Accra

About

Accra, Ghana's capital, spreads along the Gulf of Guinea coast in a mix of colonial-era forts, fishing neighbourhoods, independence monuments and fast-growing business districts. It is the main gateway to Ghana and a natural base for trips along the coast to Cape Coast and inland to Kakum National Park. The city's history runs deep. By the 15th century, the kingdom of Accra ruled the area from Ayawaso, and in the 17th century European powers built forts along the shore: the British at James Fort, the Dutch at Ussher Fort and the Danes at Christiansborg. Britain took control of Accra in 1874, and in 1877 made it the capital of the Gold Coast colony in place of Cape Coast, partly because of its drier climate. Accra remained the capital when Ghana became independent in 1957. Jamestown is Accra's oldest district, grown around James Fort and Ussher Fort beside the Korle Lagoon. It is still a working fishing community, home mainly to the Ga people, and its lighthouse, a 28-metre tower built in the 1930s to replace an 1871 original, is the district's best-known landmark. Jamestown also hosts the annual Chale Wote Street Art Festival, and the Bukom area is famous for its boxing gyms. Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park stands on the site of the former colonial polo grounds, where Kwame Nkrumah declared Ghana's independence. The complex, dedicated in 1992, holds the mausoleum of Ghana's first president and his wife, Fathia Nkrumah, and reopened in July 2023 after renovation. It is among the most visited sites in the country. Black Star Square is one of Ghana's national landmarks. Osu grew up around the Danish fort of Christiansborg and is one of the city's best-known neighbourhoods. For time by the sea, head to Labadi Beach, while landmarks such as the National Theatre, Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Ghana National Mosque show off Accra's varied architecture. Accra is warm all year, with daytime highs of about 28 to 33°C and nights rarely cooler than 23°C. The main rainy season runs from about March to June, peaking in May and June. January and February are the driest months, and August is also relatively dry, so November to February is the most comfortable time for sightseeing. Most visitors arrive at Accra's international airport, also known as Kotoka, about 10 kilometres from downtown. From 27 October 2026, Uganda Airlines will fly four times a week between Entebbe and Accra via Lagos, creating a direct airline link between Uganda and Ghana; see our story on the new route. Photo: Gereon K. / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Highlights

• Jamestown and its 1930s lighthouse
• Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum
• Black Star Square
• Osu and the Christiansborg area
• Labadi Beach
• Chale Wote Street Art Festival in Jamestown