To enjoy a good meal, a good vacation, a good movies and the rich Ghanaian culture much as anyone else would, then Accra, Ghana should be in your bucketlist.
Accra is the capital city of Ghana. Though the smallest region on the map but the largest city in whole of the country in terms of population. Accra is the administrative, economic, and educational centre of Ghana.
The city contains the head offices of all of the large banks and trading firms, the insurance agencies, the electricity corporation, the general post office, the large open markets to which most of the food supply comes, and the Accra Central Library.
History of Accra, Ghana
When the Portuguese first settled on the coast of Gold Coast (now Ghana) in 1482, the present site of Accra was occupied by several villages of the Ga tribe, ruled from a parent settlement, Ayaso (Ayawaso). Between 1650 and 1680 the Europeans built three (3) trading posts namely James Fort, Fort Crevecoeur (Ushher Fort) and Christiansborg Castle along the coast in the locality.
On the construction of the various European posts, the settlement and the rulership of the area from Ayaso was destroyed in a tribal war and its population, together with that of the other major Ga towns on the Accra plains, was drawn to the coast by the prospect of profitable trade with the Europeans.
As a result, three coastal villages Osu (Christiansborg), Dutch Accra (later called Ussher Town) and James Town sprang up, becoming the nuclei of what was to be Accra. The name Accra itself is a corruption of the Akan word ‘’nkran’’. It refers to the black ants that abound in the area. It came to be applied to the inhabitants of this part of the Accra plains.
Later the city, Accra grew into a serious and successful trading centre that attracted people from the other parts of Africa to engage in commerce.
Around the year 1875 to 1877, the other Europeans left the Gold Coast leaving the British who then made the city the capital of the British Gold Coast colony.
The city remained the capital of Ghana after it attained its independence in the year 1957 on the 6th of March.
What is life like in Accra,Ghana?
Aside the city being a safe place to travel, Accra is the one of the diverse cities in Ghana with lots of mix of different ethnic backgrounds and tribe making the population count more than three (3) million. The city is filled with endless opportunities for visitors and travelers seeking to start a new life in the country. You can start setting up businesses and working in the city with no stress.
Owning properties in the city like houses, lands are easy to obtain by going through the appropriate institutions offering homes, lands for sale for cool prices. There are accommodations and homes that can be rent for two (2) years advance. Travelers can get access to hotels on budget and the luxury types for those that want to live flashy.
Top Things To Do In Accra, Ghana
Your trip to the capital city is not worth visiting without trying the various attractions, festivals and foods in Accra. The city has the best beaches and some of the safari and forest reserves that would suit your tour preference. Some of the top things you can do while on your travel to Accra include:
Experience the paradise garden on the mountain of Aburi
Get welcomed at the entrance of Aburi Garden with the palm walk comprising of an avenue of elegant palm (Roystonea regia) of about 274 meters long to the car park.
The Aburi Botanical Gardens is located in a peaceful environment with its mountainous area serving as one of the finest destination to enjoy a cool breeze. Its total land area is about one hundred and sixty (160) acres with only three (3) acres developed.
The rest of the land was used as a botanical reserve. The garden has different species of plants that you can tour around know the origin, age and medicinal properties of plants in the gardens.
Explore the largest open air market at Makola
Get a guided tour of Accra’s largest open-air market which overflows with goods, people, scents and sounds, hustle and bustle. It is the best place to absorb the atmosphere of a West African market.
This market is similar with Balogun market in Lagos, Nigeria and a bit similar to markets in Kampala where you really can get whatever you want. It is in the centre of the city so has heavy traffic most of the time and car park is mostly full between 10 am and 5pm.
It is quite an amazing place with lots of very narrow alleyways and women walking about with huge bowls and other packages on their heads. Good place to shop for most things but very crowded most times. Get almost everything you need for your home at reasonable rate.
Visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park
Located in downtown Accra, Ghana is the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum. The Mausoleum is the final resting place of Ghana’s first President and Africanist. The museum hosts rare artefacts relating to Ghana’s independence and tours at the park give visitors in-depth history of the Sub-saharan struggle for independence.
The Mausoleum is surrounded by water which is a symbol of life. Its presence conveys a sense of immortality for the name Nkrumah. It shows that even in death he lives on in the hearts and minds of generations here and generations yet to come.
