The West Coast of Ghana is out of the ordinary... Where else will you find beaches, rivers, lagoons, crocodile ponds, forests, plantations, stilt village, forts, and rich ethnic culture, all in an area the size of a large town?

Ghana West Coast offers a 172-kilometre coastline of sandy beaches (some safe for swimming and surfing) lined with coconut-palm, merging seamlessly with mangrove vegetation, high evergreen forest reserves, diverse wildlife, and a people whose vibrant culture you can sample in the fishing villages, and whose history has left behind world heritage sites. This is the land of the hospitable Nzema and Ahanta ethnic groups.

This multidimensional tourism destination area occupies the coastal part of Ghana’s Western Region, from the west of Takoradi up to the Ivory Coast. This is the most luxuriant part of Ghana, which, in spite of centuries of logging, still has the greatest number of forest reserves. This is also the region with the highest average rainfall (with an average of 1,600mm of rain deluging this part of the country yearly).

The local and traditional communities reflect the indigenous culture of the Ahanta, Evalue and Nzema people, with a sprinkle of European influence stemming from five centuries of African-European interrelationship. It is not surprising, therefore, that there are six European-built forts (two in ruins) in the destination area. The architecture of the buildings is an intriguing blend of traditional Ghanaian juxtaposed with 16th to 18th century Portuguese, Dutch, Swedish, British and Brandenburg-Prussian, all complemented with contemporary architecture.

The region is a wildlife treasure trove. From the high forest through the mangroves to the beaches and the ocean, an incredible variety of animals ranging from species of elephants, antelopes, squirrels, monkeys, birds, butterflies, endangered marine turtles, crocodiles, whales, dolphins, sharks, deep sea fish, river fish, and shellfish, among others, are here to be discovered.

As a tourist destination, Ghana West Coast is managed in such a way to ensure that visitors contribute to socio-economic sustainability and poverty reduction, while enjoying the attractions. The aim is to minimise tourism’s effect on the environment and local culture, while helping to generate income, employment, and the conservation of local ecosystems. The aim is also to ensure active participation and ownership of the tourism product by the local people. As such, tours and excursions are conducted by trained local tour guides, and the local destination is managed by a Town Tourism Development Committee.

In Ghana West Coast, there is something for everyone! For city dwellers, the West Coast offers rest and rejuvenation amid the fresh clean air, greenery, and peaceful environment. Water sports enthusiasts, adventure-seekers and nature lovers will be in their element, and families will appreciate the captivating effect of the beaches on their children! All visitors will appreciate the wide range of accommodation facilities and the availability of tasty local dishes, as well as international cuisine.

With such an endless list of diverse attractions and activities, plus continuous development of the tourism offerings, you’ll find that just when you think you’ve done it all, there’s more to see...