Ghana Culture, History, Dance and Rhythm

Join Lisa Brown Ross, Global Citizen, Life Coach and Author of “Life is About the Dance” as she embarks on a journey to the Motherland, to the beautiful shores of the Ghana Gold Coast in West Africa.  Join Lisa as she explores the music and dance elements that represent the movement of West African life through history, culture. tradition and the arts.  The travel group will explore Ghana’s golden triangle with stops in Accra, Cape Coast and Kumasi, home of the Ashanti Kingdom.

About Lisa Ross
Poet, essayist, playwright and lover of God’s Word, Lisa Brown Ross is an award-winner writer whose hearts desire is to, “Roll out the red carpet for the symphony of God’s Word.”  She is a lover of dance, music, theatre and poetry and a seeker of wisdom, peace and justice.  Her career spans radio and television reporting, public relations and public affairs consulting, motivational speaking and leadership development.  Lisa began her career as a radio reporter and freelanced for the Associated Press, National Public Radio, ABC Radio and Satellite News.  She served for more than 12-years as a chief spokesperson for the Immigration and Naturalization Service in Houston, Texas and Washington, DC, and followed as Public Affairs Director for the Seattle Police Department.

Trip Dates:  July 27-Aug 10, 2022

TRIP FOCUS:  Cultural Immersion through Art, Music and Dance Immersion, History, Culture and People to People Experiences 

Travel to do good promotes responsible and sustainable tourism by supporting small enterprises and locally owned businesses in the tourism industry.  Financially empowering small communities in the Africa diaspora is one of the many ways to travel to do good. 

DEPART US
TUESDAY, JULY 26

Day 1:
Wednesday, July 27
ARRIVAL AND CHECK IN
Awkwaaba
Accommodations: Movenpick
Welcome Dinner and Orientation

Upon arrival at Kotoka International Airport, the group will be met by a special drumming and dance procession welcoming them “home.”  Check into the Movenpick Hotel, a beautiful 5 star property that is set in an urban oasis within the central district. Throughout the hotel, discover their dynamic African art collection showcasing over 2,500 pieces of original Ghanaian art, creating an enthralling visual display and an immersive cultural experience.

Welcome dinner and orientation.  After dinner, authentic dressmakers will be available for fittings of traditional African attire.

Day 2
Thursday, July 28
Volunteer Project, Cooking and Dance Class
Accommodations:  Movenpick
Meals:  Breakfast and Dinner

Today the group will be immersed in Ghanaian culture through a volunteer service project with elementary and middle school students.  Afterwards, lunch will include a cooking class and demonstration of West African food as part of your lunch experience.

After lunch you will visit the African Arts Center, where you will find art and crafts from Ghana and West Africa.  Prepare to use your bargaining skills as you will visit the many artisan stalls.  You may also witness and/or participate in a dance or drumming class.  After dinner, the group will visit the world famous Ghana Night Markets.

Day 3
Friday, July 29
Accra City Tour
Accommodations:  Movenpick
Meals:  Breakfast and Dinner

After a hearty breakfast, depart for a sightseeing tour of Accra.  Your drive will take you through the administrative and economic districts of Accra-Ghana’s capital.  Accra was founded over 137 years ago and has a unique blend of colonial and contemporary architecture that symbolizes the cultural mix of the city.  You will visit the WE Dubois Cultural Center, for a guided tour.  The Independence Arch in Accra, Ghana, is part of the Independence Square which contains monuments to Ghana’s independence struggle, including the Independence Arch, Black Star Gate and the Liberation Day Monument.  The Independence Black Star Square includes the memorial of Ghana’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah.

Day 4
Saturday July 30
Accra City Tour
Accommodations: Coconut Grove Beach Resort
Meals:  Breakfast and Dinner

Check out of the hotel and depart for Cape Coast where you will tour the infamous Forts and Slave Dungeons.  History will unfold of the slave trade as the impact is still felt beyond the shores of Africa today.  Visit the Cape Coast Castle built by the Swedish in 1653, which was later taken over by the British.  The slave dungeons houses the West African Historical Museum, established by the Smithsonian Institute in collaboration with the Ghanaian Government in 1994.  You will also visit the Elmina Slave Dungeons built by the Portuguese in 1492 and is also known as St. George’s Castle.

