Watch out on the roads

Over the last ten years, much work has been carried out to upgrade the road network in Ghana.  Most major roads are now surfaced and first-class routes run from Accra along the coast and to the north.

However, on lesser roads, drivers may still encounter frequent potholes, as well as wandering animals and pedestrians.  Frequent speeding and overtaking also make the roads hazardous. Night-time driving is especially dangerous because there are few streetlights and vehicles travel without headlights.

To lessen the chance of being involved in a road accident, many visitors choose to travel by bus when touring around Ghana, rather than taking taxis or tro-tros, the term used for licensed passenger vehicles.

Growing importance of tourism

With its English-speaking, friendly nation and a good number of national parks and eco-tourism sites, Ghana is growing in importance as a tourist destination in Africa.  According to the Ghana Tourist Board, over 160,000 visitors came to holiday in the country in 2009.

Tourists are drawn by a number of National Parks such as Digya, Kakum and Mole, as well as by Ghana’s history and cultural heritage.  Along the coast, visitors can explore Ghana’s old towns and colonial past.  Three of the forts and castles built by the European traders – Elmina, St Jago and Cape Coast – are classified as World Heritage Monuments by UNESCO.

In the north, centuries-old trading with Arab merchants brought a strong Islamic influence.  Places like Paga, Sirigu and Larabanga also have distinctive mud-architecture buildings, such as the famous mosque at Larabanga.

Throughout the whole of Ghana, the country’s many festivals also attract sightseers. These celebrations display the colourful local Ghanaian culture through traditional dress, customs, music and dance.