GHANA'S TOP TEN

Wednesday--Kwei

I have thousands of photos from Ghana, many of them forming backdrops in my novels. Here are some top ten favorites in no particular order. Choose your top three and let me know below.

10.

The dizzying cliffs of Cape Three Points, Western Region (Photo: Kwei Quartey)

Much of the Western Region coast is unspoiled, but developers have their eye on some of this prime real estate. Imagine having a home in this setting--easily a million dollars and up. 

9.

Lush green cocoa forest, Ashanti Region  (Photo: Kwei Quartey)

8.

The Adome Bridge, Volta Region (Photo: Kwei Quartey) 

Almost all chocolate in the world comes from Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana. Cocoa beans grow in red to gold cocoa pods (shown), surrounded by a delicious sweet, tangy pulp. One cocoa tree takes about 7 years to bear fruit, and they are prone to various viruses. They cannot be harvested by machine. Remember these hard-working farmers the next time you have a bar of chocolate and try to always buy Fair Trade.

The Adome Bridge is an arch bridge designed in 1956 and completed in 1957. It spans the Volta River downstream from Lake Volta, the largest man-made lake in the world (by area), formed by the Akosombo Hydroelectric Dam.

7.

The Canopy Walkway at Kakum National Park, Central Region (Photo: Kwei Quartey)

The Kakum Canopy Walkway is 350 meters (1150 feet) long, connecting seven treetops. Because of the tremendous height and the undulation and swaying of the walk, some people panic and are unable to continue forward, and have to be "rescued" by park rangers.

6.

River view from the Royal Senchi Hotel, Akosombo (Photo: Kwei Quartey)

An exceedingly tranquil location south of the Akosombo Hydroelectric Dam. I don't know the details, but the Queen of Denmark paid a royal visit to the hotel in 2017 and dedicated a plaque to the hotel.

5.

Mole National Park, Northern Region, Ghana (Photo: Kwei Quartey)

Nothing more majestic than seeing a family of elephants close up. This herd is on the way to a local watering hole below the Zaina Lodge. The Mole Park also has several antelope varieties, wart hogs, and other animals. Reputed lions are rarely, if ever, seen.

4.

Zaina Lodge, Northern Region (Photo: Kwei Quartey)

Zaina Lodge offers terrific safaris, gourmet meals and beautiful vistas from the infinity pool deck, including a view of one of the favorite watering holes of elephants, which also sometimes wander onto the grounds of the Lodge. It's a real treat to see them up so close.

3.

Hanging out with the "sacred" crocodiles of Paga, Upper East Region

The legend of these crocodiles is that one of them rescued a Paga man being chased by a lion by allowing him to ride on its back to safety. Thereafter, the man made everyone vow never to hurt a crocodile. They are essentially domesticated with frequent meals of live chickens, paid for by intrepid travelers. Reportedly, if you find one of these crocodiles resting outside your house, it's a blessing. A Ghanaian friend of mine declared to me, "Sacred or not, a crocodile is a crocodile and I'm never getting close to one." 

2.

A spontaneous group of children I snapped in the town of Dunkwa, Central Region

Ghanaian children love being photographed! Dunkwa is a town featured in my novel, Gold Of Our Fathers.

1. 

A troupe of drummers at the Arts Center, Accra

The group gave me an impromptu, rousing performance when a friend of mine introduced me to them. The Arts Center in Accra (Ac-CRA, not "AC-cra") is a tourist trap from which you cannot easily unentangle yourself from a horde of fast-talking vendors, but in this case, I was with a local and so was left alone (Tip: always go around with a trustworthy local.)

And a bonus:

Volta Lake from the Saint Barbara Church (Photo: Sandister Tei)

I took my own photo years ago from exactly this vantage point, but it really didn't do it justice, so I borrowed this from Wikimedia Commons.