Trade and cultural sites are among the defining features of Wa Municipal. Wa is a regional trading centre, and a market day takes place there every seven days. Food and other goods are brought to the market in Wa from surrounding villages for the occasion. If you want to experience market day, you can take the seven-day cycle into account when planning and check the exact date locally.

Trade and Cultural Sites in Wa

The Wa Naa’s Palace in Wa Municipal is the seat of the Wa Naa, the Paramount Chief of the Wala Traditional Area. The palace is therefore directly connected with the traditional leadership of the Wala. George E. Ferguson is also connected with Wa’s history: his remains are buried in Wa.

Jen-Jeng is a sacred pond in a neighbourhood of an Indigenous community in Wa. Nearby, in the village of Nakori southwest of Wa, stands Nakore Mosque. It was built in the Sudanese architectural style. Together, these places offer different insights into the city’s cultural setting: Jen-Jeng is described as a sacred pond, while the mosque is characterised by its architectural style.

Tours and Discoveries in Upper West

A look beyond Wa takes you to the Nubuke Centre for Textiles and Clay in Loho, near Wa in Ghana’s Upper West Region. The Centre organises tours to sites in Wa Municipal, Nadowli-Kaleo District, and Nandom Municipal. The tour offering therefore extends beyond Wa Municipal. If a tour suits your plans, check in advance whether and when it is available.

Wechiau Hippopotamus Sanctuary is also located in the wider Upper West destination. The sanctuary for hippos and other associated species stretches for 40 kilometres along the eastern bank of the Black Volta River. More than 200 bird species have been recorded in the area. On a dugout canoe river safari, visitors can see the resident group of hippos, birds and mammals, as well as fishermen casting their nets. The safari described therefore includes both wildlife viewing and a glimpse of fishing on the river.

The cultural heritage of the Upper West Region also includes the ancient caves in Bulenga, Dahili, and Sankana. They served as places of refuge during slave raids. Regional crafts include spinning, weaving, pottery, and making musical instruments. The cultural heritage of the Upper West Region thus encompasses both historic places of refuge and regional craft traditions.

The local market in Sankana takes place every six days; confirm the cycle locally before planning a visit specifically for market day. Brewing pito, a fermented millet beer, is also part of community life there. Women gather to brew, sing, and share news. The community drinks pito at ceremonies and on ordinary evenings. Brewing is therefore not just a culinary practice, but also a communal occasion.

Discover more destinations: Wa

Go to the wider travel overview: Upper West.