There are a lot of places to visit when you find yourself in the country Ghana. The country is made up of warmth, peace and loving people that will accommodate you wholeheartedly. Ghana is found on the western part of the continent, Africa. In every part or region of the country, there are various places to visit. These places have been categorized into the preliminary regions in the country.
Greater Accra Region
Labadi Beach
This beach is one of the most popular in all of the country. It is always crowded on weekends and filled with many beach ball games and horse riding and many more interesting activities. You’ll also find many people just basking under the warm Ghanaian sun. The beach also has its own quiet days, the workdays.
Independence Square
This place is a wide expanse of land. Its importance in history was stamped as being the place where the independence of the country was first declared. The Eternal Flame of African Liberation was lit here by the first president of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah, and the flame still flickers today. The independence arch was also built here. The square is always mostly empty as it is only reserved for grand occasions and events.
Shai Hills Resource Reserve
The wildlife center sits at the edges of Accra itself, but it is yet the most easily accessible wildlife center in Ghana. The 48km² reserve has 5 hills in it, hence the name. It boasts of about 31 different mammals, 13 reptiles and 17 birds species, waiting to be gazed and marveled at. Of the many mammals that this reserve houses are the baboon troops. These animals are very entertaining but they can be nasty sometimes. They are skilled in the art of thievery so your personal belongings should be kept far away from them.
Osu Castle
This used to be the Seat of Government until 2013 before the seat was moved to Flagstaff House. It was built by the Danes in 1659 and still open to visitors till today. However, because of what it used to be, photographs of the interior is prohibited. So if you really want to see what is in it, you have to be there yourself.
Center for National Culture (Arts center)
Situated right beside the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park itself, it is a home for all sorts of arts and exhibitions. It contains a theatre hall where dance groups and actors do their thing. You can get yourself a lot of nice stuff here like beautiful African style clothes, earrings, neck pieces and many other fashion items. There are countless things that will entice you here and it shouldn’t be surprising that this place attracts more tourists than most other tourist attractions in the country.
Ussher Fort Museum
Ussher Fort is a fort in Accra, Ghana. It was built by the Dutch in 1649 as Fort Crèvecœur, and is a day’s march from Elmina and to the east of Accra on a rocky point between two lagoons. It was one of three forts that Europeans built in the region during the middle of the 17th century. F
James Fort
Like many of the Forts and castle in Ghana they were built on the coast as trading posts with consent of the local Chiefs. Jamestown originated as a community that emerged around the 17th-century around Fort James, or what locals call James Fort. These days, Jamestown is a neighbourhoods of Accra – full of beautifully dishevelled colonial buildings.
Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park & Mausoleum
Decorated with beautiful gardens, fountains and flowerbeds, this place is surely a nice place to relax and unwind. The park was built in memory of the first president of the country, Kwame Nkrumah himself, who fought for the independence of Ghana. In the center of the park, you will find the graves of the man and his wife. Also in this park is a museum where the things of the former president are kept and put on display. The stories of his campaign for independence is also made known to all in this same museum.
Legon Botanical Gardens
If you want to explore the gardens and enjoy cycling you can rent out bikes and ride around several of the bike trials located in the Gardens. Or if you are a person who who likes to relax why not try some fishing on the lake. For families there are canoeing the the rope courses and not forgetting the canopy walk. All in all Legon Botanical gardens is more than just a day out in Accra.
The botanical garden is located close to the University of Ghana and provides the perfect places to escape the Accra’s relentless pace.
Jamestown Lighthouse
The community gradually got Incorporated into Accra after it emerged in the 17th century. There are many historical places to feast one’s eyes on. The community houses some of the colonial homes from the times of the colonial masters. Although this community isn’t one of the wealthiest communities in Accra, it remains one of the most active and vibrant ones in the city. It even boasts of having a fishing harbour.
W.E.B Du Bois Memorial Centre for Pan-African Culture
This center was named after the father of Pan-Africanism, William Edward Burghardt Du Bois. He was an African-American civil rights activist who became a citizen of Ghana in the 1960s. He lived in this place with his wife and they were both buried here after they died. The house still contains many of their things like his personal library ans his graduation robe. Surrounding this Mausoleum are restaurants and the research center for Pan African history and culture.
