Larabanga Mosque

Larabanga Mosque stands in the village of Larabanga, in the West Gonja District of Ghana's Savannah Region, roughly 15 km north of Damongo and about 4 km south of the entrance to Mole National Park. It is a heritage site built in the Sudanese, or Sudano-Sahelian, architectural style from West African adobe — mud and sticks — and measures about 8 metres by 8 metres. Official Ghana Tourism Authority material describes it as thought to be the oldest mosque in Ghana and West Africa, and it is commonly called the "Mecca of West Africa" for its historical and architectural heritage. It has been listed on the World Monuments Fund's List of 100 Most Endangered Sites, and the World Monuments Fund contributed substantially to its restoration.

The building is distinguished by two pyramidal towers: one for the mihrab, facing Mecca and forming the east facade, and one minaret at the northeast corner, with twelve conical buttresses fitted with timber elements. It has four entrances, one each for the village chief, men, women and the muezzin. A large baobab tree stands beside the entrance; local tradition holds that the remains of the founder, Ayuba, are buried beneath it. Inside is a very old Quran believed by locals to have been delivered from heaven to an imam, Yidan Barimah Bramah, around 1650.

The mosque serves as Friday prayer grounds and as a pilgrimage site, and private readings can be arranged on request. Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter, so visiting is from outside the building regardless of mobility. The surrounding area has uneven terrain and the traditional mud construction and grounds are not specifically designed for wheelchair access, with no dedicated accessibility facilities; visitors with significant mobility concerns may view the mosque from the perimeter, and local guides can assist.

Guided tours and local guide services are available, and photography is possible with permission. The sites are largely undeveloped, and a Ghana Tourism Authority master plan envisages a museum, washroom facilities and other ancillary facilities once ownership disputes are resolved. No direct phone or email is published for the mosque itself; the community cultural organisation LECLARA arranges guided visits to the mosque and the Mystic Stone. Nearest accommodation noted by Visit Ghana is Zaina Lodge, with Savannah Lodge and Mole Motel also nearby.