Explore the top tourist spots in Ghana, Cape Coast Castle and more!

 

On July 11, 2009, US President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and their daughters, Malia and Sasha, took a tour of Cape Coast Castle in Ghana. SHAWN THEW/EPA

 

Every year, thousands of people from all over the world, including African-Americans, travel to Ghana to take advantage of the greatest tourism experience the nation has to offer. Are you considering traveling to this friendly nation on Africa's west coast as well? As a writer from Ghana, this article will provide you with enough information and make your visit to that West African hospital joyful and fulfilling.

 

One of the most easily accessible and secure travel destinations in West Africa is Ghana, which offers a wealth of historical and cultural activities, as well as several outdoor experiences, stunning hotels, dining options, and fascinating sites to see. It takes more than one day to tour Ghana; in addition to Accra, there are other regions to visit.

 

Learning more about the people's culture, traditions, and legacy can be facilitated by engaging in an enjoyable experience. There are many locations to explore, including the Aburi Gardens, Atimpoku, and Akosombo, where you may learn about plants and how the inhabitants use them for medicinal purposes. Other enjoyable activities that tourists can partake in while exploring include boat cruises, kayaking, swimming, shopping, and sightseeing.

 

Traveling doesn't always mean unwinding; some trips immerse you in the past. Cape Coast Castle, which stands steadfastly on Ghana's Atlantic coast, is one such location. Every visitor to West Africa should see this scene at least once in their lifetime; it is both tragic and beautiful.

 

Swedish traders constructed Cape Coast Castle in the 17th century, and the British later strengthened and enlarged it. It developed into one of the most well-known locations for the transatlantic slave trade. Even though slavery was abolished decades ago, the hushed echoes of suffering, fortitude, and survival reverberate through its walls. The remnants of slavery are still visible in Ghana today.

 

The "door of no return” is the last point of the dungeon where the journey of the transportation of slaves begins. Thousands of enslaved Africans were shipped from Africa to the United States of America. Today, people from all over the world come to visit the place where their ancestors were illegally and forcefully captured and taken to wealthy nations to work as slaves. 

 

It is not a lighthearted experience to see the Cape Coast Castle, as the tour guide leads you through gloomy, oppressive dungeons where hundreds of people were crammed together without hope, light, or fresh air. Additionally, you will see the governor's quarters, the women's dungeon, and the castle museum, which houses documents, relics, and photographs from the time.

 

Cape Coast Castle, however, is about more than simply grief; it's also about remembering, overcoming, and rediscovering. It serves as a site of spiritual meditation for many tourists, particularly Africans and persons of African origin. It is a sobering and transforming experience to stand on those stones, listen to the waves crashing, and tread the same trails as those who were taken.

The Kakum National Park

Tourists who do not visit "The Kakum National Park," a 360-square-kilometer semi-deciduous rain forest located north of Cape Coast in Ghana's Central Region, will find their trip to the country meaningless or lacking. With its well-known canopy walk that offers an aerial perspective of the rainforest, the park is a good choice for backpackers seeking a distinctive experience.

 

Although there is a good chance of seeing monkeys and interesting bird species during the stroll through the lush forest, large game is not to be expected. You may enjoy the peace because admission is affordable. There aren't many camping alternatives, and there aren't many inexpensive places to stay; you might have to commute and stay in neighboring towns.

 

Previously administered by the Forestry Department to harvest timber, the park is today a popular tourist destination. Thanks to the Scientific Research Team that carried out wildlife studies and determined that the location is suitable for tourism, bringing the timber harvesting to an end. Elephants, bongos, duikers, antelopes, and a diverse range of birds are among the stunning species that can be observed.

 

Taking part in the canopy walking at Kakum National Park

Nearly four hundred species of butterflies have been discovered by the nation's natural scientists, and two that are unique to the country have been found. Join folks strolling along the Kuntan route in the forest. The park of trees, plants, and traditional medicines is reached by following the trail. The Kuntan tree is one of the trees discovered. The tree's skin is used to heal broken bones. "Uapacca Guiniensis" is its scientific name.

