Ghana stole my heart – My 8 day trip to Ghana

I went to Ghana in 2024 and had the most amazing time there. The food, the people and atmosphere was very welcoming. Ghana has so much to offer and I feel like we only scratched the surface. Let me tell you all about this beautiful holiday. This holiday took 9 months to plan every detail. We stayed for 8 days based in Accra in the Cantonments district.

Arrival

This was a family trip a group of 6 of us travelled together. We had a complimentary pick up from the airport after a six and half hour flight from London. As we came out of the airport the heat and humidity hits you. We arrived in the evening around 7pm. I went straight to the shop to get a local SIM card which was very handy. This was very handy for data while roaming locally and to have a local number. I found that eSIM can be unreliable so didn’t want to take the chance.

Once we got our SIM we were driven to the apartments. We were shown around our 3 bed and 2 bed modern apartments with balcony all rooms were ensuite and an open plan living area with fully equipped kitchen. We looked for somewhere to get some food and ended up ordering Bolt fast food delivery, which wasn’t bad. Others went walking to find local restaurant but didn’t rate the food there.

Day 1 – Money and transport in Ghana

The following day was about food supplies and getting currency especially as it was a Friday and banks will close over the weekend. We found a bank and a mini mart about 10 mins walk away. Although I had an international bank card I found that the amount you could withdraw was restricted to 2000 Cedis (the local currency) per day. As an idea its about 20 cedis to 1US dollar This meant I had to withdraw daily as I needed to pay for our transport and food.

Changing cash was very favourable at Forex exchange and there was a preference for US. Higher notes 20US and up for best rates. We got some bits to eat at the mini mart and bought water and headed back to our apartments.

That afternoon we decided to try for the City Tour bus which leaves at 1pm usually. With it being six of us we decided to take two Ubers. However the second Uber decided not to turn up and we were late arriving for the bus departure. But there was no bus! We went to the offices as the back of a food place to see if we could speak to someone. But no one was there.

Then some staff were leaving and told us there was a strike that day and the drivers we not operating. This was not made clear on the website and it was lucky we did not prebook as we decided to do it on the bus which you could do.

With the mayhem of the taxi, I called a contact to hire us a vehicle. However when they turned up after 2 hours! The hire vehicle a range rover could only take 5 of us! We wanted a Prado or similar seven seater which we were assured we would get. We were given the Range Rover for that afternoon and paid for 2 days. We drove back to the apartments. Luckily my cousin was from US and they drove on the left same as Ghana, this was very useful. We stayed in that evening as we were tired at this point.

Day 2 – Accra Independence Square and Ladabi Beach

After a late breakfast we drove to Independence Square. There were touts there selling sunglasses, fans and other bits. They were a bit insistent but I wasn’t interested in their wears as I knew I could by at the beach. We took pictures with the backdrop of the Black Star of Africa.

Then we headed in afternoon to Labadi Beach. There was a lot of commotion with police cars around by we were told where to park and we headed down to the sea side. We were sat in a bench and umbrellas arranged for us which were laid out all along the beach in front of various restaurants/bars. Our waiter introduced herself and she took care of all our orders.

There was lots to do at the sea side which was bustling with sellers of everything clothes, jewellry, food, even a seller with two puppies! There were horse riding, ATV riding and even a group of reggae singers! It was entertaining and all the sellers were polite and friendly and not too pushy. We had some food it didn’t agree with all of us especially the grilled meat skewers which meant we had to cut the stay short so we didn’t see the sun set. After that drama we got back and rested as we had a very early start the next day.

Day 3 – Cape Coast, Elmina Castle, Khakum Park and Crocodiles!

We had to be up and ready for 6am. A larger 7 seater taxi was sent for us. It was a long drive on very bumpy roads to Cape Coast which we arrived around 9am. We had a short stop on the way. We did a tour and the guide was amazing! You felt like you were transported back to the time when Africans were enslaved and held in appalling conditions in dungeons built underground. It was awful to feel how people were treated. I couldn’t help but feel emotional, angry even that this took place.

Cape Coast is the largest and only purpose built castle for enslaved people. I say enslave because to call them slaves is the dehumanise people who were born free and held in captivity for greed and treated in the most abhorrent ways by white colonisers. We headed to Elmina but we didnt tour the castle.

At 1pm we then drove another hour to Kakum National Park. There we ate at the restaurant, the food was delicious I had chicken wings and fried yam, others had jollof rice and meat or fish. Some of us did the canopy walk which had breath taking views but was a punishing walk to the tree top rope bridges. The long route on the canopy walk took over an hour to complete but there was a shorter option.

On our way back to Accra we stopped at the Crocodile island. We took pictures but there was the god father of all the crocodiles named Saddam that just watched us from the water. Very unnerving! This was a quick 30min stop as it was beginning to get dark and we wanted to head back to the city. We arrived back around 9pm as there were lots of police checks along the way and the traffic was terrible. After a spat with the driver who wanted more money than was agreed we headed to our rooms to rest.

