Ghana pulsates with life. From the bustle of downtown Accra to the atmospheric adobe villages of the north, from the ancient Kingdom of Asante to the medieval mosques of Larabanga and Bole, it is a country whose immense cultural diversity both thrills and fascinates visitors, drawing them into a daily rhythm that is uniquely and unmistakingly African. A common feature of all Ghanaian cultures is a love of festivals. Barely a week goes by without one or other town or village holding its major annual celebration, while everyday personal events such as funerals, name-giving ceremonies and weddings tend also to be imbued with something of a carnival atmosphere.

The normal starting point for exploring Ghana is the historical capital Accra , one of the safest and most navigable of African cities, and brimming with interest. Accra's atmospheric older quarters, Usshertown and Jamestown, are characterized by an architectural cocktail spanning several centuries, spiced with striking landmarks such as the 17 th century Osu Castle and Jamestown Lighthouse , the more modern Independence Arch and Nkrumah Mausoleum, and the lively fishing market. Modern Accra is epitomized by Cantonments Road , more widely known as Oxford Street in reference to its cosmopolitan array of quality restaurants and fast food joints, trendy bars and internet cafes, and well-stocked supermarkets and boutiques.

Ghana 's second city, Kumasi , is the traditional capital of the Asante people, heirs to a centuries-old kingdom that once sprawled from its core in central Ghana into what are now Cote d'Ivoire , Togo , and Burkina Faso . Better known outsiders as Ashanti , Asante was the last and most enduring of a succession of centralized states that controlled the goldmines of Obuasi, though its wealth and influence was also linked to the ample supply of captives it provided to coastal slave traders. Traditional Ashanti landmarks include a beautiful 300-year old fetish shrine at Besease, the royal kente weaving village of Bonwire, and Manhyia Palace, where the Asante King sits in session every sixth Sunday, heralded by a procession of dignitaries and a fanfare of exuberant drumming and horn blowing that capture the pageantry of Asante's past.

here is also the coastal Fante Kingdom , Asante 's southern counterpart and traditional rival, centred on Mankessim and incorporating the ports of Cape Coast , Elmina, Anomabu, Saltpond and Winneba, where local fishermen still ply their trade in colourful pirogues, and life is ruled by the whimsical winds and tides of the ancient Atlantic . The north of Ghana , by contrast, has strong cultural links to the sandy Sahel , clearly visible in the local style dating back to medieval times, and the captivating mud architecture of villages such as Paga, Sirigu and Labaranga.