Ghana: Heritage & Culture

Finally, you have arrived. It’s time to relax and take it all in as your senses go into overload. Africa is special, and in the coming days, we hope your experiences will help deepen your connection to your culture and heritage. Your guide and driver are excited to meet you upon your arrival at Kotoka International Airport in Accra, situated on the beautiful Gold Coast of Western Africa.

Introduce yourself to your guide, who will accompany you for the duration of your trip and take care of everything from here. Most flights arrive in the evening, and our goal is to transfer you to your hotel and check you in so you can relax and start enjoying your vacation. You must have many questions as your guide officially welcomes you with “Akwaaba” (welcome) and briefs you on all aspects of your trip. You can choose to unwind at your hotel after the flight and rest up for the following day’s activities. If you’re too excited to rest and would like to experience Accra’s nightlife, no problem—your guide and driver will be happy to take you into town.

From the National Museum, we pass by Black Star Gate, symbolizing our freedom, and visit the adjoining Independence Square (Black Star Square), Ghana’s main ceremonial grounds. Here, we find the enclosed flame of African liberation, lit by Kwame Nkrumah himself in 1961. A short distance away, we reach Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, the final resting place of our founding father who led the Gold Coast to independence from the British in 1957. Set in attractive gardens, the park includes a museum with photos, artifacts, and insights into this incredible man’s life. For those looking to purchase African fabrics and crafts, the nearby National Cultural Center is Ghana’s largest outdoor arts and crafts market, selling traditional items from all over West Africa.

Lunch will be enjoyed at a local restaurant serving a selection of West African and continental dishes. Ghana is famous for having the best Jollof Rice in West Africa, so why not try some and see if you agree? After lunch, we head to Jamestown and Usshertown for a walking tour of these vibrant communities, Accra’s oldest suburbs. We’ll explore historical structures that predate the colonial era. Residents here are dedicated to conserving these buildings and have made significant efforts to maintain them, providing us with an excellent idea of life pre-independence during the colonial occupation. The 30-meter-high lighthouse, built by the British in 1871, and the colorful fishing boats on the beach are wonderful sights to see.

We then continue to Fort James, built by the British as a trading post in 1673, which later joined the Dutch Fort Crevecreur and the Danish Fort Christiansborg. Fort James gave its name to the Jamestown neighborhood in Accra. These areas offer a perfect picture of old Accra, distinguishing between British Accra and Dutch Accra. The community tour would not be complete without seeing the Brazilian stone houses, built by freed enslaved Africans who resided in Brazil. These Africans made their way home after the slave trade was abolished, and their descendants have now integrated into the community here.

This part of Accra is one of the poorest, with many social issues within the community. Street children, orphans, and child workers are common here, and our evening will be dedicated to meeting community members who are trying to change the lives of the youth through boxing. Jamestown is famous in Ghana for producing several World Champion Boxers, including Isaac Dogboe, David Kotei, Joseph Agbeko, Richard Commey, and the most famous of all, Azumah Nelson, considered Africa’s greatest ever boxer. It is believed that this part of Accra produces excellent boxers due to the poverty and hardship faced by the youth, who see boxing as an opportunity for a better life. A successful businessman from this community supports the children by helping with school fees and sponsoring a weekly boxing event where the boxing clubs put on a show for the locals. Set in the heart of the community overlooking the ocean, it could be a wonderful night of entertainment if our dates coincide with an event. If not, we will visit one of the many gyms here to see the youth and professionals in training.

We check out of our hotel after breakfast and set off northwards towards the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Our first visit this morning will be to the DuBois Center, the final burial place and former home of the prominent American Pan-Africanist Dr. William W. Burghardt DuBois. He led the Pan-African Congress between 1919 and 1927, was a vocal anti-segregationist, and a prolific speaker and writer. The center now serves as a library and research institute for students of Pan-Africanism.

Our journey today will take us into the beautiful Akuapem Hills. Before leaving this bustling city, we will visit TK Beads, experts in making beautiful African beads using traditional methods. The Krobo people of Ghana are renowned for their traditional bead jewelry that dates back centuries. It will be fascinating to learn firsthand about the historical importance of beads and the ancient process used to make them. Your guide will explain the skilled process of bead making, and you will see craftsmen at work and even try your hand. Beads are culturally a symbol of wealth and beauty in Ghana and are still used during traditional durbars and festivals. Most Ghanaian women wear beads daily. There is a wide selection of quality, beautiful, and reasonably priced beads available for purchase at the onsite shop.

