“One Of Ghana’s True B&Bs !”
Reviewed January 21, 2012
I visited Four Villages Inn with my girlfriend just before Christmas 2011, staying for two nights. I had previously had correspondence with Chris, the ex-pat Canadian owner, and had read several glowing reviews of FVI, which he runs with his Ghanaian wife, Charity.

When I rang, I was surprised to even get a room, as I rang on the week I was going, and all reviews I read indicated “book ahead”. So I was surprised that there was a vacancy for the two days right before Christmas.

Be advised that it is a bit of a way out of central Kumasi (Adum), around 2km from Ahodwo Circle (the circle with the statue of the rearing horse). Look for the signpost for Sir Max Hotel, and it is just past there.

Chris & Charity have a great set-up at FVI – it is very homely, and all the guest rooms are decorated with local decor. They are also roomy, and have self-contained bathrooms. Furthermore, the rooms have wi-fi, and I was able to hook right in with my smart phone, as well as TV with DVD player, and there is a selection of DVDs to watch. I have pledged a bunch of Australian films to Chris & Charity when I return to Australia, so in future, any Aussie films you see on their shelves will be my contribution !

In the morning we had a cooked breakfast, which had mango, as well as scrambled egg, and sausages, which Chris makes himself. He can also arrange to sell you frozen sausages, and we bought a bunch to take back to Accra with us.

Chris & I sat down and talked shop for a while, and I got a great overview of Ghana’s tourism industry. We didn’t do any tours, rather sticking to looking around Kumasi based on our tourist booklet, but on the day we left, Chris & Charity were taking a group out to Cape Coast. My only regret is that I told them I would sign the guest book, but on our way to the airport I realized I forgot to do it in our haste to check-in !

If you have read any of the hype about this place, I can confirm it is all true – there is a personal touch to FVI that check-in/check-out hotels for the most part simply fail to capture.

Room Tip: We had the room by the DVD shelf – I never heard a sound all night and slept fine, and I sleep on a hair-trigger.

correction: It’s our son Frank of FOUR VILLAGES INN MEATS fame that makes the sausages.

You can also write your review here as well.And then there are two widgets for our two blogs, one on Four Villages Inn news where you are now and the second, madinghana mostly on tourism issues. As well there’s a link to our facebook page.

Hope you visit this website where there is a simple on-line reservation form.

Also there are 17 EDITIONS of the Village News where you can read about celebrations of life at FOUR VILLAGES INN that took place during our first ten years of operation.

Kojo Bentum-Williams and Four Villages

A live wire…, you ask. Kojo is deeply concerned and committed to the development of tourism in Ghana. And what’s more, he’s a great communicator, responsible for getting a lot of news out to operators in the hospitality sector on the internet through his Tourism in Ghana blog. Our long conversations on a wide range of concerns were spirited and friendly.

Note two other wonderful sites from the GHANA TOURISM AUTHORITY along with contact info to give your feedback on YOUR tourism experiences in GHANA.

While Kojo was here, he dropped off recent Ghana tourism publicity material that is available for consultation @ FOUR VILLAGES INN.

Ghana Tourism Authority promotional material

Here’s what Kojo wrote in our FOUR VILLAGES INN guest book upon departure:

“Amazing and plush homestay, sumptuous breakfast, wonderful hospitality and above quality and professional standards.”

Kevin, Lisa, Four Villages and Frank & the Duster!

From Nkoranza, it’s a short drive to Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary where we met Christophe, a German volunteer who took us on the forest walk

Christophe with village behind where Mona monkeys scamper around

mona monkey with baby

TOTAL COST OF THE DAY TRIP OUTSIDE KUMASI AND ENVIRONS US$ 150 FOR THE VEHICLE PLUS GHANA CEDI 60 FOR THE FUEL.

The couple’s comment in the FOUR VILLAGES INN guest book:

“By far the best experience in Ghana thus far.”

Elmina Bay Resort, Elmina

All the buses for two days were fully booked, so we offered to drive them down. Before our 7 am departure they signed our guest book:

“Chris and Charity have a beautiful and comfortable home. We will return whenever we are in Kumasi and recommend Four Villages. Thanks also for the ‘Christmas Shuttle’!! We do appreciate it.”

The five-hour drive on Christmas Eve was interrupted frequently by police check points which provided interesting conversation on police ethics. As well Charity, MADinGHANA’S co-driver through life, talked about Ghanaian life, culture and traditions.

