Welcome to Accra
Accra is unapologetically hot, loud, lively, colourful, and culturally rich. Miss it and you’ll be missing out
Ghana’s capital is a heady mix of close-knit communities, buzzing markets, bumper-to-bumper traffic, resourceful street-hustlers, and pulsating hiplife beats. Even the food has a spicy YOLO vibe. But, the heat, dust, and noise are soon swept away by cool evening breezes, ice-cold beers, and a refreshing fusion of forward-thinking fashion, music, art, and architecture.
Offering more of an immersive experience than a standard list of tick-box tourist sites, Accra is best enjoyed with a laissez-faire approach. Some great places to soak up the atmosphere include the maze of stalls at Makola Market, Oxford Street in Osu, and Labadi Beach, which is especially lively on Sunday afternoons.
Historically significant spaces worth visiting are vibrant Jamestown with its iconic lighthouse, the nearby Black Star Gate and Independence Square, Kwame Nkrumah Park and Mausoleum, and Osu Castle – part of a collection of forts used during the slave trade.
More recently, Ghana did not escape the devastating effects of the pandemic. Numerous businesses closed in its wake. However, Accra has since been dubbed one of the ‘World’s Greatest Places’ and ‘a hub for creativity and culture’ by TIME magazine. This is in large part due to the fortitude of the city’s designers, musicians, and artists. And now is the best possible time to buy into the action. Independent fashion boutiques are open across the city. Artists Alliance, ADA\ Contemporary, Gallery 1957, and Nubuke Foundation all offer dazzling displays of contemporary African art for neophytes and seasoned collectors alike. You’ll need to look out for live music events advertised via social media and posters in the relevant places.
Accra’s resilient residents have also ensured that many of its traditional chop bars, fancy eateries, and exciting nightlife venues live to fight another day. Auntie Muni’s waakye, for example, remains the city’s best hangover cure. And, given Ghanaian’s proclivity for a party, we hope that doesn’t change any time soon.
If you ever feel the need to escape the chaos, Aburi Botanical Gardens and the beaches at Bojo and Kokrobitey provide welcome respite within an hour or two’s drive of Accra. But, if you’re pressed for time, a dip in the pool at one of the city’s many upmarket hotels can be an equally revitalising reset.
