Kejetia Market, the commercial heart of Kumasi, is considered the largest open-air market in West Africa. Each day, some 12,000 stalls open for business, selling food, clothing, handmade glass beads, souvenirs, Ashanti sandals, fabric and things you wouldn't even know you wanted until you saw them.
Kejetia Market is very much a bustling local shopping hub, and while tourists do visit from time to time, they often find themselves the objects of curiosity. Despite—or perhaps because of—the congestion, jostling, noise and riot of color everywhere you look, a visit to the market remains one of the best opportunities to experience a slide of authentic Ghana.
While it’s perfectly possible and reasonably safe to visit the Kejetia Market on your own, enlisting the help of a guide who can explain some of the trade goods and help you bargain for purchases will enrich the experience.
Practical Info
It’s quite easy to get separated in the chaos of the market, so try to stay close to your traveling companions, and choose a meeting spot outside the market ahead of time in case you get split up.
As the second busiest city in Ghana after the capital, Kumasi has developed a thriving nightlife scene, and one of the top hot spots for weekend people-watching or after-dark drinks is Bantama High Street. This stretch of road is lined with open-air pubs serving libations and kebabs, and it’s particularly lively from Thursday through Sunday.
While not exactly a chic nightlife destination (plastic chairs and tables along the sidewalk are the norm) it’s a fun and relaxed area to enjoy a drink and the atmosphere of local Ghanaian nightlife.
Practical Info
As Bantama High Street is one of Kumasi’s top nightlife districts, it sometimes attracts pickpockets. Be aware of your surroundings and leave your valuables in the hotel, and you shouldn’t have a problem.
