on both buildings are safe and even.
• Handrails: whether they are widely available and easy to grip;Handrails on stairs on both buildings.
• Doors: Most Doors in the Consular/Visa Building are wide enough for wheelchair access. Some doorways in Chancery building are narrower.
• Lighting: Good lighting on the Consular/Visa Building. Chancery building pretty less bright.
• Emergency/evacuation: Wheelchair users may at present need assistance to negotiate airlock doors in both buildings in event of an emergency or evacuation.  
• Phones: All phones are on tables so can be easily accessed by all.

Access for visually-impaired visitors

• Signs: Emergency signs such as 'Fire Exit' and 'No Smoking' are large and legible. Braille unavailable in both buildings
• Guide dogs: Welcome
• Access for Deaf/hard of hearing visitors
• Hearing loops: installed at the Visa Section but not at the Chancery side
• Minicom and textphones: Not installed.
• Sign language: Two staff have limited skills in sign language with one at the BSL level CACDP Level 1. Both are stronger in American Sign Language.
• Interpretation: Both signers above may be able to help with French Interpretation. But no professional signing interpretation available.