Basic Facts about Accra
Accra is the capital city of Ghana in West Africa. Almost 2 million people live in Accra, making it Ghana's most populated city. Accra has been Ghana's capital since 1877 when the British ruled this part of West Africa. Before that, Accra was a collection of Ga villages established in the 17th Century.Accra is a sprawling city, with a mixture of modern buildings, shanty towns, occasional castle and lively markets. The central commercial hub is around the Makola Market (pictured here). Just south of the market is the Atlantic ocean (Gulf of Guinea). Accra's shanty towns are mostly to the west of the city center. East of the city center and north towards the Kotoka international airport, is where you'll find most of the hotels, embassies and smarter residential areas.
The most common languages in Accra are English, and Ga.
Travel to Accra
Accra is one of Africa's safer capitals and walking around is relatively hassle-free, although you have to be careful of pickpockets. Take care when walking along the beaches especially those west of the center.
What to see in Accra
- The National Museum has wonderful displays about Ghana's culture and history including the slave-trade, and Ashanti Kingdom. The museum is open daily from 9am - 5pm.
- Makola Market is the soul of Accra. It's colorful, bustling, and you can buy absolutely everything.
- Beaches -- there are some nice beaches in and around Accra, check out Labadi Beach, Coco Beach and Bojo Beach.
- The Arts Center is a great place to shop for handicrafts but be prepared for a hard sell.
- More sights in Accra; More sights in Ghana.
Accra Travel Info
Hotels are plentiful in Accra, check out Trip Advisor's hotel listings and reviews. The Lonely Planet Guide has the best selection of budget hotels.Restaurants and Bars -- You can eat good Indian food in Accra as well as traditional Ghanaian fare and of course lots of fresh seafood (even sushi). Check out these restaurant reviews. For fast food head to Osu. For live music check out this list of venues.
Getting around Accra
The best way to get around Accra is to take a tro-tro (shared taxi) or private taxi. Taxis are easy to flag down just make sure you agree to a price before you head to your destination.
Sources and More Info
- Accra Guide from Ghana Tourism
- Ghana Travel Information
- Ghana's Top Attractions
- Ghanaweb - an online resource for anything and everything about Ghana
- Daily news from Accra's Daily Mail.
- Lonely Planet Guide to Ghana
