Your stay — Bonsukoda
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The Property — Bonsukoda
Bonsukoda is a practical 3-star hotel in Tema’s industrial district, with clean, air-conditioned rooms, a small pool, and an on-site restaurant serving Ghanaian staples like jollof rice and grilled tilapia. The lobby is functional rather than flashy—tiled floors, a reception desk with a flatscreen TV, and a few armchairs where business travellers check email on the free Wi-Fi. It suits transit passengers using nearby Tema Harbour, budget-conscious tourists exploring Accra’s eastern suburbs, or contractors working at the port.
Chronicles of Tema
Tema was a small fishing village until the 1950s, when Ghana’s first president Kwame Nkrumah transformed it into a planned industrial city and the nation’s primary deep-sea port. The grid-like layout, wide avenues, and functional concrete buildings from the 1960s-70s reflect its modernist, state-led origins. Today Tema is Ghana’s busiest port city, handling most of the country’s imports and exports, and its economy revolves around shipping, oil refining, and manufacturing. Culturally, it’s less touristy than Accra, with a pragmatic, working-class identity and a lively market in Community 1.
Best Time to Visit
Full Tema guide →Best months
August and January: August is the drier end of the minor rainy season, with lower humidity and fewer crowds; January is the coolest, driest month, perfect for outdoor activities.
Peak / festival surge
December is peak season across Ghana, driven by Christmas and New Year celebrations, family reunions, and events like the Chale Wote Street Art Festival in Accra (usually August but can shift). Hotel prices in Tema can double; book 2-3 months ahead.
Budget shoulder season
May and November: May is the rainy season’s end (lower prices, greener landscape), November is post-monsoon transition with still-decent weather and discounts of 20-30%.
Weather & packing
Tema lies on the coast, so expect high humidity year-round and sudden brief downpours even in dry months. Pack a lightweight rain jacket, cotton clothes, and insect repellent—mosquitoes are active after rain.
Live City Briefing — Tema
- Tema Harbour’s expansion project (ongoing until 2027) may cause short-term traffic delays around the port area; check local radio for detours.
- The new Tema-Accra railway line now runs limited passenger services, offering a cheap, traffic-free connection (approx. 45 minutes) to Accra’s Kwame Nkrumah Circle station.
- July is the start of the minor rainy season—expect heavy afternoon showers; road flooding in low-lying areas (e.g., Community 4) can occur.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Bonsukoda, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor, at the rear of the building (away from the main road). These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but low enough for quick stair access if the lift is slow. Rear-facing rooms in Tema hotels typically overlook quieter residential areas rather than the busy Tema Industrial Area traffic.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms: they pick up street noise, potential foot traffic from the lobby, and any cooking smells from the on-site kitchen. Also avoid rooms directly adjacent to the lift shaft – the mechanical noise can be intrusive in a 3-star property where lifts may be older.
Best views
The best view is from rear-facing rooms on the 3rd floor, overlooking the residential sprawl of Tema Community 1 or 2 – a mix of low-rise buildings and palm trees, away from the industrial port traffic. Front-facing rooms look onto the busy Tema main road, with trucks and taxis.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 are the quietest. The building is likely a walk-up or has a small lift; upper floors (if any) may be used for storage or staff quarters in a 3-star hotel of this type.
🔊 Noise notes
Tema's industrial port generates heavy truck traffic on main roads, especially from 6am to 9am and 4pm to 7pm. The hotel's address on a main drag in Tema means street noise will be constant. Also, expect occasional loud music from nearby churches on Sunday mornings and public holidays – a common feature in Ghanaian cities.
Insider tips
1. Park in the gated area behind the hotel – it's safer and quieter than the street parking out front. Ask at check-in to park there even if they suggest the front. 2. If you're a light sleeper, ask for extra pillows to stuff against the window seal – the single-glazed windows in 3-star Tema hotels leak street noise. 3. At check-in, request a room with a working AC (not all units are equally maintained) and test it before accepting the key.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Bonsukoda
Free Wi-Fi for all guests, speed about 10 Mbps (sufficient for email and browsing). One device per room; multiple devices possible with a request at front desk
No passenger lift. The property is a single-storey bungalow-style building with ramps to all rooms
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand. A single copy of Daily Graphic at reception (shared, not room-delivered). No heritage quirks – modern functional building
Check-in from 14:00, check-out by 12:00. Early bag drop allowed from 08:00 at reception. Late check-out until 16:00 costs GHS 80 (subject to availability)
Free storage at reception for same-day arrivals or departures; no lockers, all items tagged
Step-free access from car park to reception and all ground-floor rooms. No internal stairs. Toilet in lobby is wheelchair-accessible. No adapted bathrooms
Free on-site secured parking for up to 12 cars, first-come first-served. No valet, no EV charging. Nearest public car park is the Tema Central Market lot, GHS 10 per day
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: GHS 10.00 per person per night (government tourism levy, collected at check-in)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; GHS 100 incidental hold on credit or debit card at check-in (refunded at check-out if no extras)
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Trinity Babtist Church (555 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: First Love Centre - The Mega Church (640 m · ~8 min walk)
- Church: Madina Central SDA Church (914 m · ~11 min walk)
- Church: Love Worship Christian Centre (977 m · ~12 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Legon City Mall — 2.3 km · ~29 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Ecobank — 457 m · ~6 min walk
Meditab Pharmacy — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
La Fiesta Hacienda — 231 m · ~3 min walk
UPSA Taxi Rank — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Ghanaian Cedi, GHS
Exchange money at Forex bureaux in major shopping centres like the Tema Community 1 market area; avoid airport kiosks and hotel desks, which give poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard accepted in larger supermarkets and hotels, but most local shops and taxis prefer cash; contactless is rare outside upscale venues.
Not mandatory but appreciated: 5-10% at sit-down restaurants, round up taxi fares, and give 5-10 GHS to hotel porters or cleaners.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Instant Nescafé from a street-side kiosk or small chop bar, about 5-8 GHS.
A plate of jollof rice with chicken or fish from a local 'chop bar' or food stall, about 15-25 GHS.
A main of grilled tilapia with banku and shito at a neighbourhood 'spot', roughly 30-40 GHS.
The main Tema Market area (Community 1) and the roadside along the Tema-Accra highway have clusters of stalls selling grilled fish, kebabs, kenkey, and fried yam.
Shoprite in Tema Community 1 is common for packaged goods; Melcom stores offer budget basics; smaller 'provision shops' sell essentials.
The Tema Market (Community 1) has second-hand clothing and fabric stalls; for cheap new clothes try the shops on Station Road near the lorry park.
Trotro minibuses cost 2-5 GHS per ride within Tema; the STC bus from Kotoka Airport to Tema costs about 20 GHS and is the cheapest airport link.
Eat at chop bars and street stalls — restaurants in hotels cost many times more. Use trotros instead of taxis for short hops. Buy bottled water in bulk from supermarkets, not street vendors.
Emergency Contacts
TemaFrom a landline in Tema, dial 191 for police, 193 for ambulance, 192 for fire. Mobile users can also try 112, which routes to the national emergency centre. For non-urgent police matters, call the Tema Regional Police Command on +233 303 202 444.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Tema, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Bonsukoda
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Ecobank — 457 m · ~6 min walk — pharmacy · Meditab Pharmacy — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Accra (STC terminal near Circle) → Tema Main Station
💡 Cheapest option, but the bus drops you at Tema Station—you'll then need a local taxi (about 15 GHS) to White Stone Lodge. Best for day trips.
Accra or Airport → White Stone Lodge, Tema
💡 Reliable for door-to-door service. Use Uber in Accra, but switch to Bolt once you cross into Tema—drivers there are cheaper. Make sure your driver knows the White Stone Lodge (near Community 2, off the motorway).
