Western Region

Ghana: Western Region
Population: 2,060,585

The region shares borders with the Central, Ashanti, and Brong-Ahafo regions and is located in the south-western section of Ghana. Its western border is shared with the nation of Cote D’Ivoire. The area offers 192 kilometers of tropical beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, and it has a tropical environment with consistent year-round moderate temperatures.  

Akans make up the majority of the local population in the Western Region, and they speak a variety of dialects, including Ahanta, Nzema, Sefwi, Wassa, Brosa, and Pepesa. Christianity, African Aminism, and Islam are the three main religions.  

The abundance of castles and European trading forts that are still accessible to tourists is evidence of the Western Region’s rich historical legacy. A magnificent collection of colonial forts can be seen in the area, including Fort Fredericksburg in Princes Town and Fort Antonio in Axim. Visitors are drawn to these castles and forts because they showcase the variety of architectural designs used by colonial commerce. Fort Apolonia at Bayin and Fort Metal Cross near Dixcove are of great significance. Many of these old structures look out over some of Ghana’s finest beaches, making them the ideal place to unwind following a tour.  

The historic stilted town of Nzulezu, established more than 500 years ago, is a “must see” for travelers to the Western Region. The community is 90 kilometers west of Takoradi and is fully perched on platforms and stilts as it looks out over the jungle-encircled Lake Tadane. The village’s name, which translates from the Nzema language as “Surface Water,” symbolizes how it blends in with the water-dominated surrounding environment. Local lore claims that a group from Oualata, a city in the former Ghana Empire, founded the community-based wetland reserve after being guided there by a snail. Due to its significance in ethnography, Nzulezu, one of the last remaining ancient communities on stilts, was designated a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2000. Today, it is a significant tourist destination with a stunning variety of uncommon species. Except on Thursdays, which are holy days, visitors can rent a dugout canoe or even spend the night in a guest house on the water.