Spanning the Gulf of Guinea and the south of the Atlantic ocean, slotted in between Côte d’Ivoire and Togo, lies the Republic of Ghana. Since 1993, it has maintained one of the freest and most stable governments on the continent, with metrics of healthcare, economic growth, and human development performing relatively well.
Moreover, it is important to note that Ghana is considered “home” to millions in the diaspora, and even in cases where it isn’t one’s native land, it has come to be a place where Africans in the diaspora go to feel rooted.
Organisations helping people visit our home of Africa
Magic & Melanin
Founded by Dossé-Via, this organisation provides a travel package to Ghana, Benin, and Togo, that covers airfare, ground transportation between countries, lodging, and excursions. This experience is designed to ease any worries about travelling to Africa, and it is curated to be culturally rich and fun.
For those without the financial resources, the organization started a Homegoing fund to give sponsored trips.
Daughter
Similarly, Ebonee Davis started Daughter, a non-profit organisation that provides sponsorships for scholars who seek to expand their narrative and reconnect with their roots.
Daughter has partnered with Magic & Melanin to coordinate logistics and expand their network and sponsorship opportunities.
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Best time to visit Ghana
Due to Ghana’s close proximity to the equator, temperatures usually vary between 24°C to 32°C, and seasons are instead dictated by wind and rain.
The best time to visit Ghana is during the dry season, which is from mid-November to April.
The best beaches in Ghana
The best beaches in Ghana
Bojo Beach
About 30km west, one is transported from the bustle of Accra to this island beach, sandwiched between the salty Atlantic and a freshwater stream. Covered in soft white sand and no natural shade, the beach is decorated with umbrellas. The entrance fee (8GH¢ which is around approximately €2) to Bojo Beach adds to its exclusivity and serenity. The Bojo Beach resort offers a beachside bar, water skiing, volleyball, and a horseback ride into the ocean shore.
This vibrant beach is known for its reggae nightlife; it attracts both rastafarians and locals who need a break from the city. The white sand beach has a beautiful display of coconut trees. Kokrobite is the perfect location for a beach party under the moonlit shoreline.
This 3km white sand beach strip is surrounded by a tropical garden that grows along the entire coastline. This picturesque panorama makes Labadi one of the most beautiful beaches in Ghana where one can passively sunbathe, partake in active water sports, or have a fire lit party. Due to its close proximity to the capital, this public beach is frequently visited.
Cocoloko Beach
Historical sites you must experience
Cape Coast Castle
Although the beaches draw attention to locals and visitors from around the globe, Ghana’s coastline has clusters of castles and forts built by colonisers between 1482 and 1786. Gradually, with influence from British colonists, these castles became a hub for the trade of enslaved Ghanaians, and other African and Asian natives.
The most famous castle is the Cape Coast Castle as it was known as the “grand emporium” of the British slave trade.
After Ghana gained its independence in 1957, the Cape Coast Castle was restored through a project sponsored by the Ghana Museum and Monuments Board.
Today, the Cape Coast Castle is a museum that hosts tours of the old slave-holding dungeons.
Ussher Fort Museum
This fort, built in 1649, was developed into a museum by Ghana's Ministry of Tourism, with support and funding from UNESCO. Opened in 2007, the museum serves as an in-depth walk through of the history of the transatlantic slave trade in Ghana up until the abolition of the British.
Asante Traditional Buildings
Remnants of precolonial Africa are rare so when ten shrines of the Asante civilization were found in Kumasi and Patakro, Ghana Museums and Monuments Board acquired the land and declared them national monuments.
Since the buildings are made of earth, wood and straw, they are vulnerable to the effects of time and weather. So, they are a must-see because they won’t be here forever.
Tengzug Shrine and Talensi Settlements
In the upper east region of northern Ghana stands the sacred epicentre of the Talensi. This unique landscape is home to numerous sacred shrines.
The most famous shrine, the Tengzug Shrine, was once a hideout for slaves. With a local guide, one can observe the sacred rituals still practiced which require all to be topless.
Moreover, one can enjoy the views of the region from the Tongo hills, which are richly packed with history, religious significance, and are fantastic for a hike.
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Best for nature lovers
Kakum National Park
This is only one of the three locations in Africa with a canopy walkway so naturally, this attracts many locals and international visitors to the park. The canopy walkway is 350 metres long, and leads into the forest, which houses Diana monkeys, giant bongo antelopes, yellow-backed duiker, and an African elephant, which are all endangered species. Moreover, the forest has a bird inventory of 266 species, of which eight species are of global conservation concern.
17kms away from the eastern regional capital, Koforidua, stands the Boti Falls. Locals describe them as male and female because during the rainy season, there is a great volume of water, causing the waterfalls to meet — this meeting is locally referred to as their “mating ceremony.” This ceremony is graced by a rainbow, caused by water crashing together from the falls.
To view the splendor of this ceremony, one has to climb over 70 steps. Thankfully, the way down can be as easy as plunging into the refreshing pool at the base of the falls.
These gardens offer an edifying, aesthetic, and spiritual experience. Upon entry one is met with a path lined with royal palm trees and adorned with the sweet fragrance of the selection of exotic and local flowers.
Birds and butterflies add to the experience of the ornamental plant collection. A map is provided to guide one’s exploration of the gardens, and more recently bikes have been added to enable one to get through the 160 acre garden.
Best festivals in Ghana
Afrochella
Although it may have a Californian namesake, it is nothing like Coachella. Sure, this festival has a crowd-grabbing musical line up of African artists that span from genres like Afrobeats to Amapiano. However, Afrochella is not only about music, it is an immersive cultural experience.
African food, arts, entertainment, and fashion are all celebrated when thousands swarm from all over the globe to the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra during the days after Christmas and before New Year’s Eve.
Produced by ACCRA [dot] ALT, this street festival brings together local and international artists to create and appreciate art together.
The festival takes place in mid-August and each annual edition has a theme for artists to gain inspiration from. As much as this festival is an alternative platform of live artistic expression, all are welcome to savour this creative experience.
Also produced by ACCRA [dot] ALT, this musical festival is the largest indie music showcase in West Africa. The annual festival that runs for a couple of days mid-December is a wholesome experience of African alternative music, with workshops and a main stage that blasts both underground and mainstream African talent.
And lastly, some souvenirs to remember your trip
Kejetia Market
With about 11 000 stalls and almost four times the amount of workers, this open air market is the biggest in West Africa.
One can find almost anything authentically Ghanaian here: gold jewellery handcrafted by the Ashanti, food stuff, Ashanti kente cloth, footwear, spices, grains, and so much more.
It is a one stop shop that’s truly a once in a lifetime experience.