Artists Alliance Gallery
The hugely respected Ghanaian artist Ablade Glover established this renowned arts venue, which has become one of the most important of its kind in Ghana. There are three expansive floors of art displayed in cool marble galleries. Some are by established artists, such as Owusu Ankomah and George Hughes, whose paintings are reminiscent of Jean Michel Basquiat and Willem De Kooning, while others are by new and upcoming artists like Ebenezer Borlabie. Market, rural and urban scenes are interspersed with political satires – and naturally, there are also the shrouded figures and staccatoed crowd scenes by Glover himself. There are collectors’ pieces too: Asafo flags with appliquéd and embroidered symbols; ancient strip-woven Kente cloths by the Akan and Ewe; African masks of the type that inspired Picasso; and intricately carved furniture. Also on show are full-sized coffins in the shapes of crabs, running shoes and eagles. Everything is for sale. There’s a lovely pool out the back.
Lakeside Marina Park
Lakeside Marina Park is one of the best recreational centres in Ghana, located around a lake, Lake Kalmoni at Lakeside Estates, Accra. We have been in existence since 2003 and have a solid team of dedicated staff to give you the best customer service experience and atmosphere.
Eastern Region
Boti Falls
Boti falls is a twin waterfall located at Boti in the Eastern Region of Ghana. These twin falls are referred to as female and male.
Umbrella Rock
The Umbrella Rock is a rock found at the site of the Boti Falls in Yilo Krobo District, Ghana. Its size is well okay to shelter up to about 12 to 15 people at once. Even though the pivot on which the top rock lies on might seem small, it’s very strong and have not been able to pull and/or push down with manpower. Yearly, many Tourists make it to the Boti Falls to have a feel of nature, without leaving the umbrella rock from sight.
The Big Tree at Ada
The big tree is one of the prominent, astonishing and outstanding tourist attractions in the Birim Central
and for that matter Ghana. The tree is believed to be the biggest in West Africa with a diameter of 3.22 meters at 1.37 meters, 2.72 meters at 3.1 meters, making 12 meters in circumference and 66.5-90 meters tall. It also has a girth of 10.11 meters at 1.4 meters and 8.63 meters at 3.1 meters.
Aburi Botanical Gardens
Aburi is 30 Km North of Accra on the Akuapem hills at 1200 feet elevation. In colonial times, it was used at a retreat for official visitors and others who needed to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city. The town has comfortable weather similar to that of the fall in the northeastern part of the United States, the coast of France or Germany during the summer time. o a comfortable spot near the coast. The botanic Garden attracts people from all over Ghana, as well as many foreign visitors.
Bead Factory
The Eastern Region is known for its bead-making. Beads play an important role in West African life. They are worn to signify special occasions, wealth, and status. They indicate stages in life, such as motherhood or mourning; and they become a symbol of office for chiefs, traditional priests, and other figures in the community.
Beads were used in the barter for slaves, ivory, palm oil and gold in previous centuries. Some beads are imbued with special powers and some tribes believe their ancestors sprang from beads.
In Ghana, beads are made from recycled glass, brass, bauxite, shells and seeds.
Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm
Mampong Akwapim, first cocoa farm established in the Country from seeds first brought from Fernando Po Island by the Legendary Tetteh Quarshie.
From this small beginning grew our major cocoa industry. It is believed that a few of the original first trees planted by Tetteh Quarshie can still be found on the farm.
Central Region
Kakum National Park
This tropical rainforest in Ghana is a home to about 40 different mammals like elephants, mona- meercats, civets and buffaloes. There are also about 250 different bird species in this park which makes it a nice spot for birding. Another interesting thing about the park is the 350meter long canopy walkway, hanging about 30meters about the ground. The canopy walkway high up allows tourists to have a nice view of the whole wildlife and plants in the park. The park also has some campsites for those who wish to spend the night at park.
Elmina Castle
Elmina is known to be the first point of contact between Europeans and Ghana. The Portuguese adventurer Diego D’Azambuja was the first European to land on the shores of Elmina. He and his adventurers were so attracted to the abundance of gold they found here so much that they even called the place”Mina de Ouro”, which points to the vast amount of gold and ivory found in the area. About 11 years later, Elmina Castle was built.
Cape Coast Castle
This castle has survived many gruelling times. It contains evidences of the slave trade periods and it is one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites because of its history. This castle has been ruled by many powers since it was built. It was first ruled by the Dutch before the Swede took over and renamed it Fort Carolusburg in 1652. Both local and European powers contested for the ownership of this castle until it was finally captured by the British in 1664 after a four-day battle. It was then renamed Cape Coast Castle, which it bears till date. It became Britain’s seat of power here in Ghana before the seat was moved to Christianborg castle in Accra.
Fort St. Jago
Built about 300 meters from the Elmina Castle, the fort that was initially built to be a chapel was converted to a watch tower which served as a base of attack on the Elmina Castle by the Dutch. It also served as a form of prison for European convicts in those days.
