Attractions | All about Ghana!

Massage Can Help You Feel Better

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When it comes to personal care, the sky is the limit for a lot of people. No expense is too great to bear when it comes down to looking or feeling good. When it comes to their pets, many of the same people invest in pet insurance that covers the same spa treatments humans can receive. Yes, pet insurance can cover pet massage and aromatherapy treatments too.

Massages, complete with a pampered spa visit, have come to be the norm rather than the exception — and it’s easy to see why; a massage loosens muscles that feel as if they’ve been tight for years. It frees up your range of motion, which can have the resultant effect of making you feel younger. The same is true when it comes to pet massage covered by pet insurance. Some people claim that a massage improves their skin tone, although most masseuses would probably comment that skin quality walks in the door and doesn’t leave their hands in a vastly improved state.

Of course, massages also improve circulation and other health concerns for humans and their pets. For people who have been involved in an accident which has frozen up joints, especially those around the neck area, a course of massage work can free up those issues in time and help to restore proper functioning. That’s not to say that massage is a miracle cure, because it isn’t, but it does work wonders. Many people suffering from a health malady that a doctor has recommended surgery to fix, have found relief from getting a massage.

Those suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome are easy examples. Doctors want to lengthen the over-tight tendons with a scalpel, while a masseuse works the same muscles in a non-invasive way to provide the same freedom of movement. And the cost of a massage, or a series of massages, is far less than the cost of a surgery. Most everyone appreciates not having to pay doctors large sums of money, which explains the popularity of pet insurance, which helps to cover the unexpected costs associated with your pet needing some medical attention rather than yourself. This sort of insurance helps keep your pet as comfortable as you are.

Filed Under: Attractions, Ghana Tagged With: Business and Economy, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Financial Services, Health, Insurance, Massage, Massage Therapy, Pet insurance

Buying You Car in Ghana

So you have just moved to Ghana because of a new career and job relocation. You already know that this is a country of about twenty million who, even though like you English is their official language, they also speak over 70 other languages. You also know that ninety-five percent of all passenger traffic travels on Ghana’s roads and highways. With that in mind, looking into buying an automobile and new car prices will be one of the first items on your to-do list after getting situated in your new home.

So once settled, you need to formulate a plan on how to go about purchasing your car. Do you want to buy from a local business, a private owner or search online for a car? Will you buy used or new? What manufacturers even sell cars in Ghana? Which style or model of vehicle do you wish to drive around the country? What are prices for new cars like compared to where you live now? These are all valid concerns and questions.

So let’s look at a few ways to purchase a new car. One way to buy is to first go online and look through the selections on a auto purchasing website. Even in Ghana, you will find most of the manufacturers are the same as in other places. So if you want an Acura, a BMW, a Honda or another name-brand auto; one of these online sites will point you in the right direction.

Another way to save money and not pay new car prices is to buy from someone like yourself who has come to Ghana to work and is now leaving. Instead of taking their car back with them, they will often sell a barely-used car at a great price. Whatever you decide to do, when you get to Ghana do your research and make sure you buy from a reputable person or auto dealer.

Filed Under: Attractions, Ghana, Shopping Tagged With: Acura, Africa, BMW, Ghana, Honda

Ghana and Canada Are on the Same Page

Ghana has only been around for a little over 50 years, so it’s still a little tentative in its foreign relations. Truth be known, even countries which have been around for thousands of years still might be looking for new ways to do better, so the “startup” mentality might actually be to its credit. However, it does have a great friend in Canada, which has been among its kindest advisors and partners on the international stage. The Canada 411 is that the two actually have the most long standing international treaty that involves an African partner as an equal, which is a pretty nice distinction to have.

The Canadian International Development Agency (also known as CIDA) has been with Ghana since 1957. And since the two seem to be getting along so well, it will most likely continue going on until Ghana is an international player at the level of a mature country. If this tiny land ever develops to the point where China and India start to take notice of it, Canada is going to be very happy (and no doubt happily rewarded) for its long term commitment to helping Ghana to be a peaceful, prosperous and independent African nation. There is just something rewarding about helping someone new to improve.

