Accra
Currency
GHS
Language
English, Twi
Timezone
Accra
Continent
Africa
Discover Accra
Accra reads from independence onward. Black Star Square, also called Independence Square, is one of the largest ceremonial squares in the world, open to the ocean and closed by the Independence Arch. The Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum sets the first president's tomb in a park and a museum: this is where he declared independence in 1957, the first in sub-Saharan Africa. The National Museum holds the country's archaeological and ethnographic collections. On the coast, James Fort and Osu Castle recall the European trading posts and the slave trade.
When to go
November to March, the dry season: hot, around thirty-one degrees, with the harmattan hazing the sky with dust in December and January. The main rains fall from April to June, short but heavy, and a second wet season returns in September and October. The heat barely varies across the year; it is the humidity that changes.
Getting around
Tro-tros, shared minibuses, serve everywhere for almost nothing, with no timetable and no fixed stops — you need the hand signals that name the destination. Bolt and Uber work well and are the simple answer. Traffic is heavy and journeys stretch at rush hour. Walking works in Osu and along the coast, less so elsewhere: pavements are missing.
Where to eat
Jollof rice is a point of national pride and a permanent argument with Nigeria. Banku and kenkey, fermented maize doughs, go with grilled fish and a chilli sauce. Waakye is a breakfast dish. Fufu is pounded and swallowed without chewing. One halal address is listed, which poorly reflects the Muslim north of the country.
Good to know
The Ghanaian cedi is the currency and cash remains the norm, though mobile payment is widespread. A yellow fever certificate is required on entry and checked. Malaria is present all year: prophylaxis is worth discussing before leaving. English is the official language, which simplifies everything. Photographing military buildings and Osu Castle is prohibited.
Where to Stay in Accra
Top Activities in Accra
museumNational Museum
landmarkBlack Star Square
museumKwame Nkrumah Mausoleum
landmarkJames Fort
landmarkBlack Star Gate
landmarkAccra Ghana Temple
landmarkIndependence Arch
International Central Gospel Church, Christ Temple West
landmarkLiberation Day Monument
landmarkCathedral Church of the Most Holy Trinity
landmarkNational Theatre
“Deo Gratias” Photography Archive
landmarkKwame Nkrumah Interchange
Holy Trinity Cathedral Senior High School
Osu Castle
Wonda World Estate
Metro TV
Kathy Knowles Comunity Library, Osu
La Tawala Beach Resort
Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park
New Library Complex
Museum of Science and Technology
Free
landmarkAccra
parkEfua Sutherland Children's Park
Free