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Surfing in Busua
A palm-fringed fishing village and beach resort in Ghana's Western Region about 30 kilometers from Takoradi, Busua has a long, gentle sandy bay and a right-hand point that made it the cradle of Ghana's small but growing surf scene.
Why here
Busua is where surfing put down roots in Ghana. The village has a long sandy bay with a mellow beach break that is forgiving for first-timers, plus a right-hand point at one end for those who can already stand up and turn. It was one of the first places in the country to grow a local surfing community, and warm water year-round means boardshorts or a shorty is all you need. This is not a big-wave destination but a relaxed learn-to-surf and longboard spot, the kind of place you come to log easy days, eat fresh grilled fish and watch the fishing pirogues come in. Add the nearby coastal forts and the laid-back Western Region beaches and Busua makes a mellow counterpoint to Ghana's heavier history circuit. Beginners get consistent whitewater to practice on, while improvers work the point on the right swell.
Best months
The season runs April to September, when long-fetch south and southwest groundswell pushes up out of the South Atlantic and the point sharpens up, with the biggest days around June to August. The swell loses power over thousands of kilometers, which is exactly why this coast suits learners: it arrives ordered rather than heavy. The beach break stays surfable most of the year for lessons. Water is warm enough to surf in boardshorts year-round. Mornings are cleanest before the sea breeze builds. The point wants a decent swell at mid tide, while the inside beach break is the place to learn on almost any day.
Getting there & around
Busua is about 30 kilometers west of Takoradi, which has an airport with flights from Accra, and roughly a five to six hour drive from the capital along the coastal road. The village is small and walkable, with the surf shop, guesthouses and eateries strung along the beach. Boards and lessons are arranged on the sand, so you can turn up and paddle out the same day.
Skill levels: beginner, intermediate
Schools & guides (2)
Black Star Surf Shop
SchoolBlack Star Surf Shop sits on the beach at Busua in Ghana's Western Region and bills itself as the country's first and longest-running surf shop. It teaches beginners on the village's gentle beach break with lessons from experienced local instructors, and rents a full quiver of boards for those who want to surf the point on their own. The shop also runs multi-day surf camps that pair coaching with a relaxed beach-village base, and it helped seed and support Busua's local surf community.
West Coast Surf
SchoolBusua-based surf school operating out of Alaska Beach Club, running private, couple and group lessons plus board rental, and open every day of the year. Also runs surf trips to the nearby point breaks and side trips to Butre and Abokwa Island. Instructors William and Bonty. Named by Laughing Goat Lodge as its partner surf school, which is a useful independent check in a scene this small.
Also good for surfing in September:
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