Ghana
is situated in West Africa and is a rectangular-shaped country bounded to the
north by Burkina Faso, the east by Togo, the south by the Atlantic Ocean and the
west by Côte d'Ivoire. A narrow grassy plain stretches inland from the coast,
widening in the east, while the south and west are covered by dense rainforest.
To the north are forested hills beyond which is dry savannah and open woodland.
In the far north is a plateau averaging 500m (1600ft) in height. In the east the
Akuapim Togo hills run inland from the coast along the Togo border. The Black
and White Volta rivers enter Ghana from Burkina Faso merging into the largest
man-made lake in the world, Lake Volta. Ghana's coastline is dotted with sandy
palm-fringed beaches and lagoons.
Ghana's
coastline is dotted with sandy palm-fringed beaches and lagoons. The capital,
Accra, features the Makola Market, a large and busy open-air market. Kumasi is
the historic capital of the Ashanti civilisation, where ruins of the Manhyia
Palace and the Royal Mausoleum burnt down by Lord Baden-Powell may be examined.
In the northeast, the Boufom Wildlife Sanctuary contains the spectacular
Banfabiri Falls. Mole National Park is recommended. Species of antelope, monkeys,
lions and elephants can all be seen on guided excursions. Local dishes include
traditional soups (palmnut, groundnut), Kontomere and Okro stews that are
normally accompanied by fufu (pounded cassava), kenkey or gari. In Accra and
other major centres there are nightclubs combining a selection of Western pop
music and spectacular Ghanaian music and dancing.