 

Other materials include "Bediwunia" (incest) for pomade and fumigation, and Kaku, the wood used to build railroad lines. The guides meticulously explain the meaning of each tree as you traverse the two-kilometer guided walk around the park. Please don't worry about where to take a rest when you're worn out and overworked.

 

There are resting points that have been thoughtfully constructed using some of the forest's wood. One crucial element is that nothing on the trail may be removed, no matter how lovely it may be. The trail walk often lasts two hours because of the explanations given to the tourists by the guides.

 

The administration block features a wonderful display of the elephant's skull, the bongo's horn, and several butterfly species. Restaurants and the African gift shop, which features local artwork, are open to travelers. The drive to Kakum National Park is not complicated. Immediately behind Jukwa, a tiny rural community, the enormous signboard proclaims, "You are welcome to Kakum National Park."

Echoes Of The Cries Of Slaves At Cape Coast Castle

Male and female slaves dungeons of the Cape Coast Castle

The mere mention of slavery brings bad memories, as it harbored unimaginable evil act, as thousands of Africans were captured under inhuman circumstances into overcrowded dungeons and transported across the Atlantic to the New World.

 

Even though slavery is long abolished, the African still bears the psychological scars, as he fights to regain his lost identity and respect among mankind on the surface of the earth today.

 

The slave trade in Ghana mainly took place in coastal towns, but I wish to write about Cape Coast, my country of birth, which was the center of the British slave trade for almost 150 years. Cape Coast is located in the central region of Ghana.

 

Image of the Cape Coast Castle, where thousands of African slaves were shipped to the United States of America

It was the capital of Gold Coast between 1700 until 1877 when the capital was shifted to Accra. Ghana replaced the Gold Coast when the country achieved its independence in 1957.

 

Echoes of sad music in the air can be heard from Cape Coast, attracting thousands of tourists including African-Americans and other Africans in the Diaspora to visit the place, where their ancestors were packed like a sardine into ships for slavery. 

 

There is a proverb in Ghana which says “a man doesn't cry.” I’m beginning to question this proverb if it has any elements of truth because any African in the Diaspora who visits Cape Coast castle can’t hold back his or her tears.

 

The psychological effect and emotions over Cape Coast Castle, which still has the remnants of the slave trade, are unbearable. President Obama, wife, Michelle, and children can’t forget the experience of touring the preserved sites. Also, the wife of Donald Trump, Melanie, visited Cape Coast.

 

One can’t escape the cold waves which go through the spine. Even though many Africans in the Diaspora haven’t been to Ghana to trace their roots or visit Cape Coast, others had. 

The Pan African Historical Festival, simply called PANAFEST is a cultural event which has brought thousands of African-Americans to visit Cape Coast.

 

Visiting Cape Coast Castle to understand the pain and the suffering endured by the millions of slaves is an important step for African-Americans and other Africans in the Diaspora to be closer to Africa. 

It is sad to note that many hate to be referred to as Africans, even though history about their origin isn’t a fabricated story.

 

It seems that’s the way to help forget this bitter experience, but there is nothing satisfying than visiting the continent of your origin to discover the reality aspects of a sad journey.

 

Forts and castles built by Europeans between 1482 and 1786, serving as slave depots are still visible in Ghana. Apart from the Cape Coast Castle, are also Elmina and Christiansburg Castles.  

How African slaves were crammed into a ship and taken away to America

Ghana invites you. Be part of other tourists to visit Cape Coast, to see the male dungeon, female dungeon, remnants and the reality of cruelty of slavery, committed by White Slave Masters.

