Top Things To Do In Accra (Ghana)

Top Things To Do In Accra (Ghana)

 

Ghana’s capital city of Accra is a bustling place. With nice beaches, great nightlife, lively markets, and art places that make you think, there is something for everyone to see and do. It’s also easy to get around, whether you take a private cab or a public tro-tro. If you’d rather walk, many fruit stands in the city help you stay hydrated. A tour leader is not required, but it can be helpful for first-time tourists or women going alone.

 

Join the Party on Labadi Beach

 

Labadi is the most well-known beach in Accra. Restaurants by the water have ice-cold Star beer, delicious fried fish, and spicy jollof, and they are a great place to watch people. Watch for little boys doing athletic tricks, lovely young adults dancing to hip-life, men on horses giving rides to shy women, and rasta ensembles playing for money.

 

 Since the ocean currents are strong here, it’s better to take a quick dip to cool off than to swim for a long time. On Accra-Tema Beach Road, you can go to an upscale property like the Labadi Beach Hotel if you want a quieter place.

 

Visit the Artists Alliance Gallery to see modern art.

 

Artists Alliance Gallery in Accra will blow away anyone who likes modern art. Huge sculptures made of metal are mixed with old Asafo flags, kente cloth, furniture, and amazing masks. Ablade Glover, one of Ghana’s most well-known artists, made this three-story prize chest.

 

The gallery has works by every Ghanaian artist who is worth their salt. Most of the art you see here can be bought directly from the artist. The museum ships all over the world and takes credit cards. Smaller things can be found in the well-stocked gift shop, which is good for people on a budget. There is no charge.

 

Investigate the Global Restaurants on Oxford Street.

 

All of this is happening on busy Oxford Street, which is in the nice part of Osu. Here are some of Accra’s best places to eat, drink, and shop. The street is full of stands selling fake Rolex watches, stolen CDs, and soccer shirts, and the constant traffic adds to the lively mood.

 

Stroll into Arlecchino Gelateria Italiana for a cool scoop of ice cream, or go to the nearby Country Kitchen for tasty dishes made with ingredients from the area. A group of Ghanaian women works together to make the items sold at the Global Mamas store. The street also has a lot of bars and clubs where you can spend a wild night dancing.

 

Take in the vibes at Makola Market.

 

The shops at the chaotic Makola Market sell all that, from fabrics to beads to gifts. Many of the stands are run by powerful, self-sufficient African women who wear beautiful headdresses and know how to run a business.

 

Ask for permission before taking pictures, and be ready to bargain for the best price as you bump into Ghanaians going about their daily business. The fresh produce stands are especially interesting because they have fruit, veggies, and meat from faraway places that you probably have never seen before. You can take a cab or a tro-tro from downtown Accra or Usher Town to get there.

 

Visit Historic Jamestown

 

Seaside Jamestown is an interesting area with a lot of history and poor people. To obtain the most out of it (and to do so properly), you might want to hire a local guide who can show you all the interesting places.

 

Portuguese and British colonial buildings, beautifully painted shops and shacks, and shabby gyms are known for producing among Ghana’s best fighters. You could climb to Jamestown’s famous red-and-white tower to better view the lively fishing port.

 

Explore a workshop for making fantasy coffins.

 

People who like weird things will love Accra’s schools for making dream coffins. The Ga people started the practice of placing loved ones in coffins as a way to remember them. Since then, the practice has spread to the rest of the country. Coffins are made to order and can be customized to appear like almost anything, from unusual fish to plants, home items, or religious symbols.

 

Most coffin shops will let you watch the craftspeople at work or look at their final goods in exchange for a small tip. You never understand; you might even be moved to buy your unique coffin, which you can supposedly do.

 

Experience Accra’s soccer mania

 

Ghana loves soccer more than anything else. Even though most of Ghana’s best players now play for teams in Europe, you might still see Michael Essien or André Ayew in the World Cup or Africa Cup of Nations play-off game. Hearts of Oak is a Ghana Premier League team from Accra.

 

Find out when they are playing their biggest foes, Kumasi’s Asante Kotoko, and buy a ticket to see a very exciting game at the gate. When you get inside the stadium, there will be a lot of music, dancing, great headgear, and bright face paint.

 

Visit Ghana’s National Museum.

 

There are three major parts to the National Museum of Ghana: one for culture, one for archaeology, and one for art. Most importantly, it is an excellent location to learn about the sad past of the Atlantic slave trade. Ethnographic diversity in modern Ghana can also be seen interestingly through cultural shows.

 

You can observe how kente cloth is made and learn about the royal Ashanti stools, which are very important. There are some artworks and musical instruments on show. The museum is accessible daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., costing about $5.

 

See the W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Center.

 

The home of American Pan-Africanist and Civil Rights hero W.E.B. Du Bois is now a museum that shows his life’s work. In 1961 President Nkrumah asked Du Bois to live in Ghana, where he started working on an African Encyclopedia at 93.

 

Early in 1963, the US refused to reissue his passport, so he became a citizen of Ghana as a symbolic act. His health got worse while he was in Ghana for two years. He died on August 27, 1963. His tomb is on the same grounds as the small museum, which has a lot of interesting things from his life.

 

Relax at Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park

 

After a busy day, go to Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park to relax on five acres of grounds with flower beds and beautiful water features. Kwame Nkrumah was Ghana’s first president and one of the country’s founders. The park is a tribute to him, where he claimed independence in 1957.

 

Its center is the tomb where Nkrumah and his wife have been buried. It is a beautiful building. There is a museum that shares the story of the previous leader’s fight for freedom. It has a variety of interesting personal items and photos.