As time goes on, the relationship between these two nations should be extremely beneficial to both. Canada is a smart country, and they plan their maneuvers (and build their relationships) for maximal benefits over the long term. The likelihood of anything but a very successful coalition between Canada and Ghana is practically nil — at least in this one corner of Africa, the people rule and the country is free to build and to shape its own destiny. It should be exciting as time goes on, seeing what such a country may be capable of doing. You can’t tell with a simple glance.

Filed Under: Attractions, Ghana, Shopping Tagged With: accra, Africa, Africa Cup of Nations, Business and Economy, Canada, Canadian International Development Agency, Ghana, Government

Ways to Free Up Cash For Your Trip To Ghana

A trip outside your own country is not always cheap and with a limited disposable income, not everyone has the funds to go to their dream destination. For your next trip to Ghana, there are several ways you can save up the money to make your dreams come true. One of the main things you must start with is planning ahead of time. Early and proper planning will almost always let you know exactly how much you will need and how much more you will have to save. Early planning can also help you find the best deals that are available to you.

You will need some money to spend on your trip, and like every other tourist destination, Ghana too provides some of the best festivities. One does not want to worry about their finances when they are on their trip, and equally they do not want to worry about the status of their home and car while they are away. Start by looking for insurance savings as we all know insurance in the United States can cost quite a lot. You don’t have to compromise the insurance you currently have in order to save money.

21st Century Insurance is just one company that can provide you with your auto insurance as well as many others including your home, rental, and belongings. They work with you to get you the best deal within your budget, and the more you group your insurance with them, the higher of a percentage you will save on a monthly basis. So why wait until it’s too late when you can get a better insurance cost and free up the money for your trip? It does not take much of your time and the savings are beyond your expectation. You will have the additional money for your trip and your property back home will be protected.

Filed Under: Attractions, Ghana Tagged With: accra, Business, Ghana, Insurance

Not Your Same Old Vacation

If you are tired of going to the same places and seeing the same things, or if the thought of going to one more museum or old historical site, even if it’s one you’ve never visited before just doesn’t stimulate you, why not think about visiting a place that probably not many people consider a tourist destination? That place is Ghana, Africa.

In the past few years, a lot of work has been put into a website and other avenues of information that advertise Ghana as a place to consider as a vacation destination. You can find all the information you need on visiting Ghana, such as the best way to get there, what to expect when you get there, how to find your way around, and how to stay safe. You can also find information on holiday rentals in or around Ghana so that you’ll know where to stay.

Visiting a relatively unknown country such as Ghana may seem a bit daunting, but remember, thinking about taking the “same old” vacation is what got all this started in the first place. It is for sure that you won’t be bored in Ghana, especially if you take a little time to do some research about the country.

Take the time to do a little research of your own into the customs, culture, and traditions of the people who live in Ghana as well as the weather, especially at the time of year you are considering traveling. If you have some advance information, it won’t seem as strange when you really start experiencing it.

Make sure your passport or visa, whichever document you need, is up to date, and check with your local health authorities to determine if you might need any special immunizations for visiting Ghana. Also, if you take daily prescription medication, check with your health care professional about making sure you have enough to last you while you are there.

Filed Under: Attractions, Ghana, Shopping, Transportation Tagged With: accra, Africa, Aid and Development, Embassies and Consulates, Ghana, Government, Travel and Tourism, West Africa

National Parks Showcasing the Natural Heritage of Ghana

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Due to its abundant natural heritage, Ghana offers tremendous appeal to visitors who enjoy nature and who are ecologically aware. There are many nature parks to visit, and more being developed every day in the vast rain forests that are abundant in the south and west areas of the country.

When compared to other countries in Africa, the national parks may seem small. However, there is still plenty of wildlife to see, including lions, monkeys, antelope and elephants. The rain forests also boast of many birds and butterflies which are a truly wonderful sight for any tourist.

Many of the parks have added features to make the visit memorable, with hiking, horseback rides, and four-wheel drive safaris giving the visitor the full Ghana experience. Some of the best places for those who enjoy hiking include Bia National Park, Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary, Togbo Falls at Liati Wote, Mole Game Reserve, Aduklu Mountain, Afadjato Mountain in the Volta region, Bui National Park, Mount Afadjato, and the Kakum Nature Reserve. Visitors can also go for horseback rides through the Shai Hills Game Reserve.

