Top 10 Reasons to Visit Ghana This Year
The Top 10 Reasons to visit Ghana, Africa
It's not often that individuals choose Ghana as a must-see destination when planning a holiday. In actuality, this African country offers a plethora of cool and amazing experiences. One had no idea what to anticipate when you’re leaving' because I assure you didn't know anyone who had ever gone there. The nice people, interesting delicacies, and culturally engaging experiences, helped me fall in love with the country. Here are the top ten reasons why you should add Ghana, Africa, to your bucket list to give you a better understanding of what I'm talking about.
1. The Peaceful Country
Ghana is maybe the only African country with a lengthy history of stable democracy and a thriving economy. Therefore, the area is a safe all-weather travel destination. Crime rates are low, there is no insurgency, and the country is extremely welcoming to tourists. Even during elections, there is a sense of calmness in the country!
2. Rich History
In Ghana, there are numerous fascinating museums and historical sites to explore. If you want to make this the focal point of your journey, it is proposed to make a stop in Cape Coast. Cape Coast Castle & Elmina Castle, two castle museums that were stops on the trans-Atlantic slave trade, are located here. While it may be difficult to stomach, a tour of these castles will teach you about history as you are shown dungeons, slave vessels, old cannons, and secret chambers while hearing stories from the past. There are also various forts, such as Fort William and Fort Victoria, which were utilized as lookout posts in the nineteenth century to protect the city against Ashanti raids.
Locals in Ghana can be found dancing to drum beats and listening to cheerful music wherever you go. Even as you walk down the street in Accra's capital, you will feel as though the sound of the Djembe drum is the soundtrack to your life.
3. Amazing Tourists Sites – Forts, Castles, and Matchless Mud Mosques
North Ghana is famous for its centuries-old white mud mosques constructed in the West Sudanese style. The Larabanga Mosque, a charming large rectangular edifice with whitewashed mud walls and spiked timber supports, is a must-see. Other popular locations are Elmina Castle, Cape Coast Castle, Christianborg Castle, and Kumasi Fort, all of which are rich in history, particularly slave history.
Ghana's museums and galleries are vivid reminders of the country's history. Every tourist should visit the National Museum of Ghana in Accra, the Cape Coast Castle Museum and Elmina Castle Museum in Cape Coast, the Volta Regional Museum in Ho, and the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Museum in Nkroful to get a sense of Ghana.
4. Budget Friendly
It's always wonderful to save money, notably on an international trip, no matter what your financial condition is. Although in Ghana, nothing is ever free – even you have to pay to use a Porta-Potty. You will almost always pay less than you would at home for the identical items. A trip on the local bus (tro-tro), for example, will cost under a dollar, an ice cream pop, about 35 cents, and a hostel bed, about $6. In the Volta Region, I actually shared a nice and pleasant hotel room with two friends for only $10 per night.
5. Friendly locals
Ghanaians are definitely the kindest people you'll ever encounter. The locals want to chat to you regardless of who you are, where you are, or what you are doing. Locals would stop their automobiles or turn from their market stalls to chat to you even at 6:00 a.m. (If you're a jogging person). Remember that greetings are very essential in Ghana. Locals usually greet outsiders with a wave, so be courteous and reciprocate. As a guest, you will be frequently yelled at with the word "Obroni" (foreigner). While this may appear to be offensive – it took some getting accustomed to - the locals are only wanting to get to know you.
6. Natural Experiences
Despite the fact that Ghana is not a safari destination, there are several possibilities to enjoy nature and wildlife. Along with the many beaches and parks throughout the country, Cape Coast gives the opportunity to walk across a swinging canopy bridge hung high above the trees of Kakum National Park. At Hans Cottage Botel, there is also a crocodile pond where you can pet and sit on crocodiles.
7. Serene Beaches
Ghana has some wonderful beaches, and along with relaxing in the sun, there are generally local artists, fishermen, and drummers adding a cultural flavour to the usually lethargic experience. You'll enjoy conversing with the artisans as they crafted jewellery and art, as well as hearing to the fishermen sing as they hauled in their nets. Even when these fascinating residents aren't present, Ghana's beaches provide a pleasant and exquisite respite from the more turbulent streets of the cities.