Posuban Shrines
These shrines are characterized by their colorfulness which have mythical relevances. They are not far away from the Elmina Castle and were owned by the Asafo companies. These people who once performed military duties are now a more peaceful people, known for their ceremonial self service nature. Each of the Shrines is symbolic of one of the Asafos.
Assin Manso Slave River
Slaves were brought to this river to have their last bath before being imprisoned in the castles or forts, awaiting their voyage to slavery in other countries.
Western Region
This castle was built 300 years ago by the British as a warehouse for gold dust, timber, and then later slaves. This tourist attraction sits on a rocky promontory which overlooks the fishing port of Dixcove. Located in a fishing village called Infuma, the area is surrounded by water suitable for canoes and small boats. Also, large ships are able to dock roughly 2 kilometers from the coast.
To get to this part of the Western region from Accra, it takes approximately 4 hours by road and 45 mins by air. This is one trip promised to be filled with excitement and learning as the site holds so much of Ghana and Africa’s history and the rich culture and tradition of the people in its surroundings.
Akatekyi Crocodile Pond
If you love animals, specifically crocodiles, then Akatekyi Crocodile Pond in the Western region is worth the trip. The usual norm for visitors who want to see the fascinating sight of these reptiles is for the fetish priest also known as a traditional spiritual leader, to entice the crocodiles from the water with a live foul. For this reason, visitors are also encouraged to bring schnapps for libation.
The crocodiles are perceived to be sacred and likewise an important part of the community of people in that area. The pond is approximately 30km west of Takoradi, the capital of the Western Region. Hence if you cannot make it all the way to Paga crocodile park in the Northern region, then you can have a similar experience just four hours from Accra.
Busua Beach
The Busua Beach stretch is a lovely, relaxing paradise for tourists. There are several beach resorts along the coast for visitors to lodge or spend a lovely and relaxing time with friends and family. For example, one of these popular places is the Busua Beach Resort. You can engage in lots of water sports, horse riding, or enjoy a tasty seafood meal by the ocean.
Nzulezu
If you are considering taking a holiday to see beautiful architecture on water, you may consider Bora Bora or the Maldives but Nzulezu in the Western region of Ghana gives you the similar experience infused with a beautiful African vibe. The main tourist attraction in the region is a village which is built at the center of Lake Tadane almost 90km west of Takoradi. The architecture is remarkable as homes are built on stilts which creates an interesting communal lifestyle to suit the water condition.
Visitors are able to experience a lovely promenade through the reeds at the edge of the lake, including a trip in a dugout canoe to the village. This breathtaking site welcomes visitors on all days except Thursday which is known to be a sacred day. Thus, if you love water and adventurous travel, Nzulezu is the place to go.
Bia National Park
This national park in the Western region of Ghana is also a biosphere reserve home to 563 square kilometers of resource reserve. It has some of the tallest trees in West Africa and 62 different species of mammals. There are also 10 primate species, i.e chimpanzees, three species of colobus, and Pan troglodytes among many others.
Bia is also the only known home to a recently discovered specie of lizard known as Agama Sylvanus. Moreover, there are also over 160 species of birds in the reserve. Hence a trip to this tourist attraction would be one of a lifetime.
Cape Three Points
Located at the Southernmost tip of Ghana, Cape Three points is one of the most beautiful beaches along Ghana’s coast. To have a clear view of this captivating sight, you’ll need to visit the 95 year-old light house at the Cape. Cape Three Points also has a village with a number of landmarks for sightseeing which give you the opportunity to explore a cultural present and a colonial past of Ghana.
There are several activities to engage in around the area like hiking, surfing and simply relaxing by the beach. A drive to Cape Three Points usually gives visitors a chance to see how rubber is harvested and if lucky a sight of some monkeys and other wildlife too. This is one trip you do not want to miss out on while in Ghana.
Ashanti Region
Lake Bosomtwe
An ancient meteorite landed in the Ashanti Region and the lake was born. He lake was said to be discovered by a hunter who chased an antelope into the lake. It is believed that the lake received the antelope like it was trying to save it from the hunter. That is why the lake is called the Antelope God Lake till today. This history makes the lake a very sacred lake to the Ashants. About 70,000 people live in the villages that surround the lake.
Bobiri Butterfly Sanctuary
The place is as beautiful as the butterflies that have found home in the place. Apart from the butterfly sanctuary, the site consists of an arboretum and forest hiking trails. The butterfly sanctuary is a home to hundreds of different butterfly species that mostly come out during the day in their colorful vibrance. In the rainforest, you will also find many scarce tree species which create a cool environment for people to relax in.
