Solid Rock Executive Travel & Tours

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF THE CENTRAL REGION

The central region is the former government centre of the Gold Coast. Cape Coast was the seat of the British colonial Administration up until 1877. The coastline is famous for its ancient forts and castles built by the early European traders and three of them at Elmina, Jago, and Cape Coast have been identified as World Heritage Monuments by the Heritage Foundation under UNESCO

The region is also famous for its palm-fringed beaches. Fascinating fishing villages and historic towns and rich natural attractions. Kakoum National Park is the foremost nature reserve in the southern Ghana and is well worth a visit. Almost untouched virgin forests have been preserved as a habitat for birds, butterflies and rare local animals.

The Castles of Ghana

The castles along the coast of the central region are amongst the best preserved in Ghana. Not to be missed are Cape-Coast Castle, Elmina Castle and Fort St Jago. Local highlights include:

	The castles along the coast of the central region are amongst the best preserved in Ghana. Not to be missed are Cape-Coast Castle, Elmina Castle and Fort St Jago.
*Cape Coast Castle*		Elmina Castle

Castle Tours :include

The slave dungeons
The Cape Coast castle Museum

Walking tours of Elmina:

The 19th century Dutch cemetery
The fishermen’s market
Posuban Shrines

Kakoum National Park

A 375 km square national park comprising undisturbed virgin rainforest. Excellent walking tours (and canopy walkway) provide opportunity to see much of Ghana’s indigenous plant life as well as rare butterflies birds and game (that could include the extraordinary bongo and forest elephant). Highlights include: Forest walks, treetop canopy walkway, bird-watching, and medicinal plants

Beaches of the central region

Beach lovers will enjoy our palm-fringed beaches warmed by African sunshine, where the surf ranges from gentle rollers to sizable breakers. Popular spots are:

Brenu Beach –15mins from Elmina
Winneba – with Sir Charles beach resort
Elmina –Close to the historic castles
Gomoa Fetteh – popular with picnickers

Traditional Fishing Villages

Along the coast of the central region are a succession of busy fishing villages and traditional market towns that reflect the distinct cultures of the district. Visitors to all the villages will be welcomed with traditional Ghanaian hospitality.

Of particular interest are:

Winneba: famous for its fishing fleet, masqueraders' festival and local ceramics

Mankessim: well known for its Posuban shrine and busy market.

Kromatse/Abandze: twin-fishing villages one of the important trading centres to which the late Louis Armstrong, the great Jazz player traced his ancestry

Craft Villages

The villagers of the central region are famous for their traditional crafts that are still worked just as their forefathers worked them for generations. They all make great souvenirs of your visit to the central region. Of particularly importance are:

Winneba – famous for its beautiful and unusual ceramics
Gomoa-Otsew-Jukwa - a village of pottery makers


	Stilt Dancers		Aboakyer Game Hunters		Masqueraders

The regions culture is depicted through its many exciting festivals which are held thoughout the year. Some of the best-known festivals are:

PANAFEST: Pan-African Festival of Art And Culture

This Pan-African Historic Festival is a major biennial event of cultural forum for Africans and people of African descent as well as friends of the continent committed to the noble cause of Pan-Africanism

The venues for the Panafest are the historical towns of Cape Coast and Elmina. The festival is a celebration of African cultural values, history and civilization. This consists of:

	a. Performances and workshops in theatre, drama, music, cinema, poetry, colloquia and lectures. b. Colourful traditional durbar of chiefs and people of Ghana c. Tours/excursions to places of interest such as the slave castle dungeons
*Cape Coast Castle Museum*

Edina 'Bakatue’ Festival

It literally means 'the opening of Benya Lagoon into the sea', which symbolizes the beginning of the fishing season to the people of Elmina but also commemorates the founding of the town of Elmina by the Europeans. There is a royal procession made up of gorgeously dressed chiefs and stool carriers, some riding in beautifully decorated palanquins.There is a spectacular ride on the lagoon by women splendidly decorated in 'Kente' cloth and local festive headgear. A royal procession leading to the chief's palace amidst traditional music ends the festival.

'Edina Bronya’

It is a native version of Christmas celebrated by the people of Elmina on the first Thursday of the New Year.It was introduced to them during the Dutch era of the colonial period and is celebrated to symbolize the bond of friendship between the Dutch and people of Elmina. On the eve of the festival, the paramount chief climbs up Fort St Jago and fires shots at mid-night to usher in the New Year.

'Aboakyer’ (Deer Hunt Festival)'

Aboakyer’ or game-hunting one of the most famous festivals celebrated by the people of Winneba on the first Saturday in May. 'Aboakyer' literally means 'catching a live animal'. The two Asafo companies using only sticks and clubs move into their hunting grounds first thing in the morning.The group that brings the live deer for the Omanhene(chief) to step on three times and sacrificed to the gods is declared the winner of the year.

Oguaa Fetu Festival

Also called the 'Fetu Afahye' festival is celebrated by the people of Oguaa or Cape Coast traditional area. The festival is named after the 17th century Fetu or Efutu kingdom located some 19km inland of Cape Coast. It is celebrated with a durbar of chiefs and the people of Cape-Coast on the first Saturday of September. A regatta or boat race is organised on the lagoon by various fishermen's groups in the municipality. A grand durbar climaxes the festival.

‘Odambea’

It is celebrated on the last Saturday of August in Saltpond Traditional Area

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