Tarkwa

Gold, mines and UMaT

Gold mining around Tarkwa goes back to the Gold Coast era, and the town grew as the mines, the railway and the workers arrived. Today large scale operations work alongside a long tradition of small scale mining in the surrounding hills, and the industry's fortunes still set the town's tempo.

UMaT, the University of Mines and Technology, trains the engineers who run Ghana's mines, and the student population keeps the town's restaurants, bars and hostels lively. It is a mining town with a campus town's social life.

Getting to Tarkwa

Tarkwa sits about an hour and a half north of Takoradi by road, and the historic railway line still connects the two. Most visitors arrive from the coast, combining the port city, the mines and the western beaches in one loop.

The town center is compact. Taxis cover the mine areas and university campus, and the surrounding forest roads are worth exploring if you have your own transport.

Food in Tarkwa

The table is classic western Ghana: fufu with light soup or palm nut soup, banku with fish from the coastal trade, and chop bars serving hearty plates to miners and students alike. The student presence means plenty of affordable options around the campus.

Our Ghanaian foods guide covers the dishes, and if you know a great spot in Tarkwa, we would love to list it.

Practical tips

Tarkwa pairs naturally with Takoradi and with fellow mining town Obuasi for anyone tracing Ghana's gold story. The surrounding forest is green and pleasant, though this is a working landscape first and a scenic one second.

Our business listings are still thin in Tarkwa, so if you run a restaurant, guesthouse or service here, add your free listing and help travelers find you.

Frequently asked questions