Our journey continues through the scenic Akuapem range, offering outstanding views across Accra and Tema in the distance. At the top of the range, we will find the Aburi Botanical Gardens, established by the British in 1890. The gardens are home to a wide variety of indigenous and exotic flora, offering excellent views of Accra on a clear day. As we walk around, our guide will identify many trees and plants, some with medicinal properties, and explain how Ghanaians use them.

A short distance from the gardens, we will visit the relaxed and friendly Aburi craft village, where traditional African drums, sculptures, and other crafts have been carved for generations. Watching the skilled craftsmen at work, you will find that prices here are among the lowest in Ghana, making Aburi an ideal place to pick up some souvenirs. Your guide will explain the meanings and local beliefs connected to many of the sculptures that have been made in the same way throughout history. Our lunch will be taken in Koforidua, the capital of the Eastern Region of Ghana, before continuing our journey to Kumasi, where we will arrive in the early evening.

Manhyia Palace, the residence of the King of the Great Asante Kingdom, stands as a testament to centuries of Ashante culture and heritage. Serving as the administrative headquarters of the Asante Kingdom, this palace is steeped in history, preserving the legacy of the Ashantes from pre-colonial times through the British colonial era to the present day.

The Prempeh II Jubilee Museum, also known as the Kumasi National and Cultural Center, is a hub for crafts, art performances, and a rich display of Asante culture and history. Established by Nana Prempeh II, the museum offers insight into the lifestyle and beliefs of the Ashantes, providing visitors with a deep understanding of their traditions.

The Okomfo Anokye Sword Site holds immense significance for the Asante people. It is here that Okomfo Anokye, a revered high priest, planted an unmovable sword, known as “the sword of unity and strength,” to unite the Akans in Ghana. To this day, there are no records of the sword being removed, symbolizing the enduring unity of the Akan people.

A poignant visit awaits at Assin Manso, a significant town along the enslaved African trade route. Here, many of our ancestors from northern Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Niger were marched barefoot in shackles, heading towards the coast. The town surrounds the Ndonkor Nsuo (Slave River), where enslaved Africans were examined for fitness and bathed before being transported to Cape Coast for shipment to the Americas. They endured a grueling journey, walking hundreds of kilometers from Northern Ghana through dense forests in shackles and chains. By the time they reached Assin Manso, many were in poor health. After being bathed and rested, they would undertake the final 32-mile march to the dungeons of Cape Coast or Elmina Castles, where they would wait for up to six weeks before being shipped to the Americas.

In 1998, a symbolic gesture marked a poignant moment in history. The bodies of two free (previously enslaved) Africans, Samuel Carson from New York, USA, and Crystal from Kingston, Jamaica, were returned to Cape Coast Castle. They were symbolically passed through the “Door of no Return” before being transported to Assin Manso for re-internment. After learning about this history, taking time to reflect, and visiting the river, we continue our journey to Cape Coast.

A dynamic day awaits us, starting early with a sunrise breakfast at arguably Ghana’s finest beachfront location. Our next adventure takes us to Africa’s renowned rainforest canopy walkway at Kakum National Park, nestled in a semi-deciduous upper Guinea rainforest.

The highlight of the day is your own personal traditional naming ceremony, where you will be bestowed with your true African name. Chiefs and elders of the community will lead you through this ceremony, a tradition upheld by your ancestors throughout history. Based on the day of the week you were born or the numeric order of your siblings, you will have the opportunity to adopt your own African name. This name would have been yours if you were born in Ghana and carries deep emotional significance for many who receive it. After an afternoon of celebrations, we return to the hotel to unwind.

In the evening, we plan to celebrate this momentous occasion by heading into Cape Coast town to visit one of the most popular night spots. Here, you can enjoy a local live band, dance, and reflect on the incredible day. However, if you prefer to relax and reflect at the hotel, that is completely understandable.

After a leisurely breakfast, your guide and driver will collect your bags from your room and bring them to our vehicle as we prepare to journey back to Accra. En route, we pass through the fishing town of Elmina, where we visit the Castle of St. George. This castle, dating from 1482, is the oldest extant colonial building in sub-Saharan Africa. Steeped in history, it played a prominent role during the tragic era of the transatlantic slave trade. Inside, an informative museum focuses on local history, and this now-silent monument to the pain and suffering our ancestors endured has been formally designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO.