Wa Municipal: Cultural Sites, Markets and Regional Discoveries

Wa Municipal combines regional market traditions with distinctive cultural sites. The Wa Naa’s Palace is the seat of the Wa Naa, the Paramount Chief of the Wala Traditional Area. Wa is also home to Jen-Jeng, a sacred pond in a neighbourhood of an Indigenous community. The remains of George E. Ferguson are also buried in Wa. These themes range from traditional leadership and cultural identity rooted in place to the remembrance of a historical figure.

Cultural sites in and near Wa

In the village of Nakori, southwest of Wa, stands the Nakore Mosque, built in the Sudanese architectural style. It is an architectural landmark outside Wa. The Nubuke Centre for Textiles and Clay is located in Loho, near Wa in the Upper West Region. The centre organises tours to places in Wa Municipal, the Nadowli-Kaleo District and Nandom Municipal. This means the tours cover destinations in several areas. If such a tour is important to your travel plans, check the current schedule in advance.

Market life in Wa

Wa is a regional trading centre. Market day comes around every seven days. On that day, food and other goods from surrounding villages are brought to the market in Wa. The seven-day cycle is a useful guide when you want to include the market in your travel plans.

Upper West Region: Nature, history and crafts

The Upper West Region broadens the picture of Wa Municipal to include other nature and cultural themes. The Wechiau Hippopotamus Sanctuary is a protected area for hippos and other associated species. It stretches for 40 kilometres along the eastern bank of the Black Volta River. More than 200 bird species have been recorded in the sanctuary. On a dugout canoe river safari, visitors can see the resident group of hippos, birds and mammals, as well as fishers casting their nets. The community-based ecotourism project protects wildlife along a stretch of the river. Overnight accommodation includes the Hippo Hide Tree House; check availability for your travel dates.

The region's history also shapes its 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. These activities offer insight into regional craft traditions.

In Sankana, women come together to brew Pito communally, a fermented millet beer. They brew, sing and share news; the community drinks Pito at ceremonies and on ordinary evenings. This is a cultural practice of the community, not a designated visitor activity.

Local market cycles offer a practical comparison of timing: in Wa, market day comes every seven days, while in Sankana the market takes place every six days. Confirm the date for Sankana locally before planning a visit. One general travel option for reaching the Upper West Region is to fly to Tamale and continue by road. Check current flight connections and onward travel before making your plans.

Choose the right travel area

When looking for a holiday rental, first consider what you want to focus on: Wa Municipal offers the market and cultural themes mentioned above, while the Upper West Region includes additional nature, history and craft destinations. This helps you distinguish the local points of interest in Wa from regional destinations, without treating them as one and the same travel destination.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Wa.

Back to the regional travel overview: Upper West.