Visit Africa: Why Ghana should be next on your list
It’s fair to say in the West that the continent of Africa is not always seen as a vacation hotspot. When venturing to Africa, many people tend to visit the north for the gorgeous architecture of Egypt and Morocco or venture to the south to see the beautiful landscapes of South Africa. However, the common perception of Africa as an impoverished land that does not offer much to vacationers is one of the biggest deceptions of Western media.
When I first visited Accra, Ghana in 2013, it exceeded all my expectations. Born and raised in the metropolitan city of London in the UK, I saw communities in Accra living better than Londoners, eating better than Londoners and generally having a much higher standard of life. I was enthralled by the beauty of the landscapes and vowed to never allow the media to determine my perceptions of the world again. Interestingly, Air BnB has now made Accra one of its top rental destinations in 2019. Ghana overall is steadily becoming a popular destination for travellers and here’s why you should also add it to your travel bucket list:
Beautiful beaches and landscapes
Labadi Beach and the luxurious Le Palm Royal Beach are two key favourites for those visiting the capital city of Accra. However, the Central Region offers some of the most stunning and relaxing beaches in Ghana. One of my favourites is Anomabo Beach Resort as it offers some of the best seafood along the coast. Ghana also has beautiful lakes, rivers and reservoirs. The Akosombo Dam in the Eastern region offers stunning views of the Volta River and there are plenty of boat trips for you to experience its glory. For a bit of luxury, the Royal Senchi Hotel in Akosombo offers a spa, weekend buffets and a lounge bar for a relaxing break.
Rich culture and history
With over 100 ethnic groups living in Ghana and 9 major tribes, Ghana is extremely rich in culture and has an interesting history. Ghana was the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence from colonial rule in 1957. Its president at the time, Kwame Nkrumah was a renowned political revolutionary who wrote the infamous book “Pan-Africanism.” In Accra, the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and memorial park offers rich information of Ghana’s road to freedom and there are plenty of museums in each region that detail its history and display artefacts from as far back as the 15th century.
Active nightlife
One of the reasons why Ghana has become so popular over the last few years is because of the nightlife. With Afrobeat spreading into music charts all over the world, many are venturing to Ghana to indulge in the music. Osu in Accra is renowned for its bars, lounges, restaurants and nightclubs. It has something for everyone from those who want a chilled night out with a bit of music to those who want to party hard until 6am in the morning! Parties with dress codes such as “All White” and “All Black” are also very common around the festive period in December as well as music festivals such as Afrochella. As a relatively safe country, it’s common to see many people out until very late having a good time.
Fresh food
Many Ghanaian dishes are highly nutritious and most of the food is unprocessed. With local favourite dishes such as Spinach soup, Waakye (a dish of cooked rice and beans) and grilled tilapia, the food is not only delicious but also high in vitamins and minerals. You can also purchase fresh tropical fruit such as mangoes and coconuts for cheap prices from roadside food stalls. I always notice a significant improvement in the texture and softness of my skin during my time in Ghana as well as feeling healthier overall!
If you’re not sure where to travel to next, why not try Ghana
and experience West Africa’s golden child.
Discover more activities to do in Ghana via the links below:
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