The Mole National Park is one of the biggest nature reserves, and gives tourists a memorable experience both when hiking or taking a four-wheeled vehicle on the exploration. Camping is allowed, however visitors must always be accompanied by guides when traveling in the park.

Tourists who enjoy watching wildlife can take a trip into the protected conservation area of Kakum Nature Reserve, which is abundant in water buffalo, monkeys and antelope. Wildlife can be watched by visitors from a tree-top walkway that is 1,093ft from the ground, and then they can enjoy a rest in a tree house. Or, visit The Owabi Forest Reserve and Bird Sanctuary, near Kumasi, which offers a spectacular treat for bird enthusiasts.

The many parks and wildlife reserves showcase nature that is truly unique to Ghana, offering visitors an experience to remember.

Filed Under: Attractions, Ghana Tagged With: Africa, Ghana, national park, tourism

Shopping and Nightlife in Ghana

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Ghana has an abundance of culture and attractions that make visiting the country truly memorable. With an active nightlife and shopping that showcases some of the most stunning features of the country, there is something to enjoy for everyone.

Accra and many of the other major centers offer nightclubs that feature popular music from Western society, as well as Afro beat. The National Theatre in Accra is considered a Chinese architectural sensation, which offers many concerts for visitors to enjoy, such as plays, dancing and musical shows. In Legon, The School of Performing Arts at the University of Ghana puts on a variety of poetry shows, dramas and cultural dancing performances.

Accra also boasts the Ghana Film Theatre and Executive Film House that features both foreign and Ghanaian films for tourists to enjoy. Festivals which showcase drumming, feasting and dancing are held annually in every region. Each festival is meant to affirm tribal values, remember the ancestors and past leaders, while preparing for the upcoming year by purifying the state.

Just about every commodity can be found in the shops and markets in Ghana, as well as many luxury items. Shopping tours can be arranged through the Ministry of Tourism, or visitors can enjoy any of the markets that are abundant throughout the country. The Centre for National Culture sells many traditional crafts and cloths such as kente.

There are many open air markets, such as the Makola Market which features vendors from neighboring villages. A night market, the Osu Night Market, is illuminated with hundreds of candles and lanterns, and is always a remarkable sight to see.

Artefacts and handmade jewellery from the Ashanti and northern regions of the country are popular tourist purchases, as well as African art. The northern markets also offer leatherwork, earthenware pots, woven shirts and baskets handmade with multi-colored raffia that are evidence of the diverse culture in Ghana.

The shopping and nightlife activities available in Ghana offer a truly memorable experience for all visitors, and will provide some incredible insight into the unique culture witnessed in all regions of the country.

Filed Under: Attractions, Ghana, Shopping Tagged With: accra, Africa, Ghana, National Theatre

Castles of Ghana – Silent Reminders of the Slave Trade

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Standing testament to one of the most appalling events in the world’s history, there are still castles and forts in Ghana that stand as reminders of the brutal slave trade.

Elmina Castle

Elmina Castle was originally built in 1482 by the Portuguese to be used as a trading post. However, as the demand grew for slaves in the Caribbean and America, the commodity changed to human trade. In fact, Elmina Castle is just one of about twenty hiding places along the coast of Ghana that were used to hold captives waiting to be sent to their final destinations. The castle is empty now, but reminders like the dungeons used as holding areas for the slaves, are all over, clearly showing the horrific history of the building.

Cape Coast Castle

Situated along the oceanfront about 90 miles west of the city of Accra, Cape Coast Castle remains one of the major tourist attractions in Ghana. Originally built by the Swedish for their lumber and mineral exports, this fort was taken over the Dutch and eventually the English, where it became the hub of slave trade for over 150 years. Notorious in the Cape Coast Castle is what is known as the door of no return, which remains open to the Atlantic Ocean, where millions of Africans took the final steps towards their lives of suffering and brutality as slaves far from their homes. Dungeons remain where the thousands of men and women were confined together before being sent through the dark underground tunnels onto the ships.

While these castles are now empty, guided tours bring countless visitors to Ghana through the doors every year. Most of the visitors feel a need to walk and feel what the slaves must have gone through, to try and understand the horror of the slave trade. Re-enactments are often put on for visitors who get to experience the final journey of the millions of slaves as they walked through these dungeons and tunnels until they boarded ships ready to take them to America.

