Overview
Sekondi and Takoradi are adjacent port cities; the combined municipality forms the capital of Western Ghana.
Cities
Sekondi Takoradi, an important deepwater seaport and Ghana's first, built in 1928.
Understand
The twin cities rose from the sites of 17th-century Dutch, Swedish and English forts and were combined into a single municipality in 1946.
Sekondi-Takoradi is Ghana's fourth largest city and an industrial and commercial centre.
The chief industries are timber, plywood, shipbuilding and railroad repair. The main railway lines to Accra and Kumasi pass through Sekondi-Takoradi.
The discovery of large crude oil reserves in the western region of Ghana has attracted people from all over the world.
Talk
They are normally found speaking Akan such as "fante". You can learn more common phrases from the Fante Phrasebook
Get in
Sekondi-Takoradi is a vibrant, well-connected coastal city with a good road network. You can easily get around using public trotros operating on set routes, or you can hail a drop/chartered taxi to take you straight to your specific destination.
Flights from Accra to Takoradi Airport (located at Airport Ridge along the Agona Nkwanta/Axim Road) take roughly 40 to 50 minutes. Airlines enforce standard domestic luggage limits, but flying remains the fastest and preferred choice for many travelers wanting a quick, comfortable trip on regional aircraft.
Traveling by road from Accra to Takoradi usually takes around 4 to 5 hours. While public transit options vary, private long-distance coach operators such as VIP Jeoun frequently service this highway route. Expect to pay around GH₵150 for executive and GH₵120 for standard.
Get around
Commuter trains run several times a day between Sekondi and Takoradi and stations in between.
See
Takoradi European Public cemetery. A number of South African airmen who died in World War II are buried in this cemetery.
Fort San Sebastian. The third oldest fortification on Ghanaian Coast, built by Portuguese in 1526 to deter British interference which later became ceded to the Dutch and then the British. It was used for African slave trade and where first Black European professor is interred.
Fort Orange. Built by Dutch in 1642 to serve as a lodge, was then converted into a trading post and finally a fort by 1704 after being attacked by Ahantas leading up to that date. It was built close to a British fort called Fort Sekondi (also known as Fort George), that was heavily damaged by the Dutch. But ironically Fort Orange ended up becoming a possession of the British crown by 1872. But it's in pretty dilapidated condition, serving as somewhat of a lighthouse and somewhat of a place for people to dry their clothes.
Do
Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium. A multi-purpose stadium opened in 2008 and has a capacity of 20,000 spectators. It is primarily used for football matches and serves as the home stadium of Sekondi Hasaacas FC. The stadium hosted some matches during the 2008 African Cup of Nations.
Buy
Most of Ghana's major banks have branches around the market area.
Market Circle. Large trading centre and public marketplace criss-crossed with pathways that would rival any maze. There are booths and stalls selling a wide range of goods. On the outside of the Market Circle is a street lined with just as many shops if not more. The Takoradi Market Circle is the commercial and economic hub of western Ghana and it covers an area of approximately 1 km².
Eat
They are normally found eating local food such as "fante kenkey" with fried fish and hot pepper.
God Is Love Chopbar. Soup dotted with hunks of meat and fufu. Popular.
Bombay Indian Restaurant. An option if you're wanting some international cuisine. Biryanis and veg pokharas can be found.
Drink
Africa beach. Good destination to cool down and enjoy the surroundings. African drinks are normally found there such as "pitoo" and palm wine.
Sleep
Planters Lodge and Spa. Built by the British Air Force in 1934, this estate is now a 44-bedroom hotel.
Alliance Hotel By Eagles (formerly Protea Hotel Takoradi Select). A very plush, elegant pool and view of ocean.
The Palms by Eagles. Must be in the hotel zone where the petrodollar people stay. It comes with all the accoutrements of a full-service hotel (e.g. pool, hot tub, spa, gym, restaurant/bar, wifi) and doesn't seem like targeted for the working poor.
Make Sekondi-Takoradi your own.
Before committing, pick one main reason for this visit and two nearby experiences that support it. Check the guide’s transport sections against current operator information. A convenient base can save more time than adding another attraction.
- Choose your arrival point and one base. Write down the real transfer time, not just the map distance.
- Build a first-day plan with room to settle in. Cluster the places you want to see rather than crossing the city repeatedly.
- Use actual accommodation and transport quotes in your budget. Add fees to the quote before comparing it.
- Keep one uncommitted block. Weather, energy and a good local recommendation can all change your plan.
Source transparency
This guide adapts licensed text by Wikivoyage contributors. It is not a claim that Lakhou has visited or independently verified every listing. We converted the source to plain text, selected practical sections and removed price sentences and private contact information. The planning framework and any related-business booking recommendations above are Lakhou editorial additions.
Original revision 5320990 · Contributor history · CC BY-SA 4.0. Reused text and adaptations on this page are available under that license. Source revision date: 2026-08-01. This is not a date of field verification.
For current entry conditions and travel advisories, consult your government and destination authorities. We do not determine visa eligibility.