Ghana

At a Glance

Ghana is West Africa's most stable and welcoming democracy, with a vibrant urban culture centred on Accra, a powerful tradition of kente weaving and Ashanti craftsmanship, and a coastline lined with old Portuguese, Dutch, and British slave forts that speak to the country's complex history. The food is bold, the music is world-renowned, and Ghanaians are among the most openly hospitable people on the continent. It is an excellent starting point for those new to West Africa.

• First sub-Saharan African country to gain independence from colonial rule — in 1957.
• W.E.B. Du Bois — American civil rights pioneer — is buried in Accra, having renounced US citizenship.
• Africa's Silicon Valley ambitions are most advanced here: the continent's strongest startup ecosystem outside South Africa.