Ghana
Country · Africa, Western Africa
Ghana is a country in Western Africa, bordered by Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and Togo. Its capital is Accra, and the country covers 238,535 square kilometers with a population of about 35 million.
Highlights
This guide covers 10 sights. Historical sites include Elmina Castle, Cape Coast Castle, Osu Castle, Fort Amsterdam, and Manhyia Palace. Outdoor areas include Kakum National Park, Mole National Park, and Mount Afadja, which is the highest point in the country. In Accra, visitors can see Black Star Square and the Ghana National Mosque.
Food and drink
Local dishes include Fufu, Jollof rice, Akara, Banku, Kenkey, Omo tuo, Red red, Wasawasa, and Abunuabunu. For drinks, options include Akpeteshie and Ice kenkey.
When to go
The climate at the capital, Accra, shows average temperatures of 24 °C to 28 °C throughout the year. January and February have the lowest rainfall, with 10 mm and 21 mm respectively. Rainfall increases significantly from April through June, peaking at 185 mm in June. August is another relatively dry month with 30 mm of rain, while December averages 26 mm.
Practical notes
The currency is the Ghana cedi. English is the primary language. The country uses a 230 V voltage with type G plugs. Traffic moves on the right side of the road. The time zone is UTC±00:00.
Cities
Food and drink to try in Ghana
- Fufu
- Jollof rice
- Akara
- Banku
- Kenkey
- Omo tuo
- Red red
- Wasawasa
- Abunuabunu
- Akpeteshie
- Ice kenkey
Top sights in Ghana
Weather by month
The warmest month is March, averaging 28 °C. The wettest is June, with about 185 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperature, °C | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 27 |
| Rainfall, mm | 10 | 21 | 60 | 88 | 151 | 185 | 76 | 30 | 59 | 80 | 43 | 26 |
| Rainy days | 8 | 14 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 19 | 12 | 24 | 30 | 24 | 9 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Accra (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
Also worth a look
- Aburi Botanical Gardens
- Asante Traditional Buildings
- Digya National Park
- Fort Apollonia
- Fort Augustaborg
- Fort Batenstein
- Fort Coenraadsburg
- Fort Fredensborg
- Fort James
- Fort Metal Cross
- Fort Prinzenstein
- Fort Saint Anthony
- Gbewaa Palace
- Holy Trinity Cathedral
- Jamestown/Usshertown, Accra
- Keta Lagoon
- National Museum of Ghana
- Shai Hills Resource Reserve
- Ussher Fort
- W. E. B. Du Bois Memorial Centre for Pan African Culture
- Wli waterfalls