Kumasi Zoological Gardens
Okomfo Anokye Sword Site
Ntonso Adinkra Village
Ntonso is where Adinkra cloth printing is done. The prints are made with dyes and stamps made from calabashes. You will be told about the history of the people, their crafts and shown how to make the prints at the Ntonso Visitor Center.
Bonwire Kente Weaving Village
It is no news that Africans put a whole lot of their resources on fashion and Ghana is no exception. Kente, for instance, is a fabric made and worn by Ghanaians for special occasions and events.
The history of weaving in Africa can be traced way back to 3000BC and it has since developed, improved and evolved to what we have today. Kente fabric originated in the Asante kingdom around the 17th century and is now a fabric that is worn in all parts of Ghana and beyond today. According to history, Ota Karaban and his friend Kwaku learned everything they knew about weaving from a spider. They told a chief in Bonwire about their expenditure who later told the head chief of Asante kingdom, the Asantehene. This Asantehene later Incorporated this fabric into their culture and is still worn at important occasions till date. That fabric is the Kente fabric.
The Manhyia Palace
This palace was the seat of power of the highest chief of the Asante kingdom, Asantehene. It is located in Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region. The palace was first built by the Ashantis themselves and it was so beautiful and grand that the British were impressed by the size of it when they first saw it. The palace contained many rows of books written in different languages. However, that didn’t stop the British from leveling it during the war of the golden stool. It was later rebuilt in 1925 by the British themselves.
Brong Ahafo
Kintampo Falls
The waterfall is one of the highest in Ghana, having three main drop points. The waterfall is found on the Pumpum river, one of the smaller rivers that flow from the Black Volta. The waterfall attracts its own healthy number of tourists annually and is still one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Ghana.
Buabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary
Here is another place where monkeys are held with utmost respect in Africa. The monkeys are never killed or harmed because they are said to have some traditional significance to the community. In fact, the community plants fruit trees just for these monkeys. They even go an extra mile in caring for their dead monkeys. They perform funeral rites for these dead monkeys before finally laying them to rest in the cemetery that was specifically built for the sole purpose of keeping dead monkeys. The monkeys you’ll find here are the Mona monkeys and the black silky colobus.
Buoyem Sacred Grove
This site is surrounded by hills on three different sides. The grove is home to many rock caves and different rock formations. Tourists can have fun exploring the caves, hiking the rocks and seeing far and wide from the high vantage point of the rocks. The site has a particular rock that looks like the shape of Africa and another that looks exactly like an umbrella.
Interesting history is tagged with this place as the caves are considered sacred by the people and it was strategically used in the war against the Ashanti.
Tano Boase
This grove is also a place to visit as its many beautiful rock formations all look fascinating. The grove is said to be sacred to the people of Tanoboase because the Tano River within the grove is believed to be the dwelling place of Taakora, the greatest of the gods of the Akan people.
Volta Region
Lake Volta
Lake Volta lies along the Greenwich Meridian, and just six degrees of latitude north of the Equator. The lake’s northernmost point is close to the town of Yapei, and its southernmost extreme is at the Akosombo Dam, 520 kilometers (320 mi) downstream from Yapei. Akosombo Dam holds back both the White Volta River and the Black Volta River, which formerly converged, where the middle of the reservoir now lies, to form the single Volta River. The present Volta River flows from the outlets of the dam’s powerhouse and spillways to the Atlantic Ocean in southmost Ghana.The main islands within the lake are Dodi, Dwarf and Kporve. Digya National Park lies on part of the lake’s west shore.
The lake is formed by the Akosombo Dam, which was originally conceived by the geologist Albert Ernest Kitson in 1915, but whose construction only began in 1961 with completion in 1965. Because of the formation of Lake Volta, about 78,000 people were relocated to new towns and villages, along with 200,000 animals belonging to them. About 120 buildings were destroyed, not including small residences, as over 3,000 square miles (7,800 km2) of territory was flooded.
Wli Waterfalls
Quick fun fact: Wli waterfalls is the tallest waterfall in all of West Africa! You have to descend about 250 steps to see the waterfall from below where the fall looks the most beautiful. You will get lost at the sight of fascinating waters splashing in white on the ground right before you before finally flowing away, leaving you astounded and dazzled.
Mount Afadja And Mount Gemi
Pay a visit to the tallest mountain in all of Ghana, rising to a height of 885 meters into the skies. The second tallest mountain, Mount Gemi is 611meter tall. Mount Afadjato is located very close to Gbledi and Liati Wote near the borders of Togo while Mount Gemi is located at the Amedzofe township.
Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary
The people of Tafi Atome have a unique way of treating their monkeys. The monkeys are deeply revered by these people because of the traditional significance that is attached to the monkeys. In fact, these people hold funeral rites for dead monkeys before finally burying them in a cemetery that was built for the sole purpose of of keeping dead monkeys. Now, the monkeys are so free with the people so much that they eat from the hands of the people. The Mona monkey is the most prominent monkey species here.
Northern Region
Mole National Park
Mole National Park is one of the cheapest safaris in Africa. A drive in the park will show you the wealth of animals that the park has. The park boasts of having nothing less than 94 different mammals, some of which are the elephants, antelopes, baboons, buffaloes, warthogs and many more. The sky of Mole National Park is also filled with the shapes of beautiful birds. As a matter of fact, there are more than 300 different bird species in the park alone.
Larabanga Mosque
Built in the 13th century, Laribanga Mosque is the first mosque to be built in all of West Africa. The mosque still stands till today. It is considered as a holy place for the Muslims in the area.
Mognori Eco-Village
Not far from Mole National Park is the Mognori Eco-village, a village popular for its vibrant culture and tradition. You can go on interesting canoe safaris in this village where you’ll get to see animals like crocodiles, monkeys and birds. You can also tour round the village where you’ll learn about the history and traditional medicines of the people. You will also be entertained with dances, some and drumming in this village.
Nalerigu Slave Defence Wall
This wall was built in the 16th century to keep out the slave traders from capturing the people of this community and trading them as slaves to the European countries. Although most of the wall is now in ruins, it is still recognizable for what it was.
Salaga Slave Market
This commercial center linked Western Sudan and the African inland. Because of its strategic location, it served as one of the most popular slave markets in all of West Africa.
Zayaa Mud Mosque at Wulugu
Needless to say, this mosque was built with mud but the fascinating thing about it is that it has its own unique kind of storey designs that made it a strategic location for military purposes.
Tamale Central Market
Tamale is the fourth largest city in Ghana and is by far the fastest growing. It has a population of 400,000 people with the majority of them being Muslims. Much of the buying and selling that goes on in the city is done in the central market which makes the market a popular one in the city and Ghana as a whole.
Upper West Region
Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary
This place is a home to most of the country’s hippos. There’s nowhere else in the country where you’ll find these many hippos in one place. You can go on canoe rides on the river to see the hippos more closely. If you aren’t feeling so brave, you can just wander around the place and sight chameleons, monitor lizards, hedgehogs, snakes and many other animals. You can also sight birds in this area as there are up to 200 different bird species nesting in this area alone.
Gbelle Game Reserve
This reserve mainly serves as a home to many endangered animals. These animals are actually kept for reproduction to multiply their numbers and keep them alive for much longer. These animals include hippos, water bucks and some scarce species of birds.
Upper East Region
Paga Crocodile Pond
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The only thing that kills the crocodiles here is natural death. There is never a death that was caused by a human. This is because the crocodiles here are forbidden to be hunted, harmed or killed. The people of Paga believe that these crocodiles are somehow connected to the spirit of their ancestors. That is why the crocodiles are regarded as being sacred in the community. Also, these people make sure that these crocodiles are fed by offering them sacrifices of live fowls. The crocodiles have in turn learned to live I harmony with the people as they do not harm them. However, this is not to say that the crocodiles are not dangerous. There is just something about the crocodiles of Paga and the people of Paga. Theirs is an unusual friendship
Navrongo Cathedral
This church is one of Ghana’s oldest ones. Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Cathedral was built in 1906 by the Europeans. The walls of the cathedral was built with mud and that is the reason why it is sometimes called the mud cathedral. On the inside, it looks like many other Catholic churches with pictures of events in the time of Jesus are pasted on the wall. Being one of the oldest churches in the country, the people that visit it aren’t all there to worship. Many of them are tourists who have come to feast their eyes on that ancient piece of beauty.
Bolgatanga Market
The most popular product you’ll find at the Bolgatanga market are straw woven baskets, called Bolga Baskets, when it isn’t the farming season. When it is the farming season, you’ll find many agricultural products there. Apart from those two, many other products are being sold at the Bolgatanga Market.
Tongo Hills And Tenzug Shrines
The things that make the Tongo community a popular tourist attraction site are their festivals, the Tenzug Shrine and the whispering rocks. The people of Tongo are a deeply traditional people and they often worship at the shrine. The shrine is believed to grant good luck and prosperity to its visitors. The Tongo Hills are also known for their many astounding, natural rock formations.