HIGHLIGHTS:

• Acra: Bustling, low-rise, old-style African town.
• Axim: Sight of 14th century Portuguese fort.
• Busua Beach and Dixcove: Beautiful beaches and old English fort at Dixcove.
• Kakum: Rain forest reserve with platforms to view salt licks and walking safaris to see forest elephants.
• Kumasi: Former centre of the Ashanti kingdom and now centre for business and education. Visit the national cultural centre which combines a museum, theatre, art gallery, craft workshops, farm and zoo.
• Sekondi-Takoradi: Lively port with busy central market area.

Cedi. Best to bring US dollars, German marks, UK pounds or French francs, other currencies exchange at unfavourable rates. Credit cards widely accepted. Forex bureaus offer better exchange rates than banks, but you may find it difficult to exchange travellers cheques outside Accra and Kumasi.

EXCHANGE RATE:

2595 cedi to the pound.

LANGUAGE:

English is the main language.

FOOD:

Soups (thick broths) are one of the staple meals.
Nkatenkwan: Groundnut soup with peanut butter, onions, tomatoes, and fish or meat.
Abenkwan: Pounded palm fruit and fish.
Shito: Pepper soup.
Nkita: Garden egg soup with fish and beef.

GETTING AROUND:

Coastal Highway is well surfaced. Other roads are patchy, drive on the right. Airlink flies three times a week from Accra to Kumasi and Tamale. Government bus service runs to 57 destinations. Also minivan bush taxis, fast, but uncomfortable and crowded. Good train service between main cities. Car hire available.