Ghana

Summary: Located in western Africa against the Gulf of Guinea between Cote d’Ivoire and Togo, Ghana is mostly low plains with sections of plateau in the south central part of the country and has Lake Volta, the largest artificial lake in the world. The first country south of the Sahara to gain independence, in 1957, and once the Gold Coast colony, Ghana has natural resources feeding its growing economy of mining, timber and agriculture but still relies on international debt relief.
Capital: Accra
Time Zone: UTC
Population: 23,382,848
Languages: English, Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, Ga
Power: 230V, 50 Hz
Currency: Cedi
Climate: Ghana has a tropical climate, warm and comparatively dry along the southeast coast, hot and humid in the southwest, and hot and dry in the north. - Currently 77º, Mostly Cloudy 

Destinations

Accra: Not only is Accra a good entry point to the country, but it has its own attractions and beaches nearby to make spending time here easy. See Makola Market, filled with artwork and handicrafts, the National Museum, with a wide collection of Ghanian art, and the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, which remembers the country’s first elected president. Not too far outside the city is the Shai Hills Game Reserve, worth a full day for a visit with the local wildlife, and the Academy of African Music and Arts is only 19 miles away in Kokrobite which has free weekend concerts.



Elmina: On the countries western coast and site of the first Portuguese settlement in Ghana, in the 15th century, you can visit Fort Saint George, the 16th century Fort Saint Iago built by the Dutch, and the 17th century British Cape Coast Castle built originally by the Swedes a few miles away in Dixcove. Elmina itself is a nice resort area featuring markets and beaches and home to the Bakatue Festival on the first Tuesday of July, while Busua is great for swimming because of the protected water currents.



Aburi: In the Akwapim Hills 20 miles north of the capital are the Aburi Botanical Gardens, first opened in 1890 by the local British settlers. There are a wide variety of plants and trees, including silk cotton trees, and a 150 year-old kapok, the only originally standing tree, with a great view along the central avenue overhung with trees. Nearby, Ada is a great spot for a day trip where the water is safe and swimming great, and Songow Lagoon, where birdwatchers can get secluded spots to watch the local species.


Kumasi: Kumasi was the capital of the Ashanti people and still seats a king in the Palace, although many visitors also enjoy shopping in the Arts Center marketplace, which sells handicrafts and kente cloth. Although the Cultural Center has the best collection of pieces on the Ashanti history, you can also view the Living Museum, an open air village where traditional methods and crafts are worked, and the nearby Manhyia Palace also has a museum and a courtyard with statues of previous Ashanti kings and queens.

Tips
Local Customs: There is a distinct separation between military personnel and civilians, as a result, casual dress is accepted anywhere so long that it does not look like military clothing: no camouflage pants or fatigues. Don’t take pictures of airports or military institutions, and greeting others with their title or honorarium is the norm, as is shaking hands.
Banking and Cash: Traveller’s checks and credit cards have fairly wide but sporadic acceptance around the country, with cash advances possible against credit cards if you’re stuck. Foreign exchange bureaus, called Forex, will help currencies, with rates that are roughly equivalent to the banks, which are opened Monday to Saturday in the morning to early afternoon.
Women's Line: There are few societies that trace parentage through the females in the family line, however, the Ashanti tribe is one. They are known for their craftwork and the colorful kente cloth woven by the males, typically worn during festivals and other happy events in Ghana’s south.
When To Visit: The weather is consistent enough that visitors come year round with only a mild peak from June to September. Parades can be spectacular events involving the local chiefs, including the Bakatue Festival at the beginning of July in Elmina to celebrate the beginning of the fishing season, and the Fetu Festival at the beginning of September in Cape Coast.
Food: Ghana’s dishes are based on starches like rice or corn with soups or sauces and meats and vegetables. Among the plates you can find are jollof, rice mixed with tomatoes and spices, forowee, a soup made from beef, fish, onion, tomatoes and spices, and kelewele, a sweet and spicy dessert item made with fried plantain coated with red pepper and ginger and sprinkled with roasted peanuts.
Tipping: Tipping has not been standardized, however, adding 5% to 10% for good service is a good rule of thumb.