A less well-known safari destination, Ghana is known by some as the birthplace of coffee, others for its deep-rooted culture, festivals and traditions, while for others its the diverse range of flora and fauna including fantastic birdlife. Furthermore, visitors can scale mountains, take in the scenic beauty, and appreciate the angelic beauty of the waterfalls.
Located on the Gulf of Guinea, which lies a few degrees north of the Equator, Ghana experiences a tropical climate. A dry desert wind, Harmattan, affects the weather in northern Ghana turning the days during the dry season hotter and nights cooler. The climate in Ghana varies from region to region with the west coast experiencing the highest annual rainfall. Both Southern Ghana and the East Coast have two wet and dry seasons.
We have put together this quick table to showcase the seasons and annual rainfall for Ghana’s five regions.
| Ghana Region | Wet Season | Dry Season | Annual Rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Ghana | April to June September to November | July to August November to February | 1400-1500 millimetres |
| Northern Ghana | March to September | November to June | 1000 millimetres |
| East Coast | April to June September to October | July to August October to March | 800 millimetres |
| West Coast | May to July October to December | July to September January to February | 2000 millimetres |
| Central Ghana | March to October | November to February | 1200-1300 millimetres |
Unlike northern Ghana, where the sun shines continuously, southern Ghana doesn’t experience much sunshine. Even in the dry season, the sky is cloudy. Southern Ghana is cooler compared to northern Ghana and has a climate suitable for travel. June experiences the heaviest rainfall, which lessens during July to September. For the majority of southern Ghana, July and August offer a bit of reprieve from rains and is considered a short dry season. Then starts the shorter rainfall, which lasts from September to November. The total annual rainfall reaches 1400-1500 millimetres and exceeds that in some regions.
The monsoon in northern Ghana starts in April with occurrences of thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening. The thunderstorms bring cooler temperatures, but an increase in humidity. The rains last until October returning the northern region to its dry and hot climate. Northern Ghana has hot winters (October to April) with average daily temperatures of 35°C. The days may be hotter, but the nights in the northern region can cool down to 10 °C.
Ghana’s capital, Accra, is located on the east coast. The winters in Ghana are comparatively cooler than usual, but they are also more humid. The location on the coast is a reason for higher humidity than inland areas in Ghana, but the sea breeze offers relief, making the weather a bit more bearable. Keep in mind that the water temperature falls a bit from July to September, but the sea temperature is warm enough for a swim during a vacation.
The rainfall starts with light showers in March, which turn into heavy rain in June. August sees a sharp decline in the rain, which follows into September. The rainfall picks up a bit during September and October, but June remains the month with the heaviest rainfall. For the duration of the wet season, the east coast has cloudy skies.
Of all the regions in Ghana, the western coast experiences the heaviest rainfall totalling 2000 millimetres per year. The monsoon reaches its peak as soon as it starts and persists heavily from May to July. It subsides for a while from July to September but then begins again in the latter part of September. The rainfall isn’t as heavy as before, but it persists until December. Meanwhile, January to February are completely dry months.
The central region has hot winters (October to April) with average daily temperatures of 35°C. The days may be hotter, but the nights in central Ghana can cool down to 10 °C. The rainfall in central Ghana starts in March and is marked by afternoon or evening thunderstorms and rain showers. The central Ghana region experiences more rainfall compared to the northern and the eastern coast. And the monsoon lasts until November, which marks the start of the dry season in Central Ghana.
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