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Town in Upper West Region, Ghana
Photo: Derivative work by john2690. Other authors listed on source image page., CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Nandom is a historic border town in the Northern Plains of Ghana. It is celebrated for its deep Catholic missionary history, master musical craftsmen, and rich Dagara cultural heritage.
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A massive stone structure believed to be the largest stone building in West Africa, measuring 206 feet long. It was built between 1934 and 1936 by early Catholic Missionaries of Africa alongside local artisans using native quarried stone. It holds a capacity of 3,000 worshippers and features a beautifully visited outdoor church prayer grotto.
Chief's Palace
It is the official seat of the Great Overlord of Nandom, showcasing classic northern architectural design. It is rich in the regional history of the local Dagara folks and traditional governance.
Even if you are not religious, attending a Sunday service allows you to hear incredible local choirs singing traditional Dagaare hymns accompanied by the rhythmic sounds of the Gyil on Sundays (Morning hours) at the St. Theresa's Minor Basilica
This massive annual festival features energetic traditional drumming, competitive dancing, and master musicians playing the Gyil (wooden xylophone) to celebrate a successful harvest. It takes place Late November or early December at the Nandom Town Grounds
A popular local open-air tavern and social garden. Great for relaxing with a chilled drink, trying local gin blends, and meeting Nandom town residents in a casual setting.
It is a smooth, dough-like mixture made from millet or corn flour, traditionally paired with a slimy green ayoyo (jute leaf) soup and a spicy tomato-based meat stew.
Bean pudding
A highly nutritious, steamed pudding made from black-eyed pea flour. It has a soft, cake-like texture and is generously drizzled with warm, spiced shea oil and powdered pepper for breakfast or a midday snack
A unique northern delicacy made from dried yam peelings that are ground into flour, steamed, and seasoned with local spices, onions, and groundnut oil.
Free-range guinea fowl is exceptionally popular in Nandom. It has a richer, leaner, and more gamey flavor than standard chicken and is typically seasoned with local pepper rubs.
Sorghum beer
Brewed traditionally from sorghum by local women, this mildly sweet, slightly tart fermented beverage is served chilled in organic, hollowed-out calabash bowls
A popular, heavily distilled, clear variation of local pito that mimics a strong spirit or local gin.
The town's prominent open-air garden and drinking bar known for a massive inventory of foreign and local alcohol, western spirits, and local gin blends. It also serves light bites like quick sandwiches and Tandoori chicken dishes
Features a dedicated restaurant known for serving very good and delicious local food.
Offers conference rooms and workshop setups tailored for institutional meetings or NGO gatherings
A straightforward local lodge.
Located right along the main road corridor heading north toward the Hamile border post. The property features an annex route operating 24 hours a day.
The second largest market square in the Upper West Region, following the main terminal in Wa. Rather than a standard weekly routine, it follows a distinct six-day regional cycle, drawing cross-border traders from neighboring Burkina Faso. It is the absolute best environment to experience the local culture, buy fresh foodstuffs, and witness traditional smock trading.
Dagaare xylophone
The Gyil is a beautiful instrument made of resonant wooden slats suspended over dried calabash gourds that act as sound amplifiers.
Fugu
Heavy, handwoven cotton smocks distinctive to the Upper West Region. They come in vibrant striped patterns and various sizes.
Due to Nandom's proximity to the Burkina Faso border, merchants frequently bring in beautifully stitched leather sandals, decorated hides, and handwoven broad-brimmed straw hats that are perfect for the hot savannah sun.
Unique rosaries made from local beads, carved wood, and indigenous seeds.
While you can't easily pack it for a flight, buying a calabash of fresh, locally brewed pito from a neighborhood brewery is a must-do local trade experience. You can also buy the dried calabash bowls themselves as organic kitchen souvenirs.
Available in large, freshly pressed blocks at the market. It is processed locally using traditional methods and sold at a fraction of the cost you would find in southern Ghanaian cities.
By trotro (commercial minibus)
Head to the Wa Main Station or the Lawra/Nandom terminal in Wa. Look for a commercial minibus heading directly to Nandom or Hamile.
By shared taxi
You can find shared station taxis in Wa or Lawra that fill up with passengers and head straight into Nandom town.
By car
If you are driving or hiring a private taxi, take the highway north out of Wa. You will pass through Kaleo, Nadowli, Babile, and Lawra before arriving directly in Nandom.
By tricycle (mahama camboo)
These three-wheeled passenger trikes are incredibly popular for cheap, short-distance trips within the town centre.
On foot
Because the main commercial hub, the stone cathedral, and the local transport station are clustered relatively close together, you can comfortably walk to many inner-town destinations.
By shared taxi and trotro
These are best saved for moving out of Nandom toward surrounding rural communities or neighboring towns like Lawra, Babile, and the Hamile border post.
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