TOURISM

Ghana’s Tourism Sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in the country. In 2016, it was the fourth highest forex earner for Ghana.  The sector employed about 125,000 people directly and a further 313,000 indirectly in 2016. Ghana’s Tourism Policy states that the type of tourism to be promoted shall be non-mass and shall focus on that which shall respect and conserve the natural, cultural, historical, ecological and environmental heritage.

Ghana combines what other countries only have in single attractions: a unique cultural heritage – featuring a calendar of festivals in ancient traditions; a tropical rainforest with beaches and sanctuaries for unique birds, butterflies and monkeys. For heritage, Ghana has 62 of the ancient slave dungeons built in Africa by eight different European empires.

Ghana’s  tourism  potential  is  poised  for  take-off.  The platform has  been  put  in  place  for  increased  tourism and investment in hotels and leisure resorts throughout the length and breadth of the country. Because of the tropical climate Ghana enjoys. It is ideal as a year round destination.  There are various festivals throughout the year that celebrate the rich cultural traditions of the various ethnic groups. There is no shortage of events to regale and entertain  the  visitor.  The  presence  of  reputable  hotel chains like the Holiday Inn, Marriot Hotel, Kempisnki Hotel and MÖvenpick in Ghana is testimony to the strides Ghana has made as a tourism destination of choice.

The country can be divided in five geographical regions according to their landscape  and climate.  The sandy coastline run across by several rivers contrasts with its northern counterpart, mainly composed with high plains, while the south central and southwest Ghana are made of forested plateaus,  among  them  the  Ashanti  uplands  and  the Kwahu Plateau. Ghana’s highest point, the 885m high Mount  Afadjato, is situated in  Akuapim-Togo ranges in the central east Ghana Volta Basin.

A few degrees north of the Equator, the 238,500 km2 of Ghana’s surface are bathed in a typical tropical climate. Day temperatures are high throughout the country, approaching or topping 30°C on most days. Temperatures drop at night but more in the dry north than in the humid south.  The highlands flanking the Volta Basin are the only temperate parts of the country where temperatures can be genuinely cool after dusk. Ghana  does  not  experience  the  strong  seasonal changes  like  European  countries  or  North  America. The main seasonal factor is rain.  The rainy season takes place during the European summer months from April to September, peaking in June and July. The harmattan winds are another noteworthy phenomenon in Ghana.  They blow from the Northeast during the dry season and bring dust from the Sahara, which can reduce visibility to as little as 1km. They generally come in late November or early December and continue until some time in March.

The Ghanaian  population is  divided into more  than 100 ethnic groups, among  which  the  Akan ethnicity is the biggest representing almost 50 per cent of the  population,  followed  by  the  Mole-Dagbon with 15 per cent.  These people are diverse in their personality, cultural and historical backgrounds, welded effectively into a unitary state.  The reason for this diversity is due to the migration of ethnic groups from other places to settle on the land.  The predominantly vivacious spirit of the people is clearly manifested in their music and dance, which are clearly inseparable from their daily life. The proverbial Ghanaian hospitality radiates in the welcoming smiles on the faces of the people, and their cries of “Akwaaba”, which translates as “You are welcome”. The moral, social and political authority of the tribal chiefs continues to be recognized by the Ghanaian government.

Ghanaian cultural history is like a cloth woven from many multi-coloured threads forming diverse patterns, which incorporate an older traditional element originating from the indigenous West African situation, with a Mediterranean and Oriental blend as well as European and New World elements.  However, pure indigenous traditions still survive as an active  core  in  national  modern  lifestyle,  in  spite  of the  mixture  born  of  dynamic  historical  and  cultural transformations.  The Ghanaian traditional culture is manifested in ideologies and concepts such as religion, philosophy, cosmology, socio-political ideology, art, as well as in media of technology.  The main artwork and crafts are pottery, metal works, beadwork, weaving, basketry, leatherwork, dyeing and carving.

