I travelled to Ghana during the first week of the year for a wedding. It wasn’t my first time in Ghana, as I had visited twice before. The first time I visited Ghana, I was in secondary school. It was for a French excursion by road. We travelled to Lome, Togo, for a week and spent only a day in Ghana.

The second time was for a family weekend getaway, I almost didn’t make it because I didn’t realise my passport had expired. I remember going to the mall, Kumasi market and club hopping all through the night. This time around, though, everything seemed different. I guess it’s because I’m a lot older and able to appreciate travelling better.

As usual, when I travel outside my state or country of residence, I write a travel post. So get ready for fun or not, facts about Accra, Ghana below;

1. It is really HOT:

This should have come as no shock to me because I live in Nigeria, and it’s hot 95% of the time, but the heat in Accra is different. The sun is different, too. You don’t realise how hot it is until you either start dripping in sweat or have a proper look at your skin and realise how tan it is. Let’s just say I got three shades darker in three days, and I didn’t spend all the hours in the sun.

2. Ghana is the 4th Location on CNN Travel’s 19 places To Visit in 2019

CNN published this while I was in Ghana, which made it exciting. Unfortunately, I was in Accra for a wedding, and I stayed for just three days. I attended the engagement and the white wedding, but I also managed to squeeze in time to see the city. I managed to see the Independence Arch, the Accra Arts Centre, Chez Clarrise, Osu Oxford Street, and the famous Buka Restaurant.

3. The Kotoka International Airport in Accra is World Class

I had heard about this airport and may have seen photos too, but being there was a totally different experience. We really need a world-class airport in Nigeria.

4. It is Really Easy To Get A Taxi

On the road, there are more taxis than regular cars, and I’m not even exaggerating. We tried to use Uber twice, but the trips never occurred. At the airport, when we arrived, we booked an Uber, and the cab never showed. We were later told by the airport officials that Uber are not allowed to pick up passengers at the terminal. We tried again on the same day when we were heading out. The driver accepted the trip, but he was really far away, and we told him to cancel. After that, we hailed cabs easily along the road and brought our bargaining game on.

5. Every Bottled Water & Soda Has A Barcode On The Lid

Now this is something I really liked!!! With the way any company can wake up one day and start producing water in Nigeria, even without waiting for NAFDAC registration, I think this is something we should imbibe. Every water I drank during my stay in Ghana had a barcode on the lid. It just made you feel safe. I also had a club soda at a restaurant, and my sisters had other drinks, which all had barcodes on them.

6. OSU is the plug For Everything

At the hotel’s front desk, we asked what we could do for fun, and the lady suggested visiting Osu. We also asked the lady at the shop in the hotel, and she said the same thing, so off we went to Osu. We didn’t know what to expect, and I didn’t remember much from my last visit, but when we got to Osu, we understood why. Everything is located in Osu, including various restaurants, bars, clubs, and malls, as well as tourist sites such as the Independence Arch, Osu Castle, the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, and the Accra Arts Centre. I also walked on the popular Oxford Street, though I was dripping in sweat.

7. I Didn’t Have To Tell Anyone I’m Nigerian

There was an automatic tell. I don’t know, maybe it’s because a lot of Nigerians visit Ghana. After all, it’s just an hour flight. I got told statements that started with “your people” and “you Nigerians”. Sometimes, there was also an unfriendly vibe from the people I interacted with, but anyway, one Ghanaian does not represent all Ghanaians, and one Nigerian does not represent every Nigerian.

8. Accra Felt Like Home

Most places kind of felt familiar, even though I had never been there. I never felt out of place for one minute. Unlike Lagos, though, most places are rural. We actually blended right in until we spoke, and our Nigerian accents gave us away. We tried to speak like Ghanaians a few times, and it was totally hilarious.

9. Fruits Are Juicy

The fruits in Accra are so juicy that one day we went for breakfast just to eat fruit. It’s okay, you can laugh, I laughed now just thinking about it. Guess what? We came back to Nigeria with fruits. Big juicy mangoes, apples, pears and grapes.

10. Exotic Cars Are Rare To Find

We found it strange that we rarely saw fast cars on the roads in Accra, and we spent more time outdoors than indoors. When we spotted a Benz, we had to shout (please don’t come for me). Unlike Nigeria, where there are more exotic cars than familiar ones, it’s the other way around in Accra.

I want to visit again, but this time, I want to go to Ada. It has been described as the best escape location. Yes, I spent some time at Labadi beach, and the hotel I stayed at, Le Palm Royal Beach Hotel, was luxurious, but I’m a beach girl, and Wizkid’s Fever video is still on my mind.

Thanks for reading.

Have you ever been to Accra? Would you like to visit?

Mariam Shittu