8. Food Scene
While you will always find ethnic cuisine when travelling to a different nation, there is frequently an overlap of ingredients between those and the foods you are used to at home. However, there are several cuisines in Ghana that will be new to you, such as the root-based dishes fu-fu, banku, and kenkey. Furthermore, many of their soups have a thick and spicy peanut base, which you will quickly fell in love with. When it came to fruit, enamoured with the evo, a huge, spiky, melon-looking item with a fluffy, bubbly centre. It tastes sweet and sour, similar to Pop Rocks or Sour Patch Kids.
The La Casa Bar & Bistro, located at the La Casa Baatsona Apartments proudly serves a fusion of Ghanaian and International favourites. I would venture to say they have the best burgers on Spintex, with their hand-crafted burgers. They also serve popular cocktails with spirits and fresh ingredients to compliment your dining experience.
9. Laid-back villages
There are many lively towns to see in Ghana, but there is usually always a laid-back hamlet nearby to relax to. These quieter places provided the best opportunities for me to interact with residents on a more personal level, which was beneficial for learning about the culture. My favourite laid-back area in Ghana was Kokrobite, which was about 45 minutes outside of Accra via tro-tro. Big Milly's Backyard, a beachside backpacker hotel featuring tiki-style lodgings, art fairs, live music, wonderful food, and reggae festivals, attracts both locals and tourists.
10. Handicrafts & Arts
Beads, ceramics, woven garments, and woodcarvings are all very prominent in Ghanaian culture and may be seen everywhere. While looking through the paintings, you'll undoubtedly notice some symbols and images that appear repeatedly. You'll learn a lot about cultural ideas and attitudes through these pictures. There are also many carved masks and statues, each with its own specific meaning. If you're a girl looking for a one-of-a-kind keepsake, buy "Ghanian lingerie," which is a long, thin strand of beads tied around the hips.
Ghana's Top Festivals
In Ghana, there are fascinating festivals all year long that you should attend at least once in your lifetime. Traditional festivities have a fascinating cultural and historical proclivity to erupt. Festivals of art, food, and music bring with them a creative dynamism, great street flavors, and fascinating distinctive rhythms! Here are our top recommendations.
Traditional Festivals
In Ghana, there are over 70 prominent yearly traditional festivals, which are held to commemorate harvest seasons (the most prevalent variety, usually after the rainy season), migration or territory expansion history, stool cleaning, and other events. Such gatherings strengthen family and communal relationships while celebrating many cultures and infusing spirituality in the participants.
Homowo – May
Homowo is one of Ghana's greatest festivities, held every year in May in the capital, Accra. Its history is one of a season of sadness due to starvation, followed by a great harvest of plant food and fish, as such homowo – referring to the act of 'hooting at hunger'. The Ga Traditional space chiefs sprinkle kpokpoi, a distinctive street snack made from cornmeal and palm oil. Folk singing, libation pouring, and litanies to the gods for another sound season are all part of the festivities.
Aboakyir – May
Every first Saturday in May, the Effutu-Winneba people observe Aboakyir, which literally means "game collecting." Tuafo and Denkyefo Asafo tribes lead a parade into the forest for a competitive deer hunt (previously a leopard hunt), followed by ceremonies to appease the gods. Following this, a large durbar with the chiefs, queen mothers, and elders is held to enliven the ceremonial and cultural event.
Bakatue – July
Bakatue, which is celebrated by the inhabitants of Elmina, represents the 'process of discharge' when the Benya Lagoon merges with the sea to begin the fishing season. There are numerous actions that are vital in honoring the deities – who are the agents of reinforcement for the fishing community. The 'net casting' ceremony, in which the catch is offered to the gods, is one example. Elmina celebrates it on the first Tuesday of July every year. The celebrations include a colorful durbar of chiefs and people surrounded by drumming and dancing, as well as a colorful display of canoes on the lagoon.
Asafotufiam – August
From the end of July to the beginning of August, the people of Ada in the eastern regions of the Greater Accra region recall past wins and defeats against Asafotufiam. Ceremonial rituals are also undertaken to usher in the harvest season. A mock war spectacle with elaborate costumes, stool cleaning procedures and libation, durbars amid processions with leaders in palanquins, and music and dance with men and women decorated in variegated beads are all part of the festivities.
Oguaa Fetu Afahye – September
Visit Fetu Afahye on Cape Coast in early September for the distinctive durbar and warrior group (asafo) processions. To demonstrate gratitude to the 77 deities in the area, ritual functions such as libation and livestock sacrifice are observed. Prior to the occasion, there is a restriction on drumming, music, and noise-making, same as there is in the Ga Traditional region.