Late afternoon the group will participate in a Fihankra ceremony which seeks to reconnect people of African descent who have been lost to the Motherland because of the Translantic slave trade.  The final part of the ceremony includes a naming ceremony.

After dinner, travelers will visit Panafest  The Panafest festival consciously confronts the effects of enslavement, purging the pain of Diaspora, acknowledging the residual effects of the trade on the Continent and re-uniting to forge a positive future in the contemporary global environment.  This is done through cultural immersion, art, food and music.

Alongside the healing processes, Panafest celebrates the strengths and resilience of African culture and achievements of Africans in spite of the transatlantic slave trade and its aftermath. It is designed to help Africans to reconnect with their strengths and thus inspired to eternal vigilance, rededicate themselves to fully assuming the reigns of their own destiny in recognition of the lessons of history.

Day 5
Sunday July 31
Kakum National  Park and Elmina Walking Tour
Accommodations: Coconut Grove Beach Resort
Meals:  Breakfast and Dinner

Early morning departure for a drive through the Denkyira Kingdom to Kakum National Park, one of Africa’s surviving tropical rain forests.  The most popular attraction is the Canopy walkway, which is made up of seven bridges.  Choose between a 1 mile nature walk in the forest or take a walk the canopy.

After lunch return back to your hotel to relax or take in local sights.

Day 6
Monday, August 1
Elmina – Kumasi
Accommodations: Golden Tulip-Kumasi
Meals:  Breakfast and Dinner

After breakfast, drive through the forest zone to Kumasi, the seat of the Ashanti Empire to explore the legends of the great Ashanti Empire, whose legacies are still evident today.  You will stop at Assin Manso, the site of Donkor Nsuo, the former Salve Rive and market, the final transit point for a large number of Africans.  This is the final resting point for two ancestors whose mortal remains were returned from the USA and Jamaica and re-interred there.

Participate in Emancipation Day commemorations during wreath laying and healing prayers.

Continue on to Kumasis, where you will visit Manhyia Palace Museum to obtain firsthand information on the legacies of the Ashanti Kingdom, a regal history that dates back to the 1700s.  End the day’s tours at the National Cultural Center.

Day 7
Tuesday, Aug 2
Ashanti Kingdom, Kumasi
Accommodations: Golden Tulip Kumasi
Meals:  Breakfast and Dinner

This day is devoted to visiting the three famous Ashanti Craft Villages.  The Ashanti region is well known for the art and craft work produced by local artisans.  After breakfast depart for Ahwiaa, the wood carvers village, Ntonso, the home of Adinkra cloth and Bonwire the Kente weaving village.  You will have an opportunity to see how African crafts are made as well as buy direct from the Artisans.

Day 8
Wednesday, Aug 3
CBD-Accra
Accommodations:  Movenpick
Meals:  Breakfast and Dinner

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and depart for a drive to Akosombo to tour the famous Akosombo Dam, a hydroelectric dam in south-eastern Ghana. The Akosombo Dam – also known as the Volta Dam – is on the Volta River in south east Ghana. At 124m tall and 660m long, the structure holds back the waters of Lake Volta – the largest man-made lake in the world by surface area.

In the evening the group will participate in a networking reception with local businesses at the hotel.

Day 9
Thursday, Aug 4
Jamestown Villages
Accommodations:  Movenpick
Meals:  Breakfast and Dinner

After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, dressmakers will come to the hotel for final fitting.  Afterwards the group will depart for a walking tour of Jamestown to explore Village Life in Ghana.  Experience a local drumming and dance performance.

Tonight the group will have an exclusive farewell dinner with a final dance performance.  Travelers will wear their African attire for their farewell dinner and group photo shoot.

Day 10
Friday, Aug 5
Last minute shopping before late check out and onward flight back to the US

RETURN TO US
Meals:  Breakfast 

Destination FAQs

Trip Cost:  Early Bird Rate:  $2820 based on double occupancy / Deposit:  $375

Rate after Jan 15, 2022:  $3170 / Deposit:  $375

Trip Package Rates are based on double occupancy

For Single Travelers – add $650 Single Room Supplement to your trip cost

Final Payment Due: May 26, 2022

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