Ghana is one of the African countries that has many tourists. This country is popular with tourists who travel to Africa because of its diverse ecosystem, tropical rainforests, and different culture. Read more about Ghana and its attractions.
Getting to know Ghana
The country of Ghana is located in West Africa on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. Although this country has a relatively small population and area, it is one of the leading countries in the African continent. This situation is partly due to its considerable natural wealth and partly because it is the first African country with a black population in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence from colonial rule.
Besides being famous for its lush forests, diverse wildlife, and miles of sandy beaches along the beautiful sea, Ghana is also renowned for its rich history that probably dates back to 10,000 BC.
Ghana borders Burkina Faso to the northwest and north, Togo to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the south, and Ivory Coast to the west.
The religion of Ghana
More than half of this country’s population are Christians, about one-fifth are Muslims, and some follow traditional indigenous religions. While widespread and rooted, Indigenous beliefs lack a standard set of teachings. Although adherents of these indigenous religions believe in the existence of a supreme being, many worship deities associated with natural phenomena. They attach great importance to the dead ancestors and consider the dead to be always present, who can influence the lives of the living and act as intermediaries between the living and the gods.
In the first half of the 20th century, Christianity rapidly replaced indigenous religions, but this trend slowed following the country’s independence. From the end of the 20th century, the number of followers of Islam increased. Christians live mainly in the southern part of the country, and Muslims live primarily in the extreme north and larger urban centers. These areas host immigrant populations from the Muslim regions of West Africa.
Economy of Ghana
The economy of this country is a mixture of private and public companies. About three-fifths of the GDP is the result of the service sector. The agricultural sector accounts for almost one-fifth, and industry accounts for about one-fourth of the GDP.
Before independence, the government’s role was mainly limited to providing essential services such as water, electricity, railways, roads, and postal services. Agriculture, commerce, banking, and industry were almost entirely in the hands of the private sector, and foreigners had a more significant share in all of them except agriculture.
Ghana tourist attractions
Africa is a big continent full of natural wonders. Therefore, it is a good destination for tourists looking for unique and special attractions. If you like to include different cultures, new cuisines, pristine natural attractions, and amazing sights in your trip, Africa is a good destination. There are many tourist attractions in Ghana, which you will learn about below.
1. Accra city
Accra is the capital of Ghana and one of the most modern and best cities in this country for travel. This city has a population of 2 million people and is full of busy markets and old buildings left over from the colonial era. You can visit Makola Market, National Museum, and other old colonial buildings in Accra. 2 Koko and Labadi beaches are also suitable for beach activities.
2. Kakum National Park
Ghana is unique in terms of environmental diversity. In Kakum National Park, you can see unique species and visit the rainforests that cover much of southern Ghana. Watching buffaloes, meerkats, elephants, and certain species of birds is one of the attractions of this park. Canopy Pass, which has a suspension bridge, is one of the most popular parts of this park for tourists.
3. Mole National Park
One of the most attractive sights in Ghana is Mole National Park, located northwest of the country. This park is the largest wildlife park in Ghana. You can see a variety of native species of wildlife, such as elephants, leopards, and buffaloes, in this park. Even if you are lucky, you can see the lions up close. This park hosts more than 250 species of birds, which is an excellent location for birdwatchers.
If you can, choose the dry season to visit this park from January to March. In this season, you can see most of the animals coming back to drink water.
4. Kumasi city
The city of Kumasi was the former capital of Ghana and is now the second-largest city in the country. This city is an excellent destination if you like bustling towns and markets. The needs of this city are famous for gold ornaments, traditional clothes, and wooden dishes. If you love shopping and handicrafts, you must visit this city. If you want to learn about the history of the Ashanti Empire that once ruled Ghana, you must visit the Manhiya Palace Museum.
5. Busua Beach
Ghana is close to the ocean, so the beach is one of its most important tourist attractions. Busva beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in this country, and you can find everything you want from beach entertainment. You can learn to surf on this beach and experience exciting marine activities.
This beach is known for its luxurious residences right near the sea. You will not be disappointed if you choose this beach as your beach vacation destination. You can enjoy the best local dishes in the restaurants on this beach.
6. Saint George Castle
Elmina in Ghana is one of the fishing cities; many tourists travel to it only for fishing. In this city, you can visit the old St. George Fort, one of Ghana’s few historical tourist attractions. This fort has white walls and was built by the Portuguese in 1482. Of course, this castle has a bitter and dark history because the slave trade was carried out there.
7. Nzulezo village
This village is one of the most extraordinary and beautiful attractions in Ghana. The name of this village means “water level.” Its houses are built in the lagoon, and all of them are placed on foundations. To see the creativity of the people of this village in building their houses and lifestyle, it is not harmful to dedicate a part of your trip to visiting this village. These days, even hotels have been made in this village’s style of local houses. This village’s tourists enjoy swimming, diving, and boating.
If you are a wildlife enthusiast, you will enjoy seeing crocodiles and monkeys in this village.
8. Lake Volta
This lake is one of the largest artificial lakes in the world. The location of this lake is lovely, and it is one of the attractions that travelers to Ghana should not miss. This lake occupies 3.6% of the area of Ghana. When visiting this lake, visit Dodi Island and experience activities such as fishing. Around the lake, there are luxurious hotels and charming lodges that provide guests with an opportunity to live close to nature.
9. Kokrobite Beach
Another beautiful beach in Ghana is this beach, which is only 30 kilometers away from Accra. The Academy of African Music and Arts operates on this beach and is an opportunity to see another side of life in Ghana. In this area, some accommodations have a beach view. Homowo festival is held every year in May on this beach.
10. Paga reservoir
This reservoir was built to keep crocodiles; those interested in this animal can see many of them. The crocodiles of this reservoir usually have a friendly relationship with visitors. Tourists can feed them and have close contact with them. This is a unique experience that may never come again in life.
11. Labadi Beach
This beach is another popular tourist area in Ghana, located in Accra. Excellent local food and unique, different drinks are special features of this beach for tourists. Of course, this beach is at the disposal of the hotels around it. Therefore, if you are not a hotel traveler, you must pay an entrance fee to visit the hotel. This place is the best opportunity to see the Ghanaian lifestyle and enjoy local music.
Question and answer
1. Where is the country of Ghana?
Ghana, with the official name of the Republic of Ghana, is a country in the west of the African continent. This country is connected to the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean from the south.
2. What is the essential product of Ghana?
The most important exports of Ghana are cocoa, gold, and oil. The biggest markets for this country’s products are China, Switzerland, India, South Africa, the Netherlands, and the UAE.
3. Is Ghana an excellent country to travel to?
Ghana is one of the African countries that has a stable economy and democracy and is suitable for travel and tourism. If you like to see different cultures, it is a good destination in Africa.
4. Does Ghana have a beach?
Yes, Ghana has 560 km of coastline. Recreations such as surfing, diving, and staying in luxury hotels are provided for tourists on these beaches.
5. Is Ghana safe for tourists?
Ghana is one of the safest countries on the African continent, and many tourists from all over the world travel to this country without any problems.
final word
Africa is one of the different destinations for travel and tourism. In this continent, Ghana can be a good host for tourists from all over the world. If you have an experience of traveling to the continent of Africa, especially Ghana, share it with other travelers in the comments section.