Wednesday, 26 February 2014

Top 5 Restaurants in Accra

  For visitors or people resident in Accra and are on the look out for a special treat, I can assure you that  Accra is home to some exceptional restaurants known for hot cuisine. Predictably, some of the best are French, but you can  find Asian and Italian foods served in most of the finest restaurants in ghana, you can also get local dishes at its best. Prices range from reasonable to budget-busting - be prepared - but if you're after fresh, expertly-crafted dishes, attractive surroundings and the chance to mix with Accra's elite, these spots are where to eat.

5) Buka


















Strategically located close to the centre of Osu, Buka is, without any doubt, one of the best to have lunchcity. More often than not it has the full tables to show for it. Set on the first floor, so there’s a sense of escape from the throng, with lively music and wraparound wooden trellises adding to the ambience. The food they provide are mainly that of  Ghanaian and Nigerian specialties – dishes include okra stew and eba (a dough ball eaten with stews). Service can slow down during busy lunches.

4) Maquis Tante Marie



















An astonishing garden restaurant situated in the Labone district, this one is popular across the spectrum. You might see Ghanaians on a date, family groups etc The extensive menu includes dishes from all over West Africa, and the waakye — a mix of beans and rice, served with grilled meat, shito pepper sauce, and salad — is great. Gari foto, a preparation of fried, spiced cassava chips that’s often described as “Ghanaian couscous,” is also good here, but it’s worth asking for extra sauce as it tends to come up rather dry. Go for a seat upstairs, on a wooden balcony surrounded by leaves and cooled by a light breeze.

3) Country Kitchen 
















The covered outdoor Country Kitchen is in the Ringway Estates area, traditionally inhabited by  rich Ghanaians and civil servants.Including Current president's father John Mahama,  once owned a house here.Omo tuo — rice balls in groundnut soup — is a Sunday special, but  you will have to come  early for lunch, especially on sundays; once the church opposite has turned out the place becomes packed, and the crowds clear the kitchen of everything other than chicken and jollof rice. Portions are huge, but just take your time — the location makes this an interesting place to hang out.

2) Bread & Wine



 















Finally Bread & Wine has opened its doors and it’s been well worth the wait. Just giving a few hintof dishes availaable in this restaurant will give you a clue to its heritage: Daube de boeuf, blanquette de veau, margret de canard and entrecote bĂ©arnaise with fries. Yes, this is unashamedly classic bistro cooking – and all the more welcome for it. Too many eateries in Ghana fear a single cuisine, but the team behind Bread & Wine have stayed true to their ideas and passions.  Breakfast, served from 9am, include eggs Benedict of course (GHc38) and various superb croissants (GHc6). The lunch menu includes club sandwiches, a brioche Croque Monsiuer and steak frites. There’s also a take away bakery as well. You can also see some some key traditional events in old Ghana


1) Khana Khazana




















Tucked behind a petrol station (Engen), this outdoor Indian restaurant is a gem – cheap, delicious and with long opening hours. One of the house specialities are the dosas (savory parcels made of rice flour normally eaten for breakfast). Sunday is thali (set meals) day.







Tuesday, 25 February 2014

5 Reasons Why You will Love to Visit Ghana

Most times when you hear people planning for a vacation, only a few talk about Ghana, and that's simply because they are not aware of the unique and wonderful experiences that are in this African country. If you're looking for a trip off the usual tourist path in Paris, london, Bahamas,etc then Ghana may be just the spot.Ghana is a great starting off point for Sub-Saharan travel due to the nation's stability and its use of English as the official language. The fact is that there are many goood reason to choose Ghana as your next point of tourism, but in this list we have streamlined it into 7 major reasons why you will love to visit Ghana.

1) Friendly people




















This is one place you encounter people with smiles, willing to help you at every point. The people of Ghana are probably the friendliest people you will ever met. It doesn't matter who you are, where you are or what you're doing, the locals want to talk to you. Even at odd hours, locals would stop their cars or turn from their market stalls and try to talk to you. Remember that in Ghana greetings are very important. Locals tend to say hello to strangers, so be polite and wave back. As a visitor, you will constantly hear the word "oburoni" (foreigner) being shouted at you. While this may seem offensive - it took me a bit of getting used to - the locals are just trying to get to know you. Take the opportunity to have a conversation with someone new and learn something.

2) Natural Beauty
























Ghana’s picturesque landscape is a beautiful to behold. From mountain peaks to valley-lows through the gargantuan Afram plains. Travelling from North to South or vice versa is an unforgettable experience. The forests, mangroves, grassland and rivers always keep your eye busy. Although Ghana is not a safari destination, it still has plenty of opportunities to experience nature and wildlife.  Along with the many beaches and parks around the country, the city of Cape Coast offers the chance to trek over a swinging canopy bridge suspended high over the trees of Kakum National Park.

3) Rich cultural tourism



















The culture is very diverse within the country, including six major ethnic groups - each with their own languages and dialects. From the point of arrival to departure you are surrounded by the unique and very diverse cultures of Ghana. The Ghanaian culture from North to South, East to West offers special treatment for visitors that will blow your mind.


4) Beautiful beaches


















 Ghana is home to some excellent beaches, and along with lying in the sun there are usually local artisans, fishermen and drummers giving the, usually lazy, experience a cultural touch. I loved chatting with the craftsmen as they made bracelets and art, and listening to the fishermen sing as they pulled in their nets. Even when these interesting locals aren't around, the beaches in Ghana offer a refreshing and picturesque retreat from the more chaotic streets of the cities.


5 ) Peaceful and stable

   
 Ghana has been the most peaceful and stable country in sub-saharan africa but on the tenents of "Freedom and Justice" which permeates all we do and has become the envy of others. Even in the present world were you hear here cases of terrorist attacks everywhere, Ghana has maintained a level of peace and is not known to inhabit any terrorist group nor has it recorded any form of terrorist attack.