Expatriates Forums in Ghana

FOOD & DINING IN GHANA / GHANA DINING GUIDE

Ghana Info — Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:54 am

Author: Ghana Info

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:54 am

FOOD & DINING IN GHANA

International food is available in most large hotels and many restaurants serve a range of local traditional foods. In Accra there are also restaurants serving Middle Eastern, Chinese, French and other European cuisine.

National specialties

• Kenkey, hot peppers and fried fish, eaten mostly in the Accra region.

• On the coast, prawns and other seafood are popular.

• Akyeke, cassava couscous served with avocado.

• Fufu, pounded cassava beans, yam, plantain or rice, usually accompanies traditional soups (palmnut, groundnut), Kontomere and Okro (stews).

• Fante fante, popular in the central regions is a palm oil stew with small fish.

• Akrantee, bushmeat.

• Green snails.

• Nkontomire, yam leaf soup.

National drinks

• Pito is a beer brewed in the Northern region made from millet.

• Zom koom, toasted millet flour in water.

• Palm wine.

• Coconut juice.

PLACES TO DINE

Tandoor Indian Restaurant
659/1 Angola Street,
Behind State House,
Osu,
Accra
Tel: (233-21) 778760
Email: tandoorgh@yahoo.com

Yan Can Cook
55B Avenor Link,
North Ind. Area,
Accra
Tel: (233-24) 360395
Fax: (233-21) 779675

Le Bouquet
Off Ring Road,
Osu,
Accra
Tel: (233-21) 772417
Fax: (233-21) 761458

La Chaumiere Restaurant
P.O. Box C2281,
Cantonments,
Accra
Tel: (233-21) 772408 / 772970
Fax: (233-21) 772970

Ristorante Primavera
Labadi Beach Hotel,
Accra
Tel: (233-21) 772501

Hinlone
Labone,
Accra
Tel: (233-21) 772782
Fax: (233-21) 776554

Beverly Hills
Asylum Down,
Accra
Tel: (233-21) 224042

Diplomat
Labadi Beach Hotel,
Accra
Tel: (233-21) 772501

Elbis Restaurant
56/4 South Liberia Road,
Tudu,
Accra
Tel: (233-22) 2718

Makaira
North Labone,
Accra
Tel: (233-21) 778266

Club 400
Ringway estates,
Osu,
Accra
Tel: (233-21) 223723

Tropicana
Sunrise Hotel,
North Ridge,
Accra
Tel: (233-21) 222201

Sole Mio Ristorante
P.O.Box 14992,
Osu,
Tel: (233-21) 784015

NIGHTLIFE IN GHANA / GHANA NIGHTLIFE GUIDE

Ghana Info — Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:05 am

Author: Ghana Info

Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:05 am

NIGHTLIFE IN GHANA

Accra in particular has a bustling nightlife, with a mixture of westernised bars and clubs as well as the traditional 'spot bar', which in my opinion are much more fun and much cheaper. ‘Champs’ is an air-conditioned sport themed bar (decorated with British football strips) at the Paloma Hotel on Ring Road Central, with the Friday night karaoke being one not to miss for some, and one to avoid for others.

A popular place in Accra is ‘Bywels’, a jazz club that comes to life on Thursday nights, with the perfect mixture of locals and expats. The beach resort of ‘Next Door’ on the beach road is also worth checking out.

In Kumasi, ‘Vic Baboo’s’ is another themed restaurant that makes amazing milkshakes, and also has an internet café which, guaranteed, will open ‘next month’ whenever you turn up! Travelling around the country, the nightlife really is nothing to shout about except for the occasional roadside bar.

Concerts can be seen at the national theatre in Accra. The School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana, Legon often hosts drama, poetry and cultural dancing shows. Foreign and Ghanaian films can be seen at the Ghana Film Theatre and Executive Film House in Accra.

SHOPPING IN GHANA / GHANA SHOPPING GUIDE

Ghana Info — Thu Mar 01, 2007 10:31 am

Author: Ghana Info

Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 10:31 am

SHOPPING IN GHANA

Almost all commodities, including luxury items, can be found in the shops and markets. Artefacts from the Ashanti region and northern Ghana can be bought along with attractive handmade gold and silver jewellery. Modern and old African art is also available (although prices are high), in particular, Ashanti stools and brass weights formerly used to measure gold. In all the northern markets, earthenware pots, leatherwork, locally woven shirts and Bolgatanga baskets woven from multi-coloured raffia are sold. Ghana is home to the traditional Kente cloth. Shopping day trips are organised by the Ghanaian Tourist board.

Shopping hours

Mon-Tue, Thurs-Fri 0800-1200 and 1400-1730, Wed-Sat 0800-1300.

Banking hours

Mon-Fri 0830-1500.

Currency

Cedi (GHC) = 100 pesewas. Notes are in denominations of GHC20,000, 10,000, 5000, 2000 and 1000. Coins are in denominations of 500, 200, 100 and 50 pesewas. The Cedi is pegged to the US$ at an adjustable rate.

Note: The Cedi is pegged to the US Dollar at an adjustable rate.

Currency exchange

The exchange rate system has been liberalized and foreign currency is freely available through authorised dealers including banks and foreign exchange bureaux. Cash is exchanged at a more preferential rate than traveller's cheques.

Credit & debit cards

Credit cards (mainly American Express, Dinners Club and Visa) are accepted by leading hotels, restaurants, banks, businesses and some shops. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Some banks may give cash advances against leading cards. However, those using credit cards should be aware that credit card fraud is common. In large urban areas such as Accra and Kumasi ATMs are commonplace.

Traveller's cheques

To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. Traveller's cheques can be exchanged in large hotels, banks and foreign exchange bureaux.

Currency restrictions

The import of local currency is limited to amounts which have previously been permitted to be taken out of the country and this must be noted in the passport/travel documents; it must also be declared. Unused local currency can be re-exchanged on proof of authorized exchange, and visitors are advised to retain all currency exchange receipts. The export of local currency is limited to GHC5000. The import of foreign currency is unlimited, subject to declaration (on exchange control form T5 which must be retained to record transactions). The export of foreign currency is limited to US$5000.