Bolgatanga Central Market is the beating heart of the Upper East Region — Ghana's undisputed capital of basketry and straw handicrafts, and the place where the famous Bolga basket begins its journey from a weaver's hands to homes in Accra, London and New York. The market sits right in the centre of Bolgatanga, the regional capital, and it is really two markets in one. The main general market handles the everyday commerce of the Upper East — grains, groundnuts, shea butter, dawadawa, livestock, cloth, and foodstuffs brought in from surrounding villages on market days. Then there is the craft side, the part that made Bolga famous: rows of women sitting with straw and dyed elephant grass, weaving baskets, bolga hats, fans, fruit bowls, and the distinctive "Bolga basket" with its leather-wrapped handle. The weavers are mostly from the Gurunsi and Frafra communities around Bolgatanga, Sirigu, Zuarungu and Bolga-Soe, and the craft is passed down through generations of women. The Bolga basket itself deserves its reputation. It is woven from *veta vera* grass (also called elephant grass), which is harvested, split, twisted and dyed before weaving. The finished baskets are strong, flexible and beautiful — which is why they became one of Ghana's most successful craft exports, sold through fair-trade networks and diaspora shops worldwide. Sirigu, about 30 km from Bolga, is the other great craft village, known for its painted pottery and wall murals as well as basketry. Practically, if you are visiting: the market is busiest on **market days** (traditionally every three days in the Upper East cycle, with Saturday being the big one in Bolga), so go early morning for the best selection and the coolest weather. Bargain politely — haggling is expected, but these are women's livelihoods, so a fair price is a good price. Bring small cedis notes. The dry season (November–March) is the most comfortable time to visit; the harmattan makes the mornings cool and dusty, which is actually pleasant for walking the market. Bolgatanga is about 160 km north of Tamale and roughly 800 km from Accra — most visitors fly into Tamale and drive up, or take a long-distance bus from Accra's Tudu or Circle stations. The market is within walking distance of the town centre, and the regional museum and the Bolga craft village are nearby if you want to see weaving in progress. There is an Akan proverb that fits the place well: *"Onipa firi soro besi a, obesi onipa kurom"* — a person descends from the sky but lands in someone's town. Every basket that leaves Bolgatanga carries a piece of the Upper East with it, and the market is where that journey begins.