Thirty kilometres (20 miles) outside of Accra is Kokrobite Beach, a stretch of beach dotted with small resorts and plenty of white, beautiful sand. I tagged along with a friend whose completing his Masters research on the role of the tourism industry in local economic development. While he was doing his research, I enjoyed the view, the local shopping and a great day away from the hustle and bustle of the city (Accra).
Kokrobite is home to a local fishing community, but over time it’s also developed into a key destination for expat and local tourists seeking an accessible tropical getaway. The location is also home to a rastafarian and reggae community. There is also a huge love for music here, with the local dance/music ensembles that perform in the evenings and weekends, the live music from the local bars and Saturday evening reggae night.
As we walked the short distance to the beach from our bus, we first encountered Kokrobite Garden, a small beach resort. Apparently it’s not only the best hotel resort in town, but also (probably) in the whole world. See the picture below demonstrating its beautiful and welcoming entrance. Great first impression here!
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| Kokrobite Garden is a small hotel resort located near the beach. |
Another top tourist destination is Big Milly’s Backyard, a comfortable beach resort owned by an British-Ghanian couple. The establishment started out as a two-bedroom place, but had grown over time and popularity and now boasts 20 rooms, a 24-hour bar, lots of music and drums, and face carvings out of tree trunks!
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| Friend poses next to a face-carves tree trunk at Big Milly’s. |
Once at the beach, my friend worked away at photo documentation and talked to local community members, while I enjoyed the walk along the beachline and the simplicity of nature. On the beach one can’t help but enjoy the warm sand in between the toes, the sound of crashing waves of the beach and the hot sun.
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| Fellow beachgoers enjoying the scenic view and water. |
Fishing boats rest along the shore and are testament to the livelihood of much of the local community. The boats, which are all individually and uniquely painted, often bear Christian and inspirational messages in local languages and English. In this way, they also represent an outlet for artistic creation, something that is found almost everywhere throughout Ghana.
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| Fishing boats such as the one above line the beach front; each has a unique design, and they indicate a major way of life for the locals in the area, but opportunity for artistic creation. |
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| Boats line the beach front. |
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| “Jesus of Nazareth 5” fishing boat |
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| Another fishing boat. |