10+ Top African Tourist Attractions in Ghana

Ghana has a lot of tourist attractions. From sorrowful sights to joyful parks, there is a lot to experience. But are they all worth your time? If you can explore all the tourist attractions in Ghana, please go ahead. But if you want to know the top African tourist attractions in Ghana that will give you the authentic African experience, read along, because that’s all we will discuss here.

Tourist Attractions in Accra

Jamestown

Jamestown is a place in Accra filled with old colonial buildings, metal shacks, and wooden houses. It was founded in the 1600s around a fort built by the British called James Fort. Today, Jamestown stands out as one of the top African tourist attractions, drawing visitors from around the world who are eager to experience its unique blend of heritage and local life.

The town is packed with local experiences, making it perfect for anyone who wants to know Ghanaian history and culture. The town is famous for its boxing gyms, producing many trained boxers who became champions. Adventures you can set out on include climbing up the white lighthouse for an amazing city view. You can also find interesting cafés and art galleries to unwind for a moment. 

Makola Market

Makola Market is the biggest market in Accra, where sellers offer food, shoes, clothes, and more on the sidewalks. Makola Market is known to have a high number of people coming to buy and sell. This crowd and busy environment are what make the destination fun and create an unforgettable experience. Smile and chat with sellers, and politely bargain if you find something to take home as a souvenir.

Labadi Beach

Labadi Beach is a beach where people come to have a fun time, including horse riding, swimming, and playing games. It has lively restaurants nearby where you can unwind with some tasty meals. On weekends, the beach gets lively, so it’s the best time to go if you want to meet locals and tourists alike. For a quieter experience, weekdays should be perfect for you.

Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park

Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park is a park filled with beautiful fountains and bronze statues, and you can even spot beautiful peacocks wandering around. This location is also where the mausoleum of Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president, is located. The museum there displays Nkrumah’s items like his letters, the clothes he wore when he declared Ghana’s independence, and his photos with world leaders.

Tourist Attractions in Kumasi

Kejetia Market

Kejetia Market is a giant market encircled by shops that have rusty tin roofs, and from afar, the market looks like a big circle. It has about 11,000 stalls, and it is claimed that it is the biggest market in West Africa.

The market is always crowded because there is so much happening. Hopefully, you can take part too. Indulge in going through their finest collections, you can take home as souvenirs. You can find colourful glass beads, second-hand shoes, handmade batik, bracelets, plastic items, strips of kente cloth, and more.

So get your comfy shoes and bring some cash along. A personal guide can be useful as they can help you go through the market more easily, including bargaining for better prices and formally introducing you to the locals.

Prempeh II Jubilee Museum

Prempeh II Jubilee Museum is a small museum that has amazing stories about Ashanti culture and history to tell. The museum building was designed to resemble a real Ashanti chief’s house, which consists of a courtyard and walls decorated with traditional carvings.

Usually, a guide will accompany you through exploring the museum, which solely contains artefacts that belong to Ashanti King Prempeh II. The artefacts you will see include the king’s ceremonial clothes, war outfits, jewellery, dining sets, royal symbols, brass weights, and fancy furniture. Another interesting thing you will find is the rare photo of the Golden Stool. The Golden Stool is a symbol of the Ashanti people, which the British wanted. However, they were tricked with a fake one. The fake Golden Stool is available at the museum.

Manhyia Palace

Manhyia Palace is a palace built by the British in 1925, intended to welcome King Prempeh I back to Kumasi after he spent 25 years in exile on the Seychelles Islands. This palace is where the Ashanti kings used to live until 1974. However, the current Ashanti king lives in a newer building, which is behind the Manhyia Palace. The tour to the palace starts with a short video that explains the history of the Ashanti people. Then, you head to the palace where you will see their furniture and realistic wax figures of past Ashanti Kings.

If you’re lucky to be around during their Adae Festival, you will have a chance to witness the current Ashanti king receiving guests.

Tourist Attractions in Cape Coast

Cape Coast Castle

Cape Coast Castle is a big white castle standing by the sea where slaves were held before they were sent across the ocean. Tourism is about fun, but this one destination gives a painful look into Ghana’s slavery history. Inside are wet dungeons where slaves were kept for a long time. Just above the dungeons is the governor’s bedroom with huge windows that give a scenic view of the sea. Furthermore, you will also find a museum which contains history about Ghana, the Akan people, and the slave trade.

Fort Victoria

Fort Victoria is a small fort built in 1712 to protect Cape Coast Castle from Ashanti attacks. The fort is built on top of a hill, which gives it a high elevation. This elevation made sending signals across the town easier for the British. Tourists often visit Fort Victoria because it is a historical monument.

Kakum National Park

Kakum National Park is a wildlife tourist attraction in Ghana that houses several animals, including colobus monkeys, various bird species, and endangered forest elephants. One interesting thing to do is to walk past the famous canopy walkway. The canopy walkway is a walkway that hangs 30 meters above the ground. Walking on it might look scary, but it is safer than you think. Also, you will have an amazing story to tell your friends when you return. Other activities include hikes to explore the landscapes and plants.

St George’s Castle

St George’s Castle is an old European building that was built as a trading post but later became a major centre for the slave trade. Inside, you will find punishment cells, the Door of No Return, and dark dungeons where slaves were locked up. You will also find the turret room where the British locked up King Prempeh I for four years. Lastly, you will find a museum that informs about the history of the Elmina people and where they lived.

Tourist Attractions in Tamale

Tannery

Tamale has a traditional tannery where the locals use traditional methods on animal skins to produce leather. What makes this place interesting is viewing how they process the animal skins using traditional methods. You will find them soaking skins such as goat or sheep skins, then they hand them to dry. When it’s dried, they remove the hair and use natural dyes to colour the skin. These dyes are made from plants, and depending on the plant, different colours can be produced. Finally, they stretch and allow it to dry.

Mole National Park

Mole National Park is the biggest wildlife reserve in Ghana. It covers 4,912 square kilometres of savannah and forest and houses different types of wildlife, including mammals, amphibians, birds, and reptiles. Therefore, there is a lot for you to spot at this destination.

Dakpema Palace

Before leaving, don’t forget to visit the King of Tamale’s palace, which is known as the Dakpema Palace. The king is welcoming to visitors, so you will have a good time with him while sitting on a mat under a traditional mud house.

Final Thought

Tourist attractions in Ghana are mainly within the major cities such as Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast, and Tamale. This also means these cities hold most of Ghana’s history and natural beauty. Therefore, these cities are where you need to visit first. Whether you start exploring the iconic castles or wandering around the colourful market, you will have an unforgettable experience. Possibly, there may be more destinations to explore. That’s why you should get the right guidance and insider tips before setting off. This guide acts as your starting point. The rest is for you to decide.