Accra

Places of Interest - Ghana

introduction

Accra is the capital, largest city and the commercial, transport and political heart of Ghana. It is located on the Atlantic Ocean and is usually the first place tourists visit when they arrive in West Africa. It is a city of extremes; you can stand in a slum one moment while it’s possible that you stand half an hour later on a beautiful square surrounded by modern buildings or in a cozy street with restaurants and cafes in a tree-friendly neighborhood.

The original inhabitants of Accra are the Ga. The current Accra developed into a considerable place around British and Dutch forts that were built there in the seventeenth century. In 1877, Accra became the capital of the British colony of Gold Coast, as the successor to Cape Coast. After a railway was built to the mines and the agricultural hinterland, Accra developed into the economic center of Ghana. Although the capital of Ghana is not a big tourist attraction you can go and see in the national museum, but be sure to check out the "Christiansborg" fortress built by the Danes.

highlights

Christiansborg (Osu castle)

Christiansborg is a fortress on the Gold Coast in present-day Ghana that was alternately in Swedish, Danish, Dutch, Portuguese and British hands. In 1652 Sweden built a fort in the Accra area, after which the Dutch West-Indian Company bought it in 1658 from a Danish employee.

In 1661 it was reconquered by Denmark. The Danes set it on fire and built a new fort on a more strategic spot. This became the current fortress. Later the fort was conquered by the Dutch again. Then it became British for a short while after which it came back into Danish hands. The Danes kept it, except for a short Portuguese period, until they sold it to England in 1850.

The fort was used as a slave collection point. Christiansborg has been the official residence of the President of Ghana since 1960.

James town and the lighthouse

Perhaps James town is the most "interesting" part of the city - surrounded by a shanty-town here are many dilapidated colonial buildings, peeled off but full of life. Small shops, markets and many open sewers, public fields where local people walk, sport and play - some feel a bit too much here.

On the coast is the dilapidated fort James and the beautiful colonial lighthouse. It is thirty meters high and you can climb it for a small fee.

You can also take a look at the beach where fishing boats are located and if you have succeeded the boats just come in from their catch.

Other attractions:

The Makola market and the National museum.

Accra-streetlife-bucket-washing-line-capital

tips & advice (2012)

There is a large STC bus-station in the west of the city; you can walk from Circle (Nkrumah circle) but there are sufficient tro-tro's (minibuses). The chaotic minibus station Kaneshie is next to / behind Circle.

Accra - Senya Beraku: take minibus “2C” from the “tro tro” station

Accra - Kumasi: with the expensive STC bus it costs 25 Cedi and takes about 4 to 5 hours (250 km)

TIP: If you want to save money, walk down from the airport terrain to the main road. There you take a tro-tro (minibus) direction Circle this costs about 50 pesos and takes half an hour.
TIP: the bus boys make movements with their hands and arms to indicate which direction they are approaching - so circle becomes a small circle with their hand.

Especially in the OSU district you can find fine restaurants and cafes - it is "touristy" cozy area. Also along the ring road (northeast) is a good restaurant on a sandy road (on the inside of the ring) where many business people and NGOs come.

Name: Hotel New Kokolemle

Address: Oroko street

Price: 20 C single room (excluding shower and toilet)

Phone nr. : 224581

Content:

To the north of the ring road, this fine hostel is located in a quiet street. Many tourists and NGOs stay here and a nice terrace where you can hang, eat and drink. There is even a tiny restaurant and a courtyard. The rooms are small and noisy and not really special but fine. You have different types of rooms; my shower and toilet were separate and not really super.

You get toilet paper, a clean sheet, a bar of soap and a towel when you check in. There is a large internet café nearby and you can (if you want) walk to circle where you can easily take a bus.

If you have a MASTERCARD debit card, make sure you have enough money for your further trip in Ghana. I have tried a number of cash machines and only got money from the STANBIC bank. And not everywhere you have these banks in the country - not even in the other big cities.

Accra

Places of Interest - Ghana

introduction

highlights

tips & advice (2012)

see also:

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