Africa
Ghana
GCAA — Ghana Civil Aviation (RPAS) Directives 2018, GCAD Part 28
Ghana regulates drones through the GCAA (RPAS Directives 2018, GCAD Part 28). For light/recreational drones below 400 feet within visual line of sight without a type certificate, registering the drone and obtaining an approval letter, renewed annually, is enough.
Limit of 400 feet (about 122 m) above ground level for light/recreational drones flown within visual line of sight (VLOS).
Mandatory in person at GCAA offices (Kotoka Airport); for light/recreational use an approval letter is also needed, renewed annually (online renewal in development).
For light/recreational drones below 400 feet in VLOS without a type certificate, registration + approval letter are enough; commercial use may require a permit, licence and/or RPAS Operator Certificate (ROC) depending on the activity.
Zones to avoid
No-fly zones usually follow the same recurring categories (airports, military sites, protected areas, historic centers). For this country: Minimum distance 30 m from buildings/vehicles/people not under the operator's control, unless explicit permission is given. Forbidden within 10 km of an airport/heliport with published instrument flight procedures, or within 5 km of one without, unless GCAA-approved. Night flying forbidden without special authorization. Non-standard radio frequencies (other than 2.4GHz/5.8GHz) require National Communications Authority (NCA) approval.
What isn't 100% confirmed yet
Data verified against the official RPAS FAQs document published by GCAA. No insurance requirement is stated in that document.
Last checked: 2026-08
Go deeper
Why registration exists
Operator registration exists for accountability: if a drone causes an incident or enters a restricted zone, the authority needs to be able to trace it back to whoever was flying it. You usually get an identification number (operator ID) to physically attach to the drone, valid for every drone the same person owns. The cost is often minimal or free, and it applies to visiting tourists too, not just residents. For Ghana, the official reference remains GCAA — Ghana Civil Aviation Authority. Mandatory in person at GCAA offices (Kotoka Airport); for light/recreational use an approval letter is also needed, renewed annually (online renewal in development).
How this usually works
Here the requirement depends on factors like the drone's weight, distance from people, or use case (recreational vs. commercial). The note above describes the most common case: if your situation is different, check the official source to see exactly which scenario applies to you before flying. The exam and certificate are handled by GCAA — Ghana Civil Aviation Authority. For light/recreational drones below 400 feet in VLOS without a type certificate, registration + approval letter are enough; commercial use may require a permit, licence and/or RPAS Operator Certificate (ROC) depending on the activity.
Informational content, not legal advice. Zones and rules change constantly: always check the country's official website before every flight.