Arriving at Elmina Bay Resort, we had the pleasure of meeting the proprietors Ben and Suzie. It wasn’t long before the hoteliers were deep into discussion on what hoteliers talk about….issues and problems.

Ben and Suzie

They mentioned their ongoing battle with sand-miners whose illegal activity has precipitated so much erosion. There is a petition on the CARE 2 PETITION SITE that you can sign.

Jason, Leslie & Blakley with the Scotts @Elmina Bay Resort

MADinGHANA had a short swim in the sea, then lunch and then we headed back to Kumasi arriving safely before dark. I phoned the resort to let our friends know.

Recently TRIP ADVISOR sent out an email entitled Does Four Villages Inn have the amenities travellers want most. It reads:

Traveler Amenities:
How Do You Measure Up?
WE SURVEYED TRAVELERS WORLDWIDE TO DEFINE WHICH LODGING AMENITIES MATTER MOST.* HERE’S WHAT WE FOUND:
83%
expect FREE WI-FI

58%
say SHUTTLE SERVICE to airports and attractions is important

85%
highly value BREAKFAST
WITH BOOKING

Well, we’ve got all three covered! Free Wi-Fi, full breakfast featuring real ground coffee, fresh fruit, FOUR VILLAGES INN MEATS breakfast sausage and bacon  and shuttles to nearby restaurants, the Brass Village and now a car hire journey to CAPE COAST/ELMINA.

FOUR VILLAGES INN

Stayed December 2011, traveled with friends

Dear Santa,
I don’t want much for Christmas, I just want the person reading this to be happy .
Friends are the fruit cake of life – some nutty, some soaked in alcohol, some sweet – but mix them together and they’re my friends.
Love ya.

not because Four Villages (that’s me) is a nutty fruit cake=well maybe just a little-but because he’s off to Ridge School to be the school Santa at their annual Christmas party…It’s the twelfth consecutive appearance-WHAT A RUN! And this Santa intends to stick around a little longer!

Last year, I blogged about the event on my MADinGhana blog-read about Santa’s hug….

Santa, Primary Headteacher Linda (right) with the K class at Ridge School Kumasi

and now compare Santa’s pictures from 2010 with these….how’s he bearing up? Guess he’s O.K. to stick around a little longer in the tropics!

Santa shaking hands, a great Ghanaian custom!

and more shaking hands

and even more shaking hands! Ho, ho, ho!

The latest column that appears on her facebook page is entitled “Stick around a little longer”. I can’t copy or share it with you for copyright reasons. But I can give you the gist of it and relate it to my life here in Ghana. After all I too am back in Ghana after a long absence…

To summarize, life in Accra seems to have driven Nana Ama into a funk where people and places were all the same ole, same ole….(excuse me) shit. Ya, life can get ya down living in a third world urban environment. But alas thankfully Nana is revived by a new friendship and a great evening at a new restaurant. Her grandmother’s advice has rung true loud and clear, “Stick around a little longer.”

No problem for madinghana sticking around here though. At Four Villages Inn Charity and I greet the people of the world and relish in the joy of providing them a comfortable, stimulating and thus satisfying experience. From the moment our guests walk through the front door, they know that they are in a special with special people.

Awe at first sight

There is nothing same ole, same ole about Four Villages Inn and our guests’ reviews in our guest book and on the internet are testimony to that.

So Nana-Ama, next time Accra gets to you, come on up to Kumasi and Four Villages Inn and stick around here with us.

“Well neither do I when it comes time for Buddy, who we’ve had since October, 99, to go….” I said. Alice said the best advice the vet had given her was “Dig the hole first.”

And that’s what we’ll do in the garden. And we’ll get the vet to come here where Buddy has spent his entire life, loyally standing guard protecting Four Villages Inn and Four Villages Inn Meats over the twelve years. He was a great barker!

The couple left after picture-taking…..

Buddy with Alice, Geoffrey and Charity

“Quite frankly, one of the friendliest, calmest guest houses we have stayed in (at home or abroad). What made out two night (and two delicious meals) stay extra special was Buddy, the venerable, elderly house dog. It is clear that the care and affection Charity and Chris lavish on their guests, they have lavished on this sweet dog.”

and then for Comfort’s GRAND MARKET TOUR:

Playwright Alice Carey writes:

“To quote American song writer Cole Porter: Comfort is simply “The Tops”. Long may she reign in the Markets!”

and Geoffrey says:

“I WOULD FOLLOW COMFORT ANYWHERE!”

Final comment: Chris to Charity: “When I go sweetie pooh, dig the hole first.”