No place moved President Obama more than Ghana

WITH a fascinating, grim past and a thrilling present, Ghana has a great future.

Many Britons who have travelled in Africa swear by Ghana as the best place they visited, and as the continent has 54 countries, that’s really saying something!

Having a population of 27 million, Ghana is far from the biggest, but even Barack Obama admitted nowhere moved him more than this intriguing country.

That, however, was through sadness, rather than joy, as the US President and his wife and daughters stopped off at the terrifying Cape Coast Castle.

Built by Europeans to send timber back home, it became a slave centre, and for many Africans, it was the last time they’d see their country as free men.

The Door of no Return is a must-see for anyone travelling to Ghana literally, when they walked through this door, they were straight onto a ship to destination unknown, never to see freedom again.

The President was overwhelmed to see his two girls stand at the door and think that they were the family of a black American President.

As he said, thankfully, times have moved on, but the Castle is an interesting place to have a look around.

But so is Ghana itself, with the capital Accra worth a good few days of your time, or more if you can stay longer.

Stretching along the Atlantic, this was the capital of the British Gold Coast from 1877 to 1957, although they wouldn’t recognise the shining business centres and designer shops of today.

Fish, clothing, colourful bags and textiles bring in much of the money, and the tourists find themselves dipping into their wallets more than they expected!

While in Accra, you can’t miss the Nkrumah Memorial Park, and not just because it sticks out like a sore thumb, towering into the sky.

It’s in honour of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the founding father of Ghana and the man who gained independence from Britain!

He became Ghana’s first Prime Minister, later first President of the new Republic, only to be overthrown in a horrible coup in 1966.

If you’re interested to know how Ghana got from where it was to what it is today, and what it plans for the future, this is the place to go.

You’ll possibly be surprised at the number of Americans, Europeans and Asians who have come to live here permanently, and the wealth they help create has seen the old slum districts swept aside.

Things are on the up for everyone here, and as tourism is important, you’ll find yourself treated very well indeed.

The weather is pretty much the same all year round, meaning you could need the sun lotion in January, July or October, but it is seldom ferociously hot.

Kotoka International Airport is very close to the city, but as the taxis have no meters, haggle and get an agreed price before the driver puts his foot on the gas.

All he will want to discuss is footie, as Ghanaians are mad about the game. The big club here is Hearts Of Oak, surely one of the better names for a football team!

Ghana means Warrior King, and you will want to get out of the city to see the traditional tribal homes.

Baking with sand ovens and living in small thatched huts, it’s a real culture shock, as are the school classrooms with sand and mud for carpets!

Umbrella Rock, at Boti Falls in the Krobo District, looks for all the world as though the Lord created it to keep the locals dry.

Capable of sheltering 15 or so folk at a time, you wonder how it stays up, and the more-adventurous tourist can climb a ladder to get to the top.

The views of beautiful forests from up here make it worth every drop of sweat!

In fact, going the extra mile to reach Ghana, Africa’s Secret Jewel, is also well worth the effort to learn about a dark past, and a shining bright future.