What to do?

Fort Prinzenstein

Besides being a holiday destination, it’s important to point out that Keta is also home to a dark period of history. Fort Prinzenstein was originally built by Danish traders as a defense during the Sagbadre War but later became a place of slave trade. It’s one of the many forts in Ghana where slaves were taken away from their families and were brought abroad without ever returning. Today, Fort Prinzenstein is a World Heritage Site that is partially destroyed by the sea – just like many other parts of the city that were destroyed by sea erosion -.

Cape St. Paul Light House

Before coming to Keta, I’ve been recommended to visit Cape St. Paul Light House. It’s located in Woe, which is a bit out of Keta, so bear in mind that you’ll be spending some time and money on getting there (approximately 6 GHS one-way). This particular lighthouse was built by the Dutch in 1901 and is now still in use. To be completely honest, I’m not sure if I put it on my “recommended things to do in Keta” list – but just letting you know it’s out there. For a small fee, you’ll be allowed to go to the top.

The beach

Of course, the ultimate activity to do at Keta is to relax and enjoy the beach. Sunrise, day time or sunset, they are all good moments to be out and about on the beach. You’ll encounter local tourists, foreign tourists, fishermen, etc. At sunset, you’ll get the chance to enjoy a short while of horseback riding.

Keta Lagoon

Since we’re still on the topic of water… Did you know that the Keta Lagoon is the largest lagoon in Ghana? Unfortunately, due to climate change and human activity (fishing and salt mining), the lagoon has started to dry up. It’s possible to visit the salt mines, or just walk along the lagoon at some parts. Usually, your transportation will drive past the lagoon when getting into the city.

Where to accommodate?

In Keta, there is something for everyone. Whether you like luxury or sleeping in a hut: everything is possible. My personal favorite goes out to A&Y Wild Camp. It’s the perfect hideout spot located on the beach. This space offers several comfortable huts where you can escape the busy street life of Ghana.

The complete opposite of A&Y Wild Camp is the Aborigines Beach Resort, which I do not recommend because it’s far from sustainable and quite expensive. But hey, to each his taste. I explored a more affordable hotel next to this resort, named the Keta Beach Hotel (-+ 70 GHS for a twin room in 2021).

Foodwise, you could either choose to dine at the hotel or go for street food. My travel partner and I discovered one very recommendable restaurant: the Cocobay Beach Bar and Grill.

Convinced yet to visit? You could consider continuing the journey to Ada Foah and Big Ada. Contact Emo Foundation to fulfill all your needs

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Since this big event, the 6th of March is a national day of celebration.

Independence for Ghana – briefly explained

Before colonial presence, the country consisted of a number of independent empires, with the Ashanti being the most powerful one. Because of its abundance of natural resources (gold, fruit, ivory, etc.), European countries had many interests in claiming the land for themselves. And so, after much resistance by the Ashanti, they did. The British rule came to an end after the Second World War when the colonizing country had weakened and lost its overall strength. This and the Convention People’s Party in 1949 are the main reasons that led to the independence of the Republic of Ghana. The Convention People’s Party was led by Kwame Nkrumah (first Prime minister and President) and had the goal of more self-governance for the native people.

Of course, their way to independence was much more than what’s stated in this short article. Like historian Adu Boahen says “Independence was not given on a silver platter but won by blood”.

On the day of independence, Kwame Nkrumah gave an encouraging speech to the people of Ghana, of which his words are still celebrated today. The full speech can be found here.

The flag and its meaning

A new flag, as we know it today, was introduced as the country finally became free from colonial rule. It was created by Theodosia Salome Okoh: a Ghanian artist and introducer of hockey in her country.

The Ghana flag is full of meaning: the black five-pointed star situated in the middle of the flag signifies the emancipation of Africa and unity against colonialism. This star-symbol was introduced by Marcus Garvey during the Pan-Africanism movement. Just like the black star, the colors carry their own meaning too:

In the following video Youtuber Bianca from Bee’s Corner tells you 5 facts about Ghana, including more information on the black star

A message to my readers

This article is merely a brief summary of Ghana Independence Day. There is so much more to learn. Please consult our friend Google to get to know more about the history. I’d also like to emphasize that the country’s history pre-colonization is equally interesting and important to know. Unfortunately, this history is not taught in western schools. Educate yourself

Cheers!

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