If you haven’t yet visited Ghana, you are missing out! Here, around every corner, you will find rich culture, vibrant people, and delicious cuisine. Whether you are excited by bustling cities, iconic landscapes, or loud and proud history and culture, Ghana will capture your imagination and your heart.
Here are my top 5 things to add to your Ghanaian itinerary in 2024 and why Ghana should be on your bucket list:
Culture:
While you are in Ghana, take in a Traditional Naming Ceremony and be gifted with your own Ghanaian name. Bestowed upon you by tribal elders, this is a beautiful way to celebrate the culture of Ghana and her people, deepening your connection with this beautiful country. If you don’t participate in a naming ceremony, be sure to seek out other ceremonies and celebrations. If there is one thing the Ghanaian people know how to do, it is celebrate their vibrant culture and rich traditions. Music, dancing, drumming, color, and cuisine are all masterfully and joyfully brought together to create celebrations that are hard to beat.
History:
The Motherland has a long and storied history of hardship and struggle, and Ghana played a significant role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. One of the largest gathering places and markets for those looking to sell the enslaved is now known as the Assin Manso Ancestral Slave River Park. This historically significant park is the place where slaves would stop and take their last bath on the Motherland before being shipped to Europe and America to work on plantations and in mines.
Inside the park, there are several places to pay special attention to, not least of which is the Memorial Wall of Return, where descendants of those traded as enslaved write their names, marking their return to their roots. Also worth a visit is Donkor Nsuo, the river side of that last bath taken by so many Africans before leaving their homeland. Assin Manso is a place of reflection and reconciliation and will leave you forever grateful you visited.
Food:
Ghanaian food is a personal favorite because it is so much like Jamaican food. Kelewele, fufu, banku, fried fish, spicy goat, abomu, garifotor, goat soup - the list is endless. Topping the list for this girl is the incredible jollof rice. The jollof rice in Ghana is second to none and the best place to start and finish when it comes to local cuisine. There are many incredible places to eat, both in the streets of Accra and along the Cape Coast, so be sure to take advantage of the delicious flavors wherever you stop.
Nature:
The Aburi mountains are home to some spectacular sights. The Aburi Botanical Gardens started as a concept in the 1840s, but it was much closer to 1900 before the gardens began to take shape. The result that you can see today is a vibrant and varied botanical space that houses some of the most rare plants remaining in the world. As you wander the expansive grounds, you can learn about the medicinal properties of the plants or simply enjoy the colors and scents that meet you in every direction.
Also found in the greater Accra region are spectacular waterfalls, such as the Tsenku Waterfalls. Also known as Chenku, these falls come from 250 feet into a clear, clean pool before making their way to the sea. Surrounded by a forest once considered sacred, these falls are beautiful and well worth the effort to get there.
Heritage:
While the Cape Coast is famous for its tranquil beaches and exceptional scenery, it also has an interesting and difficult story to tell. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Cape Coast Castle carries the legacy of the trans-Atlantic slave trade in its walls, but it has even more to share. This fortification also played a role in the gold trade, the introduction of Christianity, and the establishment of the country's first formal education system.
A guided tour of the castle will walk you through architectural features like towers and dungeons, and the West African Historical Museum is located inside, where you can view a collection of cultural items from both before and after the slave trade years. This site takes you back through time and shares the painful legacy of slave traders alongside the vibrant cultural inheritance of music and artifacts, and is not to be missed on your Ghanaian adventure.
Ghana truly is a jewel in the crown of the Motherland, and one of my favorite places to visit in all of the world. Whether you want to explore your roots, take in the scenery, or soak in the atmosphere, Ghana will leave you feeling glad you went, and planning when you will return.
If you’re ready to explore all Ghana has to offer, join me for the Ghana Experience. We will travel in December 2024 and will welcome 2025 together in this enchanting and exciting country.