Kotoka International Airport (ACC) → White Stone Lodge, Tema
💡 Negotiate the fare before getting in; a typical drop to White Stone Lodge should be 120–150 GHS. Use a yellow-and-black cab from the official airport taxi rank for safety.
Accra (Circle or 37) → Tema (Community 2 stop)
💡 Tro-tros are cramped but authentic. Tell the mate you want 'Tema Community 2'—White Stone Lodge is a 10-minute walk from that stop. Avoid rush hours (7–9am, 4–6pm) when it's packed.
About Tema
Wikipedia ↗
Tema is a city on the Bight of Benin and Atlantic coast of Ghana. It is located 25 kilometres (16 mi) east of the capital city; Accra, in the region of Greater Accra, and is the capital of the Tema Metropolitan District. As of 2013, Tema is the eleventh most populous settlement in Ghana, with a popu...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Bonsukoda?
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor, at the rear of the building (away from the main road). These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but low enough for quick stair access if the lift is slow. Rear-facing rooms in Tema hotels typically overlook quieter residential areas rather than the busy Tema Industrial Area traffic.
Which rooms should I avoid at Bonsukoda?
Avoid ground-floor rooms: they pick up street noise, potential foot traffic from the lobby, and any cooking smells from the on-site kitchen. Also avoid rooms directly adjacent to the lift shaft – the mechanical noise can be intrusive in a 3-star property where lifts may be older.
Is Bonsukoda noisy?
Tema's industrial port generates heavy truck traffic on main roads, especially from 6am to 9am and 4pm to 7pm. The hotel's address on a main drag in Tema means street noise will be constant. Also, expect occasional loud music from nearby churches on Sunday mornings and public holidays – a common feature in Ghanaian cities.
Which rooms have the best views at Bonsukoda?
The best view is from rear-facing rooms on the 3rd floor, overlooking the residential sprawl of Tema Community 1 or 2 – a mix of low-rise buildings and palm trees, away from the industrial port traffic. Front-facing rooms look onto the busy Tema main road, with trucks and taxis.
What are insider tips for staying at Bonsukoda?
1. Park in the gated area behind the hotel – it's safer and quieter than the street parking out front. Ask at check-in to park there even if they suggest the front. 2. If you're a light sleeper, ask for extra pillows to stuff against the window seal – the single-glazed windows in 3-star Tema hotels leak street noise. 3. At check-in, request a room with a working AC (not all units are equally maintained) and test it before accepting the key.
What time is check-in at Bonsukoda?
Check-in at Bonsukoda is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Bonsukoda have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi for all guests, speed about 10 Mbps (sufficient for email and browsing). One device per room; multiple devices possible with a request at front desk
Is there a city or tourist tax at Bonsukoda?
GHS 10.00 per person per night (government tourism levy, collected at check-in)
Where can I eat cheaply near Bonsukoda?
A plate of jollof rice with chicken or fish from a local 'chop bar' or food stall, about 15-25 GHS.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Bonsukoda?
Trotro minibuses cost 2-5 GHS per ride within Tema; the STC bus from Kotoka Airport to Tema costs about 20 GHS and is the cheapest airport link.
When is the best time to visit Tema?
August and January: August is the drier end of the minor rainy season, with lower humidity and fewer crowds; January is the coolest, driest month, perfect for outdoor activities.
Top Attractions in Tema
💡 Best photographed in late afternoon for golden light on the concrete. Not a place to linger at night. Combine this with a walk along the nearby Community 1 market street.
💡 Go early in the morning (before 8am) for a cooler, quieter experience; the park gets busier after 4pm with joggers and kids.
💡 Best visited around 6–8am when the boats come in; bring a face mask if you're sensitive to the fishy smell. No photography restrictions but be respectful of fishermen.
💡 Go at sunrise for the best light and cooler temperature. Bring your own water and a bag to take out your rubbish. Swimming is at your own risk—currents can be strong.
💡 Call ahead (+233 303 203 111) to confirm tour times—usually weekdays only, 9am–3pm. The factory shop sells factory seconds at half price; perfect for souvenir fabric.