Ghana formerly called the Gold Coast by Europeans, obtained
independence from Britain on March 6, 1957, and became a
Republic on July 1, 1960. Ghana has her fair share of good climatic conditions
plenty of sunshine, and moderate temperatures all year-round. She also has her adequate share of tropical forests, wildlife,
vegetation, and abundant mineral resources. It is for her
natural resources, p
articularly her gold, that the European
discoverers called her the "Gold Coast." The
pleasure that a visitor will derive from a visit is likely to
make him recommend it to another. Ghana, the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence from the United Kingdom, has carved for itself a place in world history by producing a United Nations Secretary General [H.E. Kofi Annan], and is respected internationally as an international peace-keeper, while the 2009 visit by US President Barak Obama confirmed Ghana’s worldwide appeal as a peaceful democratic African nation. Ghana has as her neighbors Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to
the east, and Ivory Coast to the west. To the south lies the
majestic Atlantic Ocean. Ghana was the first country in black
Africa to achieve independence, and serves as the Pan-African
center of the world. In Accra, many buildings are dedicated to
Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana, and
the leading Pan-Africanist visionary in African history. One is inclined to believe that Ghana has the richest store of
historical treasures, especially when one thinks of the Slave
Trade. Ghana has many of the historical monuments which
characterize that era. Recently, UNESCO declared three of the
country's numerous forts and castles World Heritage Properties. Ghana has 18 wildlife-protected areas that include the following:
7 National Parks [Mole, Kakum, Kyabobo, Bui, Bia, Nini Suhyien and Digya]
6 Resource Reserves [Ankasa, Gbele, Shai Hills]
4 Wildlife Sanctuaries [Kogyae, Bomfobiri, Kalakpa, Agumatsa]
5 Coastal Ramsar sites / wetlands [Keta lagoon, Songhor lagoon, Muni Pomadze and Densu Delta]
MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
When you visit Ghana, you are coming to a tropical climate with
moderate temperatures, constant sea breezes, and clear and
continuous sunshine throughout the year. The unspoiled and
golden beaches are ideal for swimming, beach combing, and
relaxation. The approximately 540 kilometer (338 mile) coastline of the
Atlantic is dotted with over 50 historic forts and castles
built by the European traders at various times during the Gold
and Slave Trades. Although some of the forts lie in ruins now,
many have been maintained to preserve the cultural legacy. We offer similar programs as other companies, but where we
differ is in our ex*****on. "We execute excellently." That is
our trademark, and we have worked hard to earn our reputation. ACCRA CITY TOUR
Visit the W.E.B. Dubois Center for Pan-African Culture. Test
your bargaining skills against those of the "Market Women" in
their colorful stores and stands at the 31st December Makola
Market. Visit the Nkrumah Memorial Park, built in honor of the
first President of Ghana. A few meters from the park is the
Regional Cultural Center. Walk through a "queue" of stores with
adorable crafts, leather goods, art and jewelry. Drive north
from the city Accra to admire the lush Japanese architecture of
the University of Ghana at Legon. AKWAPIM TOUR
This tour starts with scenic views from winding roads into the
hills to the old town of Aburi (a half an hour north of Accra),
and the much-revered Aburi Botanical Gardens The beautiful
autumn-like climate you experience here is a year-round
feature. Explore the garden's beautiful lawns, fruit- and
flower-bearing trees, while you enjoy your guide's educational
and entertaining commentary on the garden and about specific
trees. A few kilometers from Aburi is Mampong, where Tetteh
Quarshie first planted cocoa in Ghana. We call cocoa the
"golden tree" because of its economic significance as a foreign
exchange earner. Visit Tetteh Quarshie's old farm to touch
cocoa pods and taste fresh cocoa seeds. You can also visit the
Herbal Research Institute at Mampong where scientists are
researching herbal medicine. AKOSOMBO TOUR
Akosombo, 106 kilometers (67 miles) east of Accra, sits at the
edge of what was, until recently, the world's largest man-made
lake. It has a modern hydro-electric power dam which supplies
electricity to Ghana, as well as the neighboring countries of
Togo and Ivory Coast. The landscape and adjoining hills make a
magnificent picture when aboard the cruise to Dodi Island. You
may, at the end of it all, relax at the magnificent Volta
Hotel, with a panoramic view of the lake and surrounding area. CENTRAL REGION TOUR
Along the shores of Ghana especially between Accra and Elmina
are many old European-built Trading Forts which were later
transformed to serve as "warehouses" for "human export." Three
of these have been declared World Heritage Properties by the
UNESCO. A significant social artifact of activity within these
castles was the emergence of Western-type education. This
tradition has continued, establishing Cape Coast (165km-90
miles west of Accra) as the educational capital of Ghana. Each
of the numerous schools in Cape Coast has a rich historical
background. KUMASI TOUR
Ashanti, the Land of Gold and the heart of Ghanaian culture, is
a kingdom in its own right. The voice of the people has been
the will of the king who rallies them for development and
defense. Ashantis are credited for their brave resistance to
colonial expansionism, which manifested itself in wars against
the British. The people's political and religious aspirations
revolve around the Golden Stool whose custodian is the
Asantehene. What probably makes the Ashanti outstanding is
their creativity and hard work. Artisan villages abound. Examples include the Kente Village of Bonwire, where Kente was
first woven; the creative village of Ntonso, where Adinkra
cloth is designed; pottery at Pankrono; and wood carving at
Ahwiaa. A visit to the Kumasi Cultural Center, originated by
the Ashantis themselves to preserve their cultural heritage, is
a must. The Prempeh II Museum has a collection of traditional
war artifacts, royal households, and paraphernalia. Kejetia
market is the largest open-air market in West Africa. Kumasi is
268 kilometers (168 miles) north of Accra. ECOLOGICAL TOUR
Kakum Park, created by Conservation International in 1990, is a
375-square kilometer nature park formed to conserve and protect
one of the last of the rapidly vanishing rainforests, as well
as the rare wildlife it contains. It is a home for nature
lovers. Trained guides are on hand to explain the economic,
cultural, and medicinal values of plants and farming. Fifteen
kilometers (10 miles) from Cape Coast is the serene, golden
beach of Brenu Akyinim, a 3-kilometer stretch of sandy beach
which provides an excellent site for swimming, sun bathing, and
bird watching. WLI WATERFALLS
Enjoy the scenic drive through the countryside to Wli in the
Volta Region. Admire the well-preserved ecology while crossing
the same stream a dozen times during a hike, through the
jungle, to the waterfall head. Admire the well-preserved ecology while crossing
the same stream a dozen times during a hike, through the
jungle, to the waterfall head and many others .