Take a tour of the Black Star Square
The Independence Arch in Accra, Ghana is part of the Independence Square which contains monuments to Ghana’s independence struggle. In Independence Square are large stands with a total seating capacity of 30,000 surrounding the edges of the square.
The square boasts three monuments which encapsulate the fight for Independent and liberation. These monuments include the Independence Arch to the south of the square, backdropped by the Gulf of Guinea. On the opposite side of the square but facing the arch is the Memorial of the Unknown Soldier, which honors the Ghanaian soldiers who fell fighting for their country.
Just to the north of the main square is a roundabout, in the center of which stands the Black Star Gate, an imposing monument topped by the Black Star of Africa, the five-pointed star that symbolizes Africa in general and Ghana in particular. The monument bears the large inscription “AD 1957” and “Freedom and Justice” and the Liberation Day Monument. The Independence Square is one of the largest city square in the world.
Night life Activities from the clubs and pubs
The Ghanaian warmth and culture extend to our buzzing bars and pubs, nightclubs and drinking spots where African rhythm is usually alive.
Experience the real feel of Ghana moments by visiting any of the numerous locations where you enjoy live-band music of highlife, hiplife or even take dance lessons in highlife, salsa, Kpanlogo or Boborbo where you could dance the night away as you enjoy drinks with friends or while making new friends.
You can also share some drinks with the local people, engage them with conversations to learn more about life in Accra.
Visit the historical site of the Christianborg Castle
Christiansborg Castle also known as Fort Christiansborg or the Osu Castle, is a 17th-century castle located on the shores of the vibrant township of Osu, in Accra, Ghana. The first substantial fort was built by the Danes and has changed hands between Denmark, Norway, Portugal, the Akwamu, Britain, and finally post-Independence Ghana, and was rebuilt numerous times.
Christiansborg Castle is also unique among the castles and forts as for most of the castles since it has been the seat of government in Ghana with some interruptions until the seat of government was moved to the Jubilee House.
Walk through the Jamestown
Jamestown is the oldest suburb in Accra, Ghana. It has a rich culture and offers some sights of the city’s colonial past. But this part of Accra is also home to a little fishing village, where the Ga people live. The township is where the lighthouse is located used by the British to give signal to arriving ship and also as a security.
Watch the celebration of the Homowo festival
Homowo is greatly celebrated in all the towns in the Ga state with celebrations climaxing in Gamashie. The celebration begins with the planting of maize, which will be used in preparing the food for the festival named Kpokpoi or Kpekple. During this period, noise making is prohibited or banned since it is believed that it disturbs the gods.
The meal is eaten with Palm nut soup and it is also sprinkled within the town. This is normally done by traditional leaders and family heads. Celebration includes marching down roads and streets beating drums, chanting, face painting, singing and traditional dances.
Even though the celebration of Homowo is a Ga tradition, many other ethnic groups are welcomed to also join in the celebration. The homowo festival of the Ga tribe is believed to have a lineage from the Jewish tribe and its ancestral tradition of the Jewish Passover feast.
Surf on the various beaches
Explore the various beautiful beaches in the city of Accra. The entire coastline is dotted with beautiful sandy spots to relax in, where both visitors and locals alike can enjoy watching the stunning Atlantic Ocean waves crash against the shore.
Recommended reading.. Best Beaches In Ghana
From smaller unspoilt hideaways to urban sands filled with delicious street food vendors, great bars and local music, you are sure to find your idea of paradise here. Some of the popular beaches in Accra is the Sakumono beach, Labadi beach and other more which offers a great experience to travelers and tourists.
Enjoy the stree art festival of Chalewote Festival
Chale Wote Street Arts Festival is an alternative platform that brings art, music, dance and performances out of the galleries onto the streets of James Town, Accra. The old Ussher Fort prison on the Attah Mills high street has played host to the week-long street art festival. In one of the cells is 24-year-old Charity Debby Akiiti, the only female among scores of male artistes.
The vision is to cultivate a wider audience for the arts by breaking creative boundaries and using art as a viable form to rejuvenate public spaces. The festival tells the African story in unique ways.
Plan your vacation early and enjoy a great and nice vacation in Accra, Ghana.
Get cheap and affordable Accommodations in Accra
Also read.. Top Tourist Destinations To Visit In Ghana
Watch youtube video of Accra:
Thank you for reading.
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