Although the Central Region is well-known for its senior high schools, which are sought after by many students, and its abundance of minerals that they produce.
It is extremely popular for its tourist sites and is even dubbed “the heartbeat of Ghana tourism”.
Year in and year out, crowds of tourists travel to the Central Region to learn more about colonization and the slave trade, experience wildlife, and nature and enjoy what the beaches offer.
Thus, this article is for you if you have never been and would want to visit the Central Region or if you’ve visited once but would love to go again. Read on as I share some tourist sites in the Central Region.
Tourist Sites In Central Region
Here are the top 5 tourist sites in the Central Region:
- Cape Coast Castle
- Elmina Castle
- Kakum National Park
- Posuban Shrines
- International Stingless Bee Centre
Cape Coast Castle
Designated a World Heritage site, the Cape Coast Castle is situated in Cape Coast in the Central Region and is the largest castle in Ghana.
The castle played a central role in many parts of Ghana’s history, such as the gold and enslaved person trade, the arrival and propagation of Christianity, and the establishment of the formal education system through the castle schools.
Visitors to the castle are taken on a tour and shown important parts like the slave dungeons, Dalzel tower, door of no return, and many others.
Visitors can also view the ceremonial drums, ancient pottery, and old muskets in the West African Historical Museum on the premises.
The castle is open daily from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm and can be reached on 0577101707.
Cape Coast Castle Entrance Fees
Entrance rates are as follows;
- Primary and JHS pupils – GHS 1
- SHS students – GHS 2
- Tertiary students with ID – GHS 3
- Ghanaian adults – GHS 5
- Foreign children – GHS 5
- International students with ID – GHS 30
- Adult foreigners – GHS 40
Cape Coast Castle Location And Contact Details
- The castle is open daily from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm and can be reached on 0577101707.
- Location: Victoria Rd, Cape Coast
Elmina Castle
Also called St. George’s castle, Elmina Castle has been made a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It was the first trading post built in Ghana. As such, it is the oldest colonial building in existence in Ghana.
The castle initially served as a trading post for gold, but this later changed to slave trading.
It has also served as a Police recruit training centre, a secondary school, and is now a historical museum.
Visitors are guided to the St. George’s Castle Museum located within the castle and educated on the castle’s history as well as the cultural heritage of the Central Region.
Exhibits include gold weights, local textiles, stools, and so on.
Elmina Castle Entrance Fees
Entrance rates are as follows;
- Primary and JHS pupils – GHS 1
- SHS students – GHS 2
- Tertiary students with ID – GHS 3
- Ghanaian adults – GHS 5
- Foreign children – GHS 5
- International students with ID – GHS 30
- Adult foreigners – GHS 40
Elmina Castle Location And Contact Address
- Tourists can visit the castle daily from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm and reach the castle on 0201796793.
- Location: 3MM2+4R3, Elmina
Kakum National Park
You can’t make a list of tourist attractions in the Central Region without adding the famous Kakum National Park.
Found in the Assin Attandanso Reserve, the Kakum National Park, and Canopy Walkway is a sight to behold, with its sky-high trees, numerous wildlife, and amazing scenery.
Its best-known feature is undoubtedly the canopy walkway, one of only 3 places in Africa that can boast of a 350-meter-long canopy bridge linking the tops of 7 trees.
Other features the park has to offer include trails, guided walks, and bird watching.
Another perk of this park is that it is child-friendly and, thus, perfect for a family visit.
Kakum National Park Canopy Walkway Rates
Canopy walkway rates are as follows;
Ghanaian adult – GHS 25
Tertiary student – GHS 13
Secondary school student – GHS 6
Primary pupil – GHS 4
Adult foreigner – GHS 60
Foreign tertiary student – GHS 40
Foreign high school student – GHS 40
Foreign primary pupil – GHS 30
Kakum National Park Location And Contact Details
- Opening hours are from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm, and you can contact the park on 0200420831.
- Location: 9J29+26 Odumase Abrafo
Posuban Shrines
These interesting shrines can be found in the old cities like Mankessim, Elmina and Anomabu, all located in the Central Region.
A “posuban” is the religious centre of an Asafo company. Many years ago, the Asafo company’s duty was to protect the clan or village.
However, as the years went by, they lost their military value and now serve a more ceremonial role in the community.
These shrines are hard to miss as they are brightly coloured and contain numerous sculptures, each depicting a unique story.
Posuban Shrines Location
Location: 3JPX+FF7, Elmina
International Stingless Bee Centre
Found in Odumase Abrafo in the Central Region, this ecological park is next to Kakum National Park and serves as a sanctuary for stingless bees.
The centre is also involved in international research, besides its main job of beekeeping. Visitors are educated on the rare stingless bee species.
Hey, you can also view and identify the differences between the species and are also treated to a bit of the honey produced by the bees.
International Stingless Bee Centre Location And Contact Details
Working hours: The bee centre is open to visitors from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on Mondays to Saturdays and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Sundays.
- Contact number: 0271134449.
- Location: 8JP9+JM Odumase Abrafo
Conclusion
With all these lovely spots mentioned above, nothing should hold you back from visiting the Central Region and experiencing these tourist attractions for yourself.
You can learn about the slave trade at the Cape Coast and Elmina Castles, experience fascinating wildlife at Kakum National Park, and also learn about stingless bees at the international stingless bees centre.
You can learn more about tourist attractions in other regions in Ghana such as tourist attractions in Accra and the Eastern region.
