Welcome to The Takeaway, a series highlighting the best goods a destination has to offer. Every week, we’ll showcase seven gifts every traveler should consider in terms of quality and value.
Ghana is emerging as a travel destination, and it’s easy to see why—the West African nation overflows with friendly residents, nature-heavy adventure and a rich history and culture that is still manifested today.
Naturally, Ghana’s best souvenirs reflect the country’s strengths. The region is thick with artistic media ranging from kente cloth to carved wooden masks, and its earth is rich with gold. Ghana’s climate reaps demanded agricultural products, namely cacao and shea, and fosters a spectacular array of fruit. Most of these gifts are readily available at Ghana’s reputable open-air markets.
One U.S. dollar is currently equal to 4.31 Ghanian Cedi. However, it is important to note that petty crime and some political tension has increased, so visit with vigilance.
Sarra Sedghi is Paste Food’s assistant editor. Her eternal food baby is named Frederick.
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Crafts: The Centre for National Culture's market is also loaded with handicrafts, like Bolga baskets and ceramics, and materials such as intricately designed beads. If you're hungry for more, consider visiting the nearby Makola market or Kumasi's Kejetia market, one of West Africa's largest open-air markets.
WorldRemit Comms/Flickr
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Chocolate: Ghana is the world's second largest exporter of cocoa. Although most chocolate consumed here is sipped, you can still easily find sweeter, solid forms.
Photo by JOKER / Hady Khandani/ullstein bild via Getty Images
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Gold: Ghana wasn't known as the Gold Coast for nothing, and the precious metal served as a status symbol far before colonists arrived. Find contemporary takes on gold at stores like Accra's Emefa Jewellery.
Photo by: Education Images/UIG via Getty Images
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Textiles: Ghana is famous for its vibrant regional textiles such as Adinkra, Gonja and Kente cloth. You can find these textiles at major markets or villages where each respected cloth is woven.
Photo By: MyLoupe/UIG Via Getty Images
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Shea butter: A sizable chunk of Ghana's economy is shaped by the country's shea industry. Millions of local women gather the shea tree's fruit, which is sent to processors to become culinary and cosmetic products.
Photo: Herk (HASH) Hersman/Flickr
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Art: Visit the Centre for National Culture in Accra and peruse its extensive market, the place to shop for art. Here, you'll find pieces ranging from wooden carvings to contemporary paintings.
Photo: oneVillage Initiative, CC-BY
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Fruit: Ghana's climate is ideal for agriculture and perfect for fruit including bananas, citrus, mangoes, papaya and pineapples. To avoid a hassle with customs, bring back the dried variety.
Photo: hiroo yamagata, CC-BY