Filed Under: Attractions, Ghana Tagged With: Atlantic Ocean, Elmina Castle, Ghana

Beaches in Ghana

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While traveling in Ghana, visitors can take in some of the beautiful beaches that are abundant in this country. This West African country is situated on the Atlantic Ocean, making for incredible beaches perfect for a variety of water sports.

Cocoloco Beach
The Cocoloco Beach is located just outside the city of Accra. It is found at the point where the Volta River empties into the Atlantic Ocean. There is camping available, and accommodations in traditional thatch style bungalows. A breeding ground for a wide variety of sea turtles, this beach also boasts of the Volta Estuary, which is a sanctuary for a large number of birds.

Labadi Pleasure Beach
This beach is located eight kilometres east of Accra, at Labadi. It features a large stretch of beach front, and has great winds and large waves, making it a perfect destination for surfers and other water sports enthusiasts. The Labadi Pleasure Beach is the main public beach for Accra, and has restaurants, changing rooms, shower rooms and snack bars located all along the shore.

Kokrobite Beach
Located about 30 kilometres west of Accra, the Kokrobite Beach is a more secluded expanse of beach that draws fewer tourists. However, those who do make the trip to this sprawling beach are treated with scenic views and beautiful blue waters. There are a few change rooms and restaurants located along the beach. A great way to visit this beach is to actually stay at the location. Including all kinds of experiences, from beach homes to log cabins, why wouldn’t one want to enjoy vacation rentals? Get the most out of your vacation and get rid of the hotel.

Ada Beach
Located near the coastal town of Lome Road, Ada Beach is found close to 100 kilometres east of Accra. The village features restaurants and inns that provide food and lodging to visitors to the beach. There is also a marina, which makes it a popular spot for yachting, as well as fishing, skiing and many other water sports.

Alaska Beach
The Alaska Beach is another more secluded beach located on the shore of the Gulf of Guinea, which is a common destination for campers and backpackers. The beach has many camping areas, and restaurants for the tourists to sample the local food. It also features water sports facilities that cater to enthusiasts, such as Sea-Doo’s which can be rented.

Filed Under: Attractions, Ghana Tagged With: Africa, Atlantic Ocean, Ghana, Gulf of Guinea

Western Region Resorts in Ghana

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Abuesi Beach Resort

The Abuesi Beach Resort is located just steps from the Atlantic Ocean, and features acres of foliage and spectacular ocean views. The resort accommodations feature all of the modern amenities, including air conditioning, televisions with DVD, mini-bar, internet access, and a backup generator, all in fully stocked rooms. Extra features offered by the resort include airport transfer and a nearby golf park.

The resort boasts of the only hanging restaurant in the country, offering incredible views of the sea outside. The restaurant itself serves many international dishes, while also offering traditional Ghanaian food for visitors to enjoy. Another drawing feature for many tourists is the beach bar that has a pier stretching out over the edge of the water, making for some amazing sunset views while relaxing with a drink.

Busua Beach Resort

Also located in the Western Region of Ghana, the Busua Beach Resort is about a five hour drive from the capital city of Accra. The resort is situated on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, with accommodations that fit with every budget. There are all the comforts a traveler needs depending on their room choice, such as air conditioning, satellite television, backup generators, direct dial phones and shared or private kitchenettes.

The rooms are just a few feet from the ocean, leading to amenities and activities for everyone to enjoy. Sailing a catamaran, surfing and water-skiing are just a few of the water sports that are enjoyed by visitors. Busua also boasts of its own private island, Abokwa, which is a paradise on its own.

Not only is there a wonderful beach, but the resort also features a swimming pool, playgrounds for children, and tennis courts. Many people enjoy fishing and horseback riding along the coast.

There is a restaurant at the resort that specializes in seafood, and is the home of the famous King Lobster. The chefs prepare traditional fare, and will often add a European twist to the meals, making them truly unique.

There are many great places to stay in the Western Region, making it a popular tourist destination.

Filed Under: Attractions, Ghana, Shopping Tagged With: Atlantic Ocean, Travel and Tourism, Western Region