A Guide to Accra's Tawala Beach

Large, light-brown-wooden gates open to a plus-sized parking lot where a vested gentleman coordinates visitors. The cool-Atlantic zephyr tips the coconut trees and tickles your pores as the fine sand caress tired feet, setting guests into the mood of a lovely soothing experience.

The intricate-bamboo labyrinth and warm-thatch huts aside, short, blue, hand-painted concrete walls separate the various sitting areas from cuisine room. Meanwhile, bars animate the sections and give the space an inviting aura.

The parking lot’s walls glow with funny paintings of women with distended breasts and backsides, adding colour to the sea-themed patterns that lead to the bold inscription: ‘Tawala. No Wahala’, meaning ‘Tawala. No Problems’.

After taking a break from the busy Accra traffic, head towards Teshie. Tawala Beach can be found at the tail end of the juncture where La Polyclinic is situated.

A unique fact about Tawala: it is one of the few beaches that have sections specifically catering to children. With a children’s playground containing colourful seesaws and slides to keep kids occupied, adults can take to the bar or dance into the airy expanse of the shore.

A one-storey guest house to the right of the kids’ spot is almost completed. On the opposite side stands a grill place serving beef, pork, turkey, or chicken cuts cooked atop a charcoal-lit barbecue stove. Not only tasty, the food is also affordable: a plate of rice and chicken goes for GHc20 (4 US dollars) while banku and grilled tilapia sells for just double the cost. Turkey wings and yam will only set you back GHc30 (3 US dollars).

With well-arranged bamboo stools positioned in front of the main bar, bartenders are at patrons’ beck and call to refill empty glasses. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks—local and foreign—like palm wine fill up the wooden shelves. It goes for just GHc8 (2 US dollars).

Known for its raving-music and street-dance culture, nearby Labadi Township’s energy bursts into the Tawala reveling. For those who prefer to check out the neighbourhood, visitors will find that there’s almost never a dull moment from the Labadi Beach Hotel to the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel. At the Artists Alliance Gallery, guests can get their hands on some classical-Ghanaian paintings and contemporary-art pieces.

Towards the shore, two rooftops separate a sitting space. At each of these sections, visitors can settle in and meditate to the calmness of the coursing tide. A Bob Marley portrait looks towards kerosene lamppoles on the shore. For smokers, this is one of the friendliest spots in town. Other activities include weekend horseback riding, beach volley on Wednesdays, and regular reggae parties that keep the city up all night.