Fishing in the Fosu lagoon has also been halted. On magnificent days, there is drumming and dancing by women, as well as men and children dressed in kente and gold decorations, and processions by chiefs and elders in palanquins carrying enormous umbrellas and sceptres. There are also Amuntumadeze (health day) and Adamma (rituals day) celebrations.
Hogbetsotso – September
The Anlo Ewes escaped from monarch Agorkoli's reign of terror to Notsie by going backwards to avoid their pursuers. Every September, Hogbetsotso is held to commemorate this exodus. Aside from stool purification and environmental cleaning exercises, it is also a chance for peace to be made.
Akwasidae – Once every six weeks
During the special Sunday cultural experience known as Akwasidae, Manhyia Palace opens its doors to everyone and sundry. The Ashanti monarchy is known for its elaborately structured customs that serve to enhance the relationships between queen mothers, chiefs, sub-chiefs, elders, and the people. The palanquin lift is accompanied by horn sounds and fontomfrom thumps, and the kete or adowa dance adds to the colorfully ornamented kente with gold trinkets.
Music, Food and Art Festivals
CHALE WOTE Festival
The colorful CHALE WOTE Street Art Festival, which drew over 30,000 people last year, highlights exchanges in Accra's streets between Ghana-based artists/educators and foreign partners. The multidisciplinary community-based experience takes place in Jamestown, one of Accra's most historic communities that served as a port for migration, commerce, and incarceration throughout the days of colonialism's exploitation and systematization.
It is a dynamic, innovative platform for reconnecting with intuitive concepts intended for free form call-and-response expressions through performance, discussions, and cultural extensions. The seventh annual CHALE WOTE Street Art Festival, themed Wata Mata, will take place in Accra, Ghana from August 14th to August 20th, 2022.
Sabolai Festival
Sabolai is a must-see African indie music extravaganza that takes place in Accra every December. There's the best creative music from the mainstream and alternative scenes, from the contemporary scape to traditional tableau, fusions, and non-traditional streams. Its eighth year is approaching, and we are excited to jam with you at the centre of the planet.
Nkabom Literary Festival
Nkabom Literary Festival seeks to connect poets, novelists, and spoken word artists with photographers, DJs, painters, illustrators, theatre artists, musicians, and others, with the interweaving of various content expanding the boundaries that writing in general is supposed to achieve. This year's theme is 'Unscrambling Africa,' and it takes place in Accra from August 23rd to August 26th.
Accra Food Festival
Foodies from Accra and around the world gather to sample delectable food in a variety of sampling tents at reasonable pricing. Conventional and non-traditional cuisines deliver the best of Ghanaian and international cuisine in a comfortable setting. Accra's kid-friendly festival, now in its fourth year, promises to be a gastronomic paradise on September 23rd and 24th, 2022 from 11am to 7pm.
PANAFEST
The Pan-African Festival of Art and Culture highlights historical and cultural legacies and endowments. PANAFEST was founded in the mid-1980s by the late Efua Sutherland as an effort to inspire homecoming for Africans all over the world. On May 23rd, Roy 'Gramps' Morgan, a key member of the US-based family reggae group Morgan Heritage, was named an Ambassador of the 2017 Pan-African Historical Theatre Festival. The 2022 version, commemorating the 30th anniversary, begins on July 25th.
AFROCHELLA
Allow Away to Africa to show you the unseen beauties of Ghana on this diverse cultural and musically inspired journey with Afrochella!
Away to Africa will begin your cultural journey in Accra and take you to Cape Coast, Volta Region, Hohoe, Aburi Mountain, and many other gems of Ghana. Afrochella, which takes place just a few days before the New Year, celebrates Africa's diverse culture through fashion, art installations, and music. Relax and dance your heart out on Accra's stunning beaches while creating a once-in-a-lifetime experience with new friends.
Photo by Jay Eshie on Unsplash
Photo by Emmanuel Offei on Unsplash
The Top 10 Things To See & Do in Ghana
Ghana has ample experiences to fulfill the wanderlust of all ages, hobbies, and likes, from surfing and experiencing the great outdoors to visiting some of the country's historical landmarks. A trip to Ghana would be incomplete if you did not see or participate in the following top 10 attractions and activities.
1. Go Surfing
Nowadays, surf culture has taken rapidly. Brett Davies, a former Rip Curl champion, helped to pioneer the movement. He began surfing African waves in the Ivory Coast and has since made his way to Ghana, first in Busua and now in Kokrobite. Because surfing has taken over many of the local youngsters' interests, he manages Mr. Bright's Surf School, which offers lessons seven days a week and organises surf camps at several beaches around the country with the best breaks.
