When I tell people I am from Winneba, they usually smile and say, "Oh, the place with the nice beach?" And yes, that is true. But Winneba is more than just a beach. It is a feeling.
In the morning, the fishermen push their canoes into the water before the sun is even fully up. You can hear them singing as they pull their nets. In the same beach children play football on the sand, coconut sellers and other business operate, the smell of grilled tilapia and meat(popularly known as Khebad)fills the air. If you sit there around 5:30 in the evening and watch the sun go down, you will understand why people who visit Winneba once always want to come back.
Winneba is in the Central Region, about one and a half hours from Accra. It is not noisy like Accra. It is not crowded like Cape Coast during holidays. It is calm. When you arrive, the first thing you notice is how open it is. The air is different. The town moves slowly, and that is exactly what makes it beautiful for tourists.
The biggest thing that puts Winneba on the map is the Aboakyer Festival. Every year, in the first week of May, the whole town changes. Two groups, the Tuafo and the Dentsefo, go into the bush to hunt for a deer. Not to kill it for meat, but to catch it alive and bring it to the chief. It sounds simple when you hear it, but when you see it, you will understand. There is drumming from morning to night. People wear their finest cloth. Visitors come from Accra,Kumasi, America and everywhere. The streets are full. For that one week.
But even without Aboakyer, Winneba has life. This is a university town because of the University of Education, Winneba. Students from all over Ghana come here to study. Because of them, the town never sleeps. Around the campus, you will find food joints, small shops, and places to hang out late. It gives Winneba a young energy that you don't get in other coastal towns.
And then there is the food. If you come to Winneba and you don't eat fresh fish at the beach, you have not really visited. The women at the beach will grill tilapia right in front of you, with banku and pepper. It is simple food, but it tastes like home. You can also try Fante Kenkey, which is our local favourite, or Fante Fante.You don't need a lot of money to eat well in Winneba. With small money, you will eat and be satisfied.
For those who want to stay, there are places for everyone. If you have small budget, there are guesthouses around the university for a good price. If you want to wake up and see the sea from your window, there are beachfront hotels too. My advice is, if you are coming during Aboakyer, book early. Winneba fills up fast that week.
How do you get here? It is very easy. From Kaneshie in Accra, you can take a trotro straight to Winneba. It costs less than GH₵60 and it takes about one and a half hours. If you are driving, you just follow the Accra to Cape Coast road and turn at Winneba Junction. You will know you have arrived when you start smelling the sea.
I have seen many towns in Ghana, but Winneba is different. It is not trying to be like Accra. It is not trying to be like anywhere else. It is just Winneba. Peaceful, cultural, and welcoming. People here will greet you even if they don't know you. They will show you where to go.
So if you are planning your next trip in Ghana, don't just go to the same places everybody goes to. Come to Winneba. Walk on the beach. Eat the fish. Feel the festival. Meet the people. I promise you, when you leave, a part of Winneba will stay with you.
And when you come, let
Windyhype know. We are here to show you around.
Written by the Owner,
https://www.windyhype.com
