Top 3 places to visit in Ghana

Travel makes one modest.You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world. 

-Gustave Flaubert

I love Ghana !
Among the thousands reasons why I do, owes to the fact that it is incredibly beautiful with countless places to explore.
Today, I am going to give an account of the attraction I visited recently.

Here in Ghana, there are innumerable attractions to visit. My favourite tourist spots are Elmina Castle, Aburi Botanical Gardens, Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, Kakum National Park, Kwahu Mountain and the Mole National Park.

But this article will center it attention on the top 3 places I recently visited as stated earlier.

Let’s kick off with the Aburi Botanical Gardens. Which is located in Aburi, the Eastern region of Ghana. Roughly an hour drive from Ghana’s capital city Accra.

The garden inhabits an area of 64.8 hectares but only 12.2 hectares have been developed into a garden that encompasses and preserves the earth’s remaining rare plant species.
The striking part of the garden is the ravishing parallel palm trees on both sides of the road.

Palm trees at Aburi Botanical Gardens

The tour guide made mention of the fact that these palm trees are not the original plants cultivated during the early stage of the garden.
It’s suffices to say that, the comforting fragrance from both exotic and local greenery and the colourful butterflies will bedazzle you. It’s such a fine setting for picnics or a get together with family and friends.

For the lovers of ornamental plants, the tour guide highlighted some embellishing plants like Ficus leprieurii, Dillenia indica, Brownea grandiceps, and Murraya exotica.
Other fascinating features are the horticulture school, the retired helicopter, the lover’s lane, the tree of life and the VIP garden which has plants seeded by dignitaries from some part of the world.

Twin tree at Aburi Botanical Gardens

 

Tree of life at Aburi Botanical Gardens

 

Subsequently, the St. George Castle also called the Elmina castle. Located in the Central Region of Ghana, about 4-hours drive from Accra.

Elmina Castle

 The construction of the castle started by the Portuguese in 1482 and was wrapped up in 1486.

During my visit, an account of the history of the castle which has to do with slave trade was given.

Elmina Castle

From the displacement of people, culture, and resources to the dehumanizing act the enslaved people suffered. Owing to the fact that, they  were recognized as property.
Walking in and out of dungeons with tiny-weeny entrance put in place to restrict slaves from escaping and having an idea of what our ancestors went through got me teary.

The Elmina is known for beautiful beaches where you can relax and enjoy.

Fishing spot close to the castle

 

The Kwame Nkrumah mausoleum, also known as the Kwame Nkrumah memorial park which is the last resting place of the former President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah; the man who left an irreplaceable indelible mark in the world and his wife Fathia Nkrumah.

Statute of Kwame Nkrumah at the Memorial Park

The  memorial park covers 5.3 acres and contains two edifices. It is located in Accra, opposite the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

Peafowl at the Memorial Park

 The cicerone gives some form of life history and the purpose of dedicating the memorial park to Kwame Nkumah.

Tourist taken a stroll at memorial park

The memorial park is attractive, the springs of water on both side of the walk way with seven bare chest squatting statuette flute blowers. In the Ghanaian culture, flutes are blown to welcome very important people.

Seven bare chest squatting statuette flute blowers

The memorial park has Kwame Nkrumah’s  personal items, publication and images of him with Fidel Castro, Queen Elizabeth II of England, President Nasser of Egypt and other renowned leaders.

The  structure bear semblance to swords which have been turned upside down whiles others view it as an uprooted tree which signifies the unfinished work of Kwame Nkrumah.