HORRIFIC IMAGES OF A SAD JOURNEY AND BRUTALITIES AGAINST AFRICAN-AMERICANS

African-Americans were subjected to all kinds of cruelties, including lynching and hanging because of the colour of the skin

How much more can African-Americans take? According to history, the first slave ship from Africa arrived in the US colony of Virginia in 1619. From there on, without any rest African slaves, struggling to be accepted as human beings or Americans, today, were subjected to all kinds of cruelties, dehumanization, and discrimination.

This article is to present in images of the horror, killings, racism, discrimination that have been perpetrated against African-Americans, ever since they disembarked from the slave ships till today.

The beginning of the sad story of African-Americans

• Image of the Cape Coast Castle, where thousands of African slaves were shipped from Africa to the United States of America

• How African slaves were crammed into a ship and taken away to America

• Thousands of African-American slaves under brutal conditions, worked with tears in the cotton fields. 

• The Klu Klux Klan, a racial hate group, terrorized African-Americans and burned down their houses

• African-Americans were lynched and hanged by white Americans because of the colour of his skins

• Police brutality against blacks in America has been taking place for ages with impunity

It will be an infinite task if I have to continue posting horrific images of brutalities against African-Americans. The African-Americans never called for slavery but the wake up one morning to see themselves in a strange land. They never called for the lynching and hanging but they have been caught in between such crimes with impunity.

There is a significant Ghanaian proverb which says, "A child who wouldn't allow his or her parents to sleep by crying the whole night, will also not sleep. If it's the wish or desire for some people to kill blacks or cause them harm because of the colour of the skin or hate, they will never know peace.

They will never have the sweet taste of peace because when the rain falls, it doesn't fall on one man's roof. Since violence affects everyone in society, they will have their share and impact on society from the senseless racial problem and hate they started.

Obama's historical visit to Ghana

Obama in Ghana


U.S President Barack Obama, like many heads of state, has Africa in his mind or on his agenda to work with. Africa, many times, is like a continent totally neglected, but the fact is, there is no head of state that could push the continent aside because of its vast mineral resources, which the developed and developing countries depend on.

Obama chose Ghana as his first country in Africa because of the country's peaceful political events on the path to democracy. Ghana, formerly called "Gold Coast," gained independence in 1957, and recently had its fifth successive civilian government elected since 1992.

It is Ghana's political success of peaceful democracy that caught the attention of Obama to choose the country as his first country to visit after his inauguration as the president of the United States of America, a couple of months ago. 

The American president was welcomed at the airport by President John Evans Atta Mills, also a newly elected president under the umbrella of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), amidst drumming and dancing at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, the capital.

"Akwaaba," welcome, says the Ghanaian president to Obama. Here, I can't explain in detail the happiness and the delight that accompanied the family of Obama family as they stepped on the Ghanaian soil for the first time.

In a speech at a fully packed convention center, Obama said, " I have come to Ghana for a simple reason. The 21st century will be shaped by what happens not just in Rome or Moscow or Washington, but what happens in Accra as well."

Obama hit hard on corruption, which has been the only tool that has crippled and is still crippling the economy of Africa in general. He reminds African leaders of the task on their shoulders as heads of state, by taking the masses that brought them into power into consideration. 

He called on the Africans to build democracy, create employment, fight corruption, and end the conflicts in Africa, which he called 'a millstone around Africa's neck.'

After touring many interesting places, the president and his family were emotionally moved when they visited the slave dungeon at the Cape Coast Castle. The slave trade was long abolished, but the grim terror was still fresh in the minds of African-Americans who came on a visit to Cape Coast Castle. 

The shackles and the chains used to bind the slaves over three hundred years ago are still there to be seen. After his emotional tour, Obama described the slave trade as one of the evils committed against humanity.

He commended Ghana for preserving the castle and those who contributed to the abolition of slavery. He said the essence of the tour was to learn about the oppression that African Americans went through and to interact ancestral lineage. 

"As somebody whose father comes from Africa, I'm pleased this visit has been particularly meaningful for me." He concluded.