Accra, Ghana Travel Facts

Welcome to Accra, Ghana!

A True Homecoming

Museums - Like Nigeria, Ghana also has its museums — among them, the Cape Coast

and Elmina Castles.

Set on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, these bright, stately buildings have a dark history: Along with 30 other castles and forts on Ghana’s coast, these were the points of departure for millions of African men and women captured and sold into bondage during the slave trade.

History - Many of the surviving fortresses are now museums. They tell the painful story of slavery and its brutality. They also are part of an ambitious government program to increase tourism in Ghana from 1 million visitors a year to 8 million by 2027. The intent is not to exploit the crimes of history. Rather, it is to ensure that this horrific chapter is never forgotten.

As the first sub-Saharan African nation to win independence from colonial rule, Ghana has a tradition of reaching out to foreigners of African descent. Its Right of Abode law, passed in 2000, makes it possible for anyone of African descent to remain in Ghana indefinitely.

Slave Trade - Building on that effort, an initiative called “Year of Return, Ghana 2019” marks 400 years from the start of the slave trade to the Americas. Activities scheduled each month will include a music festival and investment conference. President Nana Akufo-Addo described the year-long event as a “birthright journey home for the global African family.”

National Parks - At the same time, Ghana opens its arms to all members of the global human family. It is eager to show off its miles of palm-lined beaches and the arresting natural beauty always on display at the Kakum,

Nini-Suhien

and Bia

national parks. Mostly, it hopes to share with the world the warmth and friendliness of its people, and the joy a visitor can experience while visiting a Ghanaian village.

Fun Fact:  Ghana was ranked Africa’s most peaceful country by the Global Peace Index. In your travels, you might want to quiet your mind by finding a calm and peaceful place to do some mindful meditation.

Now, check out Bamako, Mali by clicking here.