Day 4 – Markola Market Day and Frankies at Night

We took our time as we were tired from the full day of sightseeing the day before. We still had the hire car and wanted to maximise the use of it. So we decided best to go the market. In hindsight taking the car was not a good idea. The traffic was ridiculous and we had to park blocks away and walk in anyway. The market was huge!! Everything you can think of was on sale, clothes, cloth, car parts, cooking items, jewellry, bicycle wheels, any and every thing was being sold.

There were women walking with large basin filled with water, nuts or other snacks on their heads. The sun was blazing hot and the crowds were so intense! I was not ready for the mayhem. I did buy fabric and some waist beads and bangles. I didn’t haggle much as it was so cheap. Much cheaper than at the beach as well so that’s a top tip buy at the market.

We got back after being backed in the sun and rested before heading out to Frankies resturarant in Oxford Street, Osu, Ghana. The street had lots of stalls of sellers and was so busy. We got a table at Frankies and the menu was a world cuisine! Food from around the world there was something for any taste. I had beef shawarma others had Ghanaian fufu and egusi and red red bean stew. All very delicious. After eating we walked up and down Oxford street which was so busy like the street never sleeps. We then headed to our base.

Day 5 – Rest Day La Palm Royal 5 star hotel chill and Republic Bar

Some of the guys wanted to check out the Accra Mall and the girls spent the afternoon at the 5 star Hotel where we ate Ghanian food at the resturant by the seaside and lazed by the pool. it was a tranquil easy going day. Our waiter Rita was amazing and looked after us very well.

Back in Cantonments my son found a hairdressers to retwist his locs. They did an amazing job in 2 hours for the equivalent of £15!! An absolute bargain!!

That night a few of us too an Uber and headed to Republic Bar and Lounge back in Osu. There was a DJ playing great music and it was packed out. Chairs and tables all outdoors and waiters brought you drinks. Not what I expected from the reviews. There was no dancing just people sat around chatting and drinking. It was nice atmosphere. We then walked to see if could find somewhere to dance and the club we found looked like a strip club so we didn’t stay and headed back to our apartment.

Day 6 – Aburi Botanical Park and Bojo Beach

We hired a 12 seater this time to take us to Aburi which is 2 hours drive from Accra. Our guide Malcolm took us around the park and had so many stories of how the gardens came about and the useful plants like neem and nutmeg and the parasitic tree coupled with life and philosophical lessons. There was the tree of life an trunk with carvings of people all over it. There was even an old helicopter on the grounds. It was a very informative tour around the gardens. We had coconut water and headed to the shopping area for a browse. I bought my niece a cute dress.

We then headed to the beach and we were going to Kokobrite beach but the drive recommended Bojo beach which was aesthetically very nice. You need a boat to get to the sandy area. However, the facilities were awful. The toilets was a mess! The food was ok but took very long and they messed up the order. If you do come here come just for drinks and don’t use the toilets and you will enjoy it.

Day 7 – Back to Markola Market

We wanted to check out the market again for more bargains. Again it was so busy but I knew exactly want I wanted and where to get in and out. I did buy a ‘gold’ watch more cloth and some jewellry. I went to the areas for hair care but couldn’t find a scalp oil I wanted.

We decided to try again for the tour bus after calling the driver to make sure the bus will run. However we got there on time but the bus didnt leave for another hour and a half! We almost walked out! They kept us waiting.

That evening we all went to the Sky Bar 25 in East Legion. The music was great and the views at night was breath taking over the city. A very up market chill out bar. Prebooking a table is advised as the bar area was very busy. A few of us stayed on to look for a club to dance.

We went to one in Osu which was very popular but everyone was seated on high bar chairs and tables on the dance floor! No dancing! Just sitting, drinking and chatting! I found it very odd. We thought to try another bar and that was the same only there was no one there at midnight! That was the last straw we just took a taxi back home.

Day 8 – Last Day in Accra, Ghana

We had to check out of the apartments at 11am but we arranged for taxi to take us to La Palm Hotel to keep our bags and get a taxi from their to the airport that evening at 8.30pm. I went back to the Accra Mall this time as I hadn’t gone when the others went before. We took a taxi which was hit on the roundabout just outside the mall. As the drivers argued we left after paying the drive and went to explore the shops. After walking around indoors we checked out the stalls outside on the street.

We headed back to the Hotel and had lunch there and chilled by the pool for the rest of the day until it was time to head to the airport.

Conclusion

I absolutely loved Ghana. The food was amazing and so much! They fed us very very well. The people were so friendly and polite. Apart from the transportation issues which was a challenge at times it was a very pleasant trip. Things didn’t run on time in Accra but we were prepared for that. In Ghana you can’t help to take on the laid back chill atmosphere and just go with the flow.