Best Things to Do in Ghana

Ghana sits on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, a country of 35 million that gained independence from Britain in 1957 as the first sub-Saharan African country to do so. The things to do in Ghana center on its historical and cultural wealth: Cape Coast Castle (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the nearby Elmina Castle are the most intact slave-trading forts on the West African coast, the ‘Door of No Return’ through which enslaved Africans were shipped to the Americas; visits are deeply moving and essential for understanding the transatlantic slave trade. Kakum National Park, 35 km north of Cape Coast, has a 350m canopy walkway over primary rainforest — one of only a few in Africa — offering extraordinary birdwatching. Accra, the capital, is a dynamic city with the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum, the National Museum, the vibrant Makola Market, and some of West Africa’s best nightlife (Labadi Beach area). The Ashanti region (Kumasi) is the center of traditional kente cloth weaving and the Ashanti cultural heritage; the Bonwire kente weaving village and the Manhyia Palace Museum are the key sites. Wli Waterfalls in the Volta Region (3 hours east of Accra) is the highest waterfall in West Africa.Best time to visitNovember through March is the dry season and generally the best time: lower humidity, no rain, and clearer skies. The harmattan (dry Saharan wind) in December-February can reduce visibility. April-May and October-November are transitional and also manageable. June-September is the wet season, with heavy rains; the rainforest (Kakum) is most lush but the roads can be difficult. The Homowo Festival (Ga people, August-September in Accra) and the Akwasidae Festival (Ashanti royal festival, every six weeks in Kumasi) are significant cultural events.Getting aroundKotoka International Airport in Accra has connections to Europe, the Middle East, and other African cities. Within Accra, Uber is well-established and safer than street taxis. For intercity travel, VIP bus services (VIP Jeoun, Kingdom Transport) connect Accra to Cape Coast (3 hours), Kumasi (4 hours), and Tamale (7 hours). Shared taxis (tro-tros) are cheaper but more crowded and less predictable in timing.What to eatGhanaian food is one of West Africa’s most satisfying: fufu (pounded cassava and plantain, eaten with soup), banku (fermented corn dough, similar texture to fufu), jollof rice (the classic West African rice dish, the subject of good-natured rivalry with Nigeria and Senegal), grilled tilapia with shito (black pepper and dried fish sauce), and red red (black-eyed pea stew with fried plantain). In Accra, Buka Restaurant in Labone serves excellent traditional Ghanaian food in a restaurant setting. Azmera is good for East African coffee. For street food, the area around the Kwame Nkrumah Circle has excellent grilled corn and yam chips.FAQIs Ghana safe for tourists?Ghana is one of the safest countries in West Africa for tourists. Political stability, a functioning democracy, and English as the official language make it accessible and low-stress compared to many regional neighbors. Standard urban precautions apply in Accra. The northern regions near Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast borders have had some spillover security concerns from the Sahel insecurity; check current advisories before traveling there.