The road from Accra to Aburi passes through a string of Akuapem towns whose primary industry is woodcarving. Roadside workshops and open-fronted stalls line the highway for several kilometres, with craftsmen carving everything from small souvenir masks to enormous ceremonial stools, fertility dolls, and decorative doors.
The tradition draws on the wider Akan carving culture of southern Ghana, which uses particular forms to express social rank and spiritual meaning — the stool, for instance, is not just furniture but a symbol of a chief's authority and soul. Prices are negotiable and considerably lower than in the craft markets of Accra or the airport shops. The quality ranges from tourist-grade trinkets to genuinely skilled work. The best approach is to take time, watch several workshops in action, and buy from craftsmen who are clearly engaged in skilled production rather than selling factory imports.