Ghana - A Journey of History, Culture and Culinary Delights
Before arriving into Ghana, I didn’t really know what to expect. I have travelled in West Africa before, but something told me this was about to be more than I had experienced or even imagined, and well, it certainly was!
ITINERARY
Ahead of me was 7 busy days, with an itinerary that could not have fit more in (as much as I would have liked it to!) Our planned route was:
Accra – Akosombo – Krobo – Kumasi – Bonkro & Breku – Elmina – Cape Coast – Accra
Unfortunately we did not have time to fit in Wli or further north of Mole National Park, but I guess that’s a reason to go back!
PERSONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Local Cooking Class
I love cooking, and jumped at the chance to learn to cook local dishes. In the morning, we met with Deborah at the local market where we bought the ingredients for our dinner. We were making red red, a traditional Ghanian dish made of cowpea beans to create a broth, and one of the few dishes in Ghana that does not contain a lot of spice. At the request of a fellow traveller, we also picked up ingredients for Okra stew. Learning from Deborah was fun, and although I am unlikely to make this back at home, it seemed our efforts paid off as both dishes were enjoyed by all at dinner.
Traditional Bead Making in Krobo
We visited a local bead making workshop in Krobo where we were shown the process of making these famous glass beads. This involved crushing glass into a white powder and put through a sieve to make it as fine as possible (this process is repeated several times) before it is ready for the oven.
You then get your mould and cut a small piece of bamboo and put in the mould You then take the glass powder (which is coloured by dye if required) and put into the mould which is then fired in the oven for 30mins (or longer depending on the size of the beads). One the time is up, they are rinsed in soapy water then threaded to make beautiful jewellery – we all came away with our own bracelet, some in the colours of the Ghana flag, some just one colour and mine? Black and white of course!
Movie Night at Bonkro
We stayed in a small village called Bonkro, at a guesthouse which has been built by our local team to help bring benefits to the community. The second night we were there, we had a movie night where we invited the whole village to the guesthouse to watch an African film (The Woman King), with English subtitles. It was a heart-warming evening watching this with the children of the village, them sitting with us or on our knees throughout the film.
Welcoming Ceremony in Iture
Before reaching Elmina we stopped at the small village of Iture, where we were welcomed by the chief himself. The villagers welcomed us through music and dance performances, before a ceremony by the chief and village elders. Through our guide, we explained why we were there and they welcomed us with open arms, which was cemented by the offering of schnapps. After the ceremony, the chief turned and said ‘you can now all contact me on whatsapp’ – this was a bit of a reality check as I remembered just because they follow their age-old traditions does not mean they are cut off from technology and the rest of the world! But what an experience it was.
MY TOP REASONS TO VISIT
The Local People
Ghanaians are very proud people, proud of their heritage, culture and country. They welcome tourists, always with a smile, and the joy on the children’s faces when they see you is infectious!
Nature, Wildlife and… Butterflies
Ghana boasts a rich diversity of wildlife with its rainforests, and its possible to see elephants, buffalo, antelope and more. It is also a good option for birdwatchers, with 760 species of birds recorded from brightly-coloured kingfishers to more notable species such as the yellow-headed Picartes. And finally, butterflies! Ghana boasts over 900 species, and in one small forest – Nyame Bepo Forest Reserve – over 600 species has been recorded! So wildlife lovers, bird watchers and butterfly enthusiasts rejoice, and consider Ghana for your next trip!
Food
If you don’t like spice, then you might struggle a little – just remember to ask for not spicy! Some favourite dishes of mine were
- Fufu; made from cassava and plantain, and pounded into a paste. Think mashed potato but thicker. Usually paired with meat and an aromatic soup
- Jollof rice; one-pot spicy rice dish cooked with tomato sauce and served with meat or fish
- Red Red; made of cowpea beans boiled to create a broth, served with palm oil and soft, fried plantains.
History and Culture
Ghana has a long and deep history from the powerful Ashanti Kingdom to European colonialisation, the Slave Trade and gaining independence. The Ghanaian people are very proud of their history and it is present everywhere in Ghana – Cape Coast Castle (UNESCO) where slaves were held before being shipped, with its ‘door of no return’, visiting Kumasi – the capital of the Ashanti Kingdom, and Accra with Independence Square and Kwame Nkrumah memorial park.
Ghana is a wonderful country to immerse yourself in vibrant culture and rich heritage, discover culinary delights and the friendliest local people, and a paradise for nature lovers.
Rhia travelled to Ghana in April 2024.
Join us on our 14-day small group tour to Ghana or combine it with Togo and Benin