You’ve travelled to a different continent, to a country steeped in natural beauty and an immense tapestry of history, what’s the first thing you want to do? Shop? Really? Ok then, here’s a lowdown on how to get the best shopping experience out of Ghana.

First of all, it is important to ensure that you don’t turn up expecting the endless hours of binge-buying which we have come to take for granted in the U.K; banking hours are from 8:30am to 3pm Monday to Friday, whilst shops will shut for two hours between 12pm and 2pm on Mondays through Fridays, expect on Wednesdays when, as with Saturdays, shops close entirely at 1pm.

With such a short window to get your purchases in, it’s best to know where to head, and what you’re heading for. The shopping trips arranged by the Ghana Tourist Board would probably help with this particular mission. 

Handmade artefacts and traditional African art are usually high on most-peoples wish –lists and you shouldn’t be disappointed with what there is on offer.  The Centre of National Culture in Accra, also sometimes dubbed the Arts Centre, is one of the best places to begin. Lots of stalls and small shops can be found selling authentic artistic crafts from all over the country, from musical instruments to wooden masks, beads to brass-work, all with a distinctly traditional West African feel to them.

If you’re more into fashion than artistry, then both Kumasi and Accra offer a wonderful opportunity to get your hands on some really unique fabrics. Once you’ve found some to your liking, tailors are on hand to quickly whip you up an outfit to your taste; a unique African garment could make a wonderful souvenir of your journey and the market traders’ willingness to haggle means that you will always be able to come away having felt you’ve got value for money.