Wa Municipal

The Wa Naa’s Palace in Wa Municipal is the seat of the Wa Naa, the Paramount Chief of the Wala Traditional Area. Wa is a regional trading centre. Market day takes place every seven days; food and other goods are then brought to the market in Wa from surrounding villages.

Cultural sites in Wa

George E. Ferguson’s remains are buried in Wa. Jen-Jeng is a sacred pond in a neighbourhood of an indigenous community in Wa. The palace, burial and sacred pond represent different cultural and historical connections: traditional leadership, a historical figure and a culturally significant place.

Tours and architecture near Wa

The Nubuke Centre for Textiles and Clay is located in Loho, near Wa. The Centre organises tours to places in Wa Municipal, Nadowli-Kaleo District and Nandom Municipal. If you plan a tour, confirm the latest dates in advance.

The Nakore Mosque in the village of Nakori, southwest of Wa, is built in the Sudanese architectural style. Thus, different cultural themes can be found nearby: tours to places in several administrative areas and a specifically named building with a particular architectural style.

Upper West: Nature, history and traditions

The wider Upper West travel region offers further nature, history and culture experiences. The Wechiau Hippopotamus Sanctuary stretches for 40 km along the eastern bank of the Black Volta River and is a protected area for hippos and other species. More than 200 bird species have been recorded there. On a dugout canoe river safari, you can see the resident group of hippos, birds, mammals and fishermen casting their nets. The Sanctuary therefore offers a different perspective from the cultural sites in Wa Municipal.

The region’s history can also be traced to specific places: the ancient caves in Bulenga, Dahili and Sankana served as refuges during slave raids. Crafts in the Upper West Region include spinning, weaving, pottery and making musical instruments.

The local market in Sankana is held every six days—unlike Wa’s seven-day market cycle. Ask locally for the date before planning a visit. In Sankana, women gather to brew Pito, a fermented millet beer, and to sing and exchange news. The community drinks Pito at ceremonies and on ordinary evenings.

Getting to the Upper West Region

One way to reach the Upper West Region is to fly to Tamale and continue by road. Check flight availability and onward travel arrangements before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Wa

Go to the main travel overview: Upper West.