Verbal and emotional expression is realised through songs and rhythmic throbbing of drums and percussion which lead to dance as an intertwined form of dramatic expression.  Three main types of music characterize Ghana.  There is the traditional or ethnic music, which is usually played during festivals and at funerals. Secondly there is the “high-life” music, which is essentially vocal music performed by dance and guitar bands during day-to-day recreational activities.  The third type of music is the choral music, which is more oriented to the concert hall, the church and educational institutions.

Festivals also provide occasions for reflections and enjoyment; and they pervade almost all the traditional areas of Ghana. Some festivals are held to celebrate landmarks of tribal history – such as when the people came upon an adequate and reliable supply of water, a battle conquest, a retreat or a migration. Throughout Ghana practically every town and village comes alive with excitement at festival time.  This is the proverbial hospitality of the Ghanaian at its best; visitors  are  often  welcomed  into  homes  to  share drinks  and  meals  and  are  given  traditional  clothes  to join in the street celebrations. Parades take place to the sound of drums and traditional horns.

Religion is deeply rooted in Ghanaian culture and plays a major role in everyday life: working, dancing, travelling, eating and drinking tend to be related to religious beliefs. Both, God appearing under different names, and ancestors, play a very important role in Ghanaian traditional religions. In the same way, super-natural powers or lesser Gods obtain their power from God. Some of these are worshiped.

The Ghanaians’ religious character makes it possible for all to live and practice their religion in harmony. Ghana is predominantly a Christian country, with Christians making up 68 per cent, Islamist 15 per cent and animist traditional beliefs making up the last 15 per cent. However, it is sometimes acknowledged that every Ghanaian has one foot in their own religion and the other in their traditional beliefs.

Newspapers in Ghana are mostly written in English. The Daily Graphic, the Ghanaian Times and the Evening News are three of the major government-owned newspapers, sharing the market with the independent Accra Daily Mail, The Ghanaian Chronicle and the most read weekly newspaper The Mirror, The Mail (bi-weekly), as well as with the conservative Independent. Media in Ghana enjoy a high degree of freedom without major repression for private newspapers, as the media Enterprise was qualified as “one of the most unfettered” on the African continent by the Commonwealth Press Union. Ghana TV (GTV) run by the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) is the main public television in Ghana.

In Ghana, 5 giants of African and International companies share the telecom market: MTN (code 024), AirtelTigo (code 027), Vodafone (code 050), Zain and Glo Mobile.

You must have a Yellow Fever vaccination and you may be required to show your international immunization certificate as proof of this when you enter the country. Vaccinations for Hepatitis A, Typhoid fever, Polio, and Tetanus are also needed. Malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended and mosquito protection measures are important at all times as it is the most effective measure against Malaria.  All travelers should visit their personal physician or a travel health clinic 4-8 weeks before departure.

All Banks and Forex Bureaus accept Travellers Cheques although the rate of exchange may be slightly lower than in cash transactions. The most widely accepted credit cards are American Express, Diners Club and Visa. Cards may be used for payment at nearly all airlines, leading hotels and major supermarkets.

Currency Exchange

Foreign currency can be exchanged at Forex Bureaus and Banks.

By the last count, 38 international airlines fly into and out of Accra. Beyond the capital, the tourist now has the option of 45 minute-to-one-hour flights to domestic destinations closer to the tourist attractions. British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Air Afrique, Royal Air Maroc, KLM, Alitalia, Egypt Air, Ethiopian Airlines and Lufthansa have scheduled flights to Kotoka International Airport. CityLink, Passion Air and Africa One Airlines all offer  domestic  air  services  on  the  Accra- Kumasi line with 4 flights daily, and connects  Accra, Sekondi and  Tamale.  You can buy tickets at Kotoka International Airport:  Domestic Terminal Tel.(+233) 24 43120014 and  Kumasi  Airport  Tel.  (+233) 51 22969, (+233) 51 2957 or through travel agents. CityLink also organizes private flights to any airport in Ghana.  Antrak Air also flies from Accra  to  Kumasi as well as to other destinations in the country, tel. +233 21 777134 or +233 21 764723.

