Stories and facts

The Nakore Mosque is a historic mosque located in the village of Nakore, near Wa, in Ghana's Upper West Region. It exemplifies the Sudano-Sahelian architectural style, which is a distinctive design found throughout parts of West Africa, including Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire.

The mosque has origins going back to at least the 17th century, built by Muslim traders and missionaries travelling through the region along historic trade routes.

Originally, it was created to serve newly converted Muslims and remains today as a space for prayer and community gatherings.

Constructed exclusively from local resources, the mosque sits on a timber frame with a flat mud roof. Wooden poles extend from the walls, serving both decorative purposes and as scaffolding during repairs. Its two distinctive pyramidal towers highlight the mihrab, or prayer niche, and the minaret.

The structure includes irregular buttresses decorated with pinnacles. Above the entrances, triangular recesses are believed by local tradition to serve as reminders to pray five times daily.

Inside, the mosque provides a tranquil environment for prayer, with mud walls and an earthen floor that link worshippers to the land and their cultural heritage.

Outside, there is a courtyard and a burial ground for local imams, marked by headstones inscribed with Arabic.

Nakore Mosque is primarily a place of worship, but it also serves as an important cultural landmark. It attracts visitors who are eager to explore Ghana’s Islamic traditions and admire its ancient architecture.

The nearby village offers a glimpse into local daily life, with vibrant markets and traditional foods enriching the experience.

For visitors to northern Ghana, the Nakore Mosque offers a glimpse into centuries of faith, craftsmanship, and community. It serves as a peaceful location where history is preserved through mud, timber, and devotion.

Uncover the rich history of Ghana by exploring its captivating historical mosques listed below: