Enjoy Ghana’s year-round summer weather, while immersing yourself in the diversity of distinct local cultures. Visit the neighbourhood markets, viewing the work of local artisans. Stop at a local street vendor to buy roasted plantains, or simply take the time to sunbathe and relax on the beach.

A range of colonial influences have left a series of scars along its coast, including Cape Coast castle, known as the site to which Michelle Obama has traced her ancestral lineage. Down by the shore, innumerable fishing boats painted a wide range of vivid colours, line up to meet the tide. As a weekend trip, you can drive to the pristine tropical rainforest habitat of Kakum National Park, which holds the largest population of elephants in the country. You can also find iconic African birdlife here like the grey parrot and hornbill, which can often be spotted from a walkway set high up in the tree canopy.

Make the trip into Accra, where you can learn more about how Ghana became the first African country to gain independence at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, learn more about contemporary West African design by visiting the street art district of Jamestown, or buy one-of-a-kind artisanal handicrafts in the sprawling Makola market. If you are keen to explore the rest of Ghana, why not take a riverboat out onto beautiful lake Volta, hike Mount Afadjato and take a dip under the magnificent Wli Waterfalls, or travel up North to see the distinct architectural wonder that is the Larabanga Mosque.

GVI volunteer programs in Accra

Many of the families in the Kokrobite area rely on fishing, farming or micro-businesses for their income. In addition to going to school, students are often expected to help their parents with the family business. Cultural norms also hold many girls and women back from achieving their full potential. Volunteers work in kindergarten, primary and secondary schools to increase access to English language, core subjects or extra-curricular activities and educational play. GVI volunteers can also choose to work with local women’s empowerment groups to conduct workshops in vocational training, household budgeting, and family planning to help women in the region have the choice of becoming more self-reliant.