The triangle railway connects Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi.  The route from Kumasi to Takoradi is used most as the corresponding road is in poor condition. One train covers this route daily in both directions leaving at 20:30 and arriving at 07:30. It costs USD$2 for a first-class ticket and is fairly comfortable although the range of food available on the train and at the station is very limited.  Tickets can be bought only on the day of departure from 5:00 in the morning.

In cities, Trotros (minibuses) are by far the cheapest and the most local experience.  Those shared taxis generally have fixed fares and routes and will only depart when the vehicle is full. For direct travelling between  two  major  centres,  the  government  State Transport Company (STC) runs reliable direct bus services between most cities and offers quicker and more comfortable  ‘express’  and ‘air-conditioned’  services on the Kumasi,  Tamale and Bolgatanga routes. OSA and City Express, also government run, offer their services but are slower and the buses are older.

Sixty-Five per cent of Ghana’s cars are said to be taxis.  That makes the price for a taxi ride incredibly inexpensive.  There is no meter so the price must be agreed upon in advance.

The Trans-West African Coastal Highway connects Ivory Coast to Ghana and to Togo, Benin and Nigeria.  This road sets Accra only a few hours away from the Togo border. In Accra, most roads are quite good. But while main roads are constantly improving, most of the roads outside Accra are still dirt tracks.  On some roads, consider renting a 4×4, a standard car might sometimes be adequate in dry season but is not recommended.  It is important to take note that cars with foreign registration are not permitted to circulate between 6PM and 6AM. Only Ghanaian vehicles are allowed at this time.

In  the  hotel’s  sub-sector,  the  Ghana  Tourism  Authority (GTA), which is the government body mandated to regulate the industry estimates that there are about 2,800  hotels  registered  across  the  various  categories in Ghana. Of this number, occupancy is highest in the 3 and 4-star category, with about  72 per  cent occupancy whereas the 5-star category has  occupancy of about 68 per cent.

Log on to www.visitghana.com for more information.

There is a wide choice of international restaurants. Visitors can also sample delicious Ghanaian dishes in Ghanaian restaurants or local “chop bars”.

Log on to www.visitghana.com for more information.

Notable Tourist Destinations

• Wli Waterfalls and Mount Afadjato –  Volta Region.
• Kakum National Park –  Central Region.
• Buabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary  –  Bono East Region.
• The Paga Crocodile Ponds  –  Upper East Region
• The new National Cultural Centre (The Manhyia Palace Museum) – Ashanti Region.
• The Cape Coast Castle, Elmina Castle and other coastal forts and castles.
• The Mole and the Bui Game Reserves  –  Northern Region.

Tours: Visit www.visitghana.com for list of licensed tour operators and car rentals. The site also offers more information on other tourist destinations.

Official name: Republic of Ghana

Capital: Accra

Official Language:  English

Major towns: Kumasi, Tamale, Takoradi Ashiaman, TemaPopulation: 29.46million (2018 est.)

Area: 2238,533 sq km (92,098 sq miles)

Major Religions:  Christianity, Islam, Indigenous Beliefs

Major Languages:  Akan, Ewe, Ga, Dagbani, Nzema, Hausa

Main Exports:  Gold, Cocoa, Timber, Oil, Bauxite, Aluminium, Manganese ore, Diamonds

GDP:  USD$47.807 billion

GDP per capita: USD$1,630.1

Currency:  The Ghana Cedi

(GHS) 1 USD = 5.4700 GHS, 1 EUR = 5.8539 GHS

Government system:Constitutional democracy

Time Zone: GMT

Climate: Tropical climate, interaction of dry continental airmass from the northeast, hot and dry climate in the north, and moist in the southwest.  Along the eastern coast, the climate is warm and comparatively dry.  Annual average temperature varies from 26°C to 29°C and annual rainfall from 830 to 2200 mm (33 – 87 in)

International airports:  Kotoka International Airport, Kumasi International Airport, Tamale International Airport

Telephone code: +233

Internet Domain: .gh