Welcome to Ghana. Today was one of those days you hold close to your heart. The people of Ghana filled our hearts. The smiles, friendliness, banter, and conversations as we toured the fishing village were all we needed.
Our excursion with Regent Cruises on the beautiful Splendor as we sail the West coast of Africa from Lisbon was called the Twin City of Sekondi & Takoradi, primarily a panoramic drive through the cities and a visit to a local Fishing village where we could observe the lively activity of Albert Bosomtwi-Sam Fishing Harbour.
We walked around the bustling fishing harbour and chatted with the young lads who spent their days living on the fishing boats and sometimes weeks at sea on their fishing expeditions.
Today was a rest day for the fishermen, so they were busy with domestic duties such as laundry and resting. There was also a fish market where you could buy all life's essentials. We loved watching everyone huddle around a bucket of fish, bidding for the best batch.
Everyone was delightful. Our walk around was followed by a tour of the ice-making plant and a demonstration of how the ice blocks are created. Clearly, they needed to keep the fish fresh at sea, up to 15 tonnes of ice per day by the plant. Each ice block was sold for 20 GHS, which converts to 1.31 EUR. It was very enlightening watching the process and seeing the final results.
After saying goodbye to our new friends at the harbour, we were treated to a cultural show at a local resort. The performance was incredible, full of local talent, and we enjoyed some local refreshments and cold drinks—especially the delicious banana chips!
The cultural performance was vibrant, showcasing the incredible musical and dance talents of the young performers from Ghana. Witnessing their captivating display firsthand was truly a highlight. Their ability to bring the stage to life with their energetic and artistic dancing is a testament to their rich cultural heritage. They truly know how to dance!
Let's wrap up the day with some fun facts about Ghana. Nestled on the vibrant coast of the Gulf of Guinea in Western Africa, it might be small in size and population, but it packs a punch on the continent. It's rich in natural resources and was the first black African country south of the Sahara to gain independence from colonial rule, which is pretty awesome.
Sekondi has a fascinating history – the Dutch and the British built forts there in the 17th century, which the Ahanta demolished. The Dutch rebuilt Fort Orange, which the British later bought in 1872, and it still stands today as a lighthouse. Sekondi saw prosperity in the early 1900s with the railroad to the goldfields. However, as often happens, progress shifted gears with the creation of the Takoradi artificial harbour in 1928, making the Sekondi surf port less critical. By 1946, Sekondi and Takoradi's twin cities merged into a single municipality and officially became one city in 1963.
Today, Sekondi-Takoradi is a bustling port city with around 250,000 residents. Sekondi offers a charming mix of old and new buildings across a hilly seashore landscape. The old port, repurposed for fishing and leisure boats, also hosts a nearby naval station. Meanwhile, Takoradi stands out with its thoughtful planning, modern infrastructure, and lush, tree-lined residential areas.
Ghana people have the most beautiful smiles. 😁