Ghana officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and Togo in the east.
Ghana covers an area of 238,535 km2 (92,099 sq mi), spanning diverse biomes that range from coastal savannas to tropical rainforests. With nearly 31 million inhabitants (according to 2021 census), Ghana is the second-most populous country in West Africa, after Nigeria. The capital and largest city is Accra; other major cities are Kumasi, Tamale, and Sekondi-Takoradi.
In 2011, 1,087,000 tourists visited Ghana. Tourist arrivals include South Americans, Asians, Europeans, and North Americans. The attractions and major tourist destinations include a warm, tropical climate year-round, diverse wildlife, waterfalls such as Kintampo waterfalls and the largest waterfall in west Africa, Wli waterfalls, the coastal palm-lined sandy beaches, caves, mountains, rivers, and reservoirs and lakes such as Lake Bosumtwi and the largest man-made lake in the world by surface area, Lake Volta, dozens of forts and castles, World Heritage Sites, nature reserves and national parks. In addition to the beautiful natural reserves which serve as tourist sites, there are some castles that attract many tourists from all over the world. Some of the notable castles are Cape Coast Castle and the Elmina Castle. Not only are the castles important for tourism, they also mark where blood was shed in the slave trade and preserve and promote the African heritage stolen and destroyed through the slave trade. As a result of this, the World Heritage Convention of UNESCO named Ghana's castles and forts as World Heritage Monuments.
The World Economic Forum statistics in 2010 showed that out of the world's favourite tourist destinations, Ghana was ranked 108th out of 139 countries. The country had moved two places up from the 2009 rankings. In 2011, Forbes magazine published that Ghana was ranked the eleventh most friendly country in the world. The assertion was based on a survey in 2010 of a cross-section of travellers. Of all the African countries that were included in the survey, Ghana ranked highest. Tourism is the fourth highest earner of foreign exchange for the country. In 2017, Ghana ranked as the 43rd–most peaceful country in the world.
A growing tourist attraction is surfing. Up and down the coastline, several spots have been identified and cultivated by locals and internationals alike. Renowned surfers have made trips to the country to sample the waves. Suitable for beginners and seasoned surfers alike, there is a quality and consistency to the waves to suit all levels of skill. It is not unusual now to see surfers carrying their boards amid traditional Ghanaian fishing vessels. Busua, Kokrobite, and Muuston boast some of the country's best surf in warm, tropical waters.
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Its gloomy slave dungeons, connected by a dank subterranean tunnel to the “Door of No return” pay sombre testament to its 18th century role as Africa’s most important slave trading post. Dating to 1482, the imposing St. George’s castle in Elmina is the oldest European building in sub-Saharan Africa.
This is where captives from the north took their “last bath” at the Nkonkonsuo River before being sold to coastal traders and more recently, where the remains of two slave descendants from the USA and Jamaica were buried in a symbolic ceremony held on Emancipation Day 1998.
These brightly painted homesteads with labyrinthine fortress-like adobe construction whose unusual low doorways are partially blocked by an internal lip were originally designed to prevent slave raiders from making a surprise entry.
Lying on the border with Burkina Faso, the name Pikworo translates into “Rock of Fear,” alluding to its role as a 19th century slave camp, relics of which include eating bowls carved into the rocks, the drum rocks, punishment tree and cemetery for dead captives.
30 kilometres west of Accra, this sprawling beach has a dramatic backdrop of hills. Because of its almost secluded nature, the beach has fast become a favourite for tourists.
Ghana's most popular tourist site is Kakum National Park. Situated in the Assin Attandanso Reserve, the Kakum National Park and Canopy Walkway offers visitors breath-taking scenery, an interesting look at wildlife, as well as modern camping facilities. The park's seven suspension bridges, which are supported by trees that are more than 300 years old and form a 333-meter-long canopy walkway, are without a doubt its most well-known feature.
The largest and most prestigious protected area in Ghana is Mole National Park. The largest wildlife refuge is located in the north-west of the nation and covers 4,849 sq. kilometres. The park has very rich flora and fauna. It is best known for its elephant population, which numbers around 600, as well as its large population of primates.
The perennial nature of this waterfall is making it more popular among tourists as its water gushes down throughout the year. It lies 20kilometres from Hohoe in the Wli natural reserve.
This serene waterfall cascades off Mount Afadjato, the highest mountain in Ghana (2, 950 ft above sea level). It is found within a peaceful village, Liate Wote which lies at the foot of the range of mountains that make up the Ghana-Togo border.
A delightful attraction, the mighty River Volta empties into the Atlantic along Ghana’s east coast and has a catchment area that sprawls across the borders of six West African countries. It also feeds the world’s largest artificial water body by surface area, Lake Volta (850,000 ha) in Akosombo, southern Ghana.
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The activity benefited from support from the Umbrella Facility for Trade trust fund financed by the governments of the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.