MY FIRST EVER TRIP TO ACCRA, GHANA: PLACES, FOOD & THE AMBIENCE
Accra, Ghana, was a 4-day trip in which I couldn’t lay an actual grasp on what it would be like for the first time.
Life lately has been about striking a balance between living it blank without expectations and being optimistic. This mindset gives me the capacity for any outcome, but most of them have been quite remarkable experiences, and here you have me telling the stories.
Accra, Ghana, was a 4-day trip in which I couldn’t lay an actual grasp on what it would be like for the first time. I couldn’t predict the feeling I would have, no matter how many ideas I had about what it seemed like over there. So, I just went with my vacant mind, hoping to fill it with good memories.
Upon my arrival and trip to my destination, the Lagos dweller in me instantly caught an unspoken promise of serenity and more orderliness than where I was coming from. With the little I saw of the city; I was more receptive to whatever it had in store for me. I tuned my body to settle in in no time and loosened up in the hands of the awaiting slumber.
DAY I – BREAKFAST, MORNING DRIVE, OUT AND ABOUT
I woke up to remind myself that I was in a different country by not mounting the what’s-it-gon-be pressure on myself. I just went with the flow of newness, even if it was only for a few days. The weather that morning aligned with my balanced state of mind by being both slightly warm and slightly cold at the same time, but ultimately welcoming.
I had breakfast during the buffet hours at the Kempinski Hotel, and from there I started to form an opinion about Ghana Jollof. The morning drive was intended for me to see a few places in the city through Lebone Road, Osu, Oxford Street, and so on. I passed by the Black Star Square on my way but I didn’t return to take pictures.
The major thing on my itinerary for the day was to move about with the work team I came with to get a bigger accommodation for other people coming in from Kenya. It was on a Sunday that was seriously kept holy, as we were unable to make any satisfactory inquiries about the apartments there at West Legon because the property owners or agents were still in the church till 4 p.m.
We just settled for Cromer Apartments until the next day. Though we were informed that East Legon of Accra had a different vibe, was bubblier, and was more fun, we were sure to secure a place.
I was up and ready to continue exploring. The plan for the day was a media round, and so we proceeded to somewhere in the city called Media General, where there were said to be multiple radio stations. The next stop was the Boomplay office, and there was one other radio station somewhere; I didn’t note the name of the street. Lunch called and was answered at the Accra Mall, where I had yet another jollof rice (stick around for my honest review).
As I went on enjoying the view of the city, which was about my highlight of the first two days, I had already caught an almost inevitable flu, so I sought out a pharmacy on my way back, took my medications, and laid my head to rest.
Da Viva store was the first stop in my day’s movement to get some fabrics, then I moved on to Makola market to get a few more items like a play dress, slash bag, beads and gifts for my people. The locals, apart from the fact that it’s a marketing strategy, were super friendly and chatty. Most of the items there ranged from 250 Ghana Cedis and above. One would almost be carried away by their charm when bargaining.
Later in the day, on my schedule, I was to join the team at the beach for an ongoing video shoot at Laboma Beach. The drive to the beach felt like being in Abuja—nothing like the hell-sent Lekki/Epe traffic. 😂 I think the night view of the city was probably the best part for me.
I took off to the airport feeling refreshed and recharged, save for the flu that was messing with my morale.
“Almost everything I ate in Ghana was home-made, but if the Jollof Rice I had at Kempinski Hotel and the one at the mall were the standard for Ghana Jollof (which I doubt), then it’s nothing to write home about or dare place beside Nigerian badass smokey party/burial Jollof. 🔥🤣
I won’t be biased as I did not eat any street food, whether I for see small pepper chop as per Yoruba babe. 🌶️
I also ate Wanche, Spaghetti, Garri and Salad and I did not die. 😏 So, there you have my first impression with some benefits of the doubt.
Naija Jollof for life”
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Watch my full trip to Accra:
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