2. Take A Walk Through Jamestown
With the introduction of the Chale Wote Street Art Festival, the Accra Dot Alt, and the abundance of street art interweaving with old-colonial structures that make it a dynamic and diverse neighbourhood, this seaside hamlet of fishermen has become something of a cultural powerhouse in recent years. Visit the Lighthouse, walk down High Street to see Ussher Fort, and have lunch at Jamestown Café or a drink at Osikan, which is positioned high on the cliffs with views all the way down to Osu Castle.
3. The Local Cuisine
Local cuisine is typically served at 'chop bars,' which are no-frills roadside structures where people can eat communally at low tables. While convenient, it may not be the comfiest atmosphere for trying new foods. There are several excellent restaurants nowadays where you can sample Ghanaian favourites like fufu (a plantain-cassava dumpling) or banku (fermented-corn dumpling) alongside delicious stews and simpler fare like jollof rice or plantain and beans. Buka, a popular lunch spot with its quirky décor and breezy patios, is located in the vibrant area of Osu; in Legon, travel to the appropriately called 'Chop Bar' for similar selections in a more sedate environment.
4. Visit Cape Coast Castle
This formidable behemoth perched on the ocean's edge at Cape Coast in the Western Region was originally developed by Swedes for the lumber and gold trades, but it eventually became a slave fort for the Transatlantic traffic. Visit the preserved dungeons and holding rooms—though these can be difficult to stomach—as well as the door of no return: the last view of home for the unlucky victims who were abducted from the castle and hauled over the sea.
5. The Kakum National Park
This tropical rainforest reserve in the Central Region has 375 square kilometres (about 144.8 square miles) of rich vegetation and animals. It is defined by a 350-meter-long (382.8-yard) canopy walkway, one of only two in Africa. There are numerous monkey species to observe, as well as endangered antelopes and numerous exotic birds such as the white breasted guinea fowl.
6. Relish Local Drinks and Music at Republic Bar and Grill
A trip to Osu, a vibrant neighborhood replete with pubs, restaurants, and clubs, would be incomplete without a stop at Republic, a pub-style music establishment that draws enormous audiences for its regular Wednesday night live-music events, where the throng spills onto the streets and the drinks flow. Try the locally produced 'akpeteshie' drinks, which are created with strong in-house spirits like rum or gin and tropical flavors like coconut, hibiscus, and ginger. Flavored beers are also very popular.
7. Checkout The Fabric
Ghanaian streetscapes are engulfed in the vivid and beautiful colours of the many textiles available throughout the country, which can subsequently be converted into a desired attractive & stylish outfit for a low price by a tailor or seamstress. The well-known woven Kente fabric, which was originally manufactured with orange thread (and can still be seen in production at Bonwire in Kumasi), is now available in a variety of colours and can also be printed on cotton. Northern-Gonja cloth is also woven, but it is layered in stripes rather than the criss-cross pattern of Kente.
8. Visit Mole National Park
The northern section of the country is less visited by tourists, but Mole National Park is a key magnet for wildlife enthusiasts. It is the country's largest wildlife park, and it is home to many animals, including buffalo, elephants, and hippos, as well as rare sightings of cheetah and other predators that used to wander freely on the savanna.
9. Experience Bliss Family Entertainment
Bliss family Entertainment is an activity center for wholesome fun for the entire family. Trampolines, bowling and wall climbing add to the fun. This vibrant and exciting place is a great place to visit when travelling with kids and also for group activities.
10. Wli Waterfalls and Mount Afadjato
The country's Eastern Region shares a border with Togo and features some of the country's cleanest air and highest mountains. Access Wli Waterfalls in the Hohoe District via a tropical forest for the lower falls and a trek up the mountain for the top falls. The terrain is beautiful and tranquil, and the wildlife includes thousands of fruit bats, butterflies, birds, and monkeys.
La Casa Baatsona Apartments -Affordable Luxury
The accommodation at La Casa Baatsona Apartments is the ideal place to stay whether you're in Accra on holiday or for work. La Casa Apartments offers one-of-a-kind collections of exquisite serviced apartments with outstanding hotel amenities. Located 19 km from Sakumo Lagoon Protected Area, La Casa Baatsona Apts offers a restaurant, a bar and air-conditioned accommodation with a balcony and free Wi-Fi.