The village of Sirigu is a fascinating example of local women taking action to preserve their art and culture. This community is home to not only beautiful pottery and basketry, but to interesting architecture and delightful decorative wall paintings. Faced with the loss of these traditional skills as many young women left the village to find jobs, seven women from Sirigu created SWOPA (Sirigu Women’s Organisation for Pottery and Art), which began training local women to create traditional crafts.
SWOPA has now grown to include over 350 women and a beautiful visitor centre, gallery, workshop and guesthouse complex. Visitors can shop for functional pottery and baskets, as well as learn how village women make them from local materials. SWOPA also offers one of the nicest guest houses, where the walls of each room are decorated in the local style and solar energy powers the lights and fans.
When To Visit
Visit Sirigu any time of year. It is cooler during the rainy season (June-September), when the beautiful landscape comes alive with vivid shades of green.
What To Do
Start your adventure in Sirigu at the visitor centre, where a guide will give you a personal tour of the gallery/gift shop, workshop, guesthouse and grounds. All of the buildings and the walls surrounding them are decorated with Sirigu’s unique wall art. Time: 1 hour. Difficulty: 
Tour several local houses with a guide to see their wall paintings and learn about the traditional architectural style that evolved to protect villagers from wildlife and slave traders. Time: 45 minutes. Difficulty:
Explore the community on a guided tour that includes the local outdoor market, the chief’s house and other points of interest. Time: 1 hour. Difficulty:
Attend a day-long workshop to learn pottery or basketry skills. Contact SWOPA at least 4 days in advance to make arrangements.
Don’t miss the statue of Kofi Annan and the lovely flowers in the garden, commemorating the then-UN Secretary General’s visit to Sirigu.
Region:
Upper East
Hours
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily
Fees
Entrance: Adults: Ghanaian 1.00 GHc; Non-Ghanaian 2.00 GHc
Students: Ghanaian 1.00 GHc; Non-Ghanaian 2.00 GHc