Accra

AI overview

Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, situated on the southern coast along the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean. With a metropolitan population of over 5 million people as of 2021, it serves as Ghana's main urban center and is administratively divided into 13 local government districts.

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Place details

Locality: Accra
Region: Greater Accra Region
Country: Ghana
Population: 1,963,264

Travel guide

Understand

thumb|Independence Arch

The Greater Accra region has an estimated population of 5.5 million in 2021. The City of Accra is a mix of rapid urbanization, informal settlements, and high-end, modern developments. The population of the Accra Metropolitan area is estimated to be over 2.7 million in 2025. However, the surrounding municipal districts are tightly connected to the Accra Metropolitan District. Usually the whole metropolitan area is referred to as "Accra". The local language is Ga; other widely spoken languages are English, Twi (pron. 'ch-wee'), Ewe (pron. ayvay), and Hausa.

See

thumb|Jubilee House, Accra thumb|270px|right|Osu Castle thumb|The lighthouse in Jamestown The oldest part of Accra, which remains an active fishing centre. It is similar in many ways to Zanzibar's Stone Town, though it has not yet been restored, so it is not typically highlighted on tourist itineraries. Despite this, for many visitors, it is one of the most memorable sights in the city. Jamestown is a short distance west from Independence Square; from the busy street the only real sights are the lighthouse, a prison building housed inside an old colonial fort, and the old Customs House. From the lighthouse there is a road which takes you to the otherwise hidden delight: one of the largest working fishing harbours in Ghana. Go early in the morning and see dozens of small boats bring in the day's catch. It's best to find a friendly local guide so you don't miss the hidden alleys, old stone houses, and fantastic cliff-top harbour vistas. thumb|Ussher Fort, Jamestown thumb|University of Ghana, Legon

Do

Swimming Pools: Sport swimmers find a pool in East Legon at A&C Mall for 7 cedis a day. Those who want to spend a relaxing day at a hotel pool can use the one of La Palm Royal Beach Hotel for 10 cedis a day.

Buy

Kaneshie Market is both a transit centre and a great place to shop, offering a very wide variety of mostly traditional goods and items. It is a source for food and household items; beads, hair salons, shoes, handbags and beauty products, and fabric shops. Agbogbloshie Market Nima Market Alajo Market

Wild Gecko (near the Tetteh-Quarshie Interchange, off the Kwame Nkrumah Motorway Extension) sells a variety of crafts, upscale curios, furniture, and batik clothing. Be sure to check out the extensive collection of Christmas ornaments, including Adinkra symbols carved into dainty souvenirs. Down the dirt road from Wild Gecko are further several smaller but well-stocked pottery and craft stores.

~52 min read

Article

52 sections

Contents

Etymology
History
Accra Kingdom
Akwamu conquest of Greater Accra
British power increases
After World War II
Fry/ Treavallion plan
Nkrumah Plan
Geography
Administration
Districts
Cityscape
Accra Central
Accra North
Accra East
Accra West
Demographics
Distribution and density
Population distribution by age and gender
Migration
Housing
Economy
Sectors of the economy
Primary sector
Education
Pre-school
Primary school
Junior high school (JHS)
Senior high school (SHS)
Universities
Institutes
Healthcare
Hospitals
Environment
Water
Pollution
Decongestion exercises
Green spaces
Transportation
Rapid transit
Aviation
Taxis
Tro tros and buses
Sport
Places of worship
Culture
Twin towns – sister cities
UNESCO World Book
See also
References
Bibliography
External links

Accra (; or Gaga; ; Ewe: Gɛ; ) is the capital and largest city of Ghana, located on the southern coast at the Gulf of Guinea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2021 census, the Accra Metropolitan District, , had a population of 284,124, and the larger Greater Accra Region, , had a population of 5.46 million. In common usage, the name "Accra" often refers to the territory of the Accra Metropolitan District as it existed before 2008, when it covered . This territory has since been split into 13 local government districts: 12 independent municipal districts (total area: 179.0 km2) and the reduced Accra Metropolitan District (20.4 km2), which is the only district within the capital to be granted city status. This territory of 199.4 km2 contained 1,782,150 inhabitants at the 2021 census, and serves as the capital of Ghana, while the district under the jurisdiction of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly proper (20.4 km2) is distinguished from the rest of the capital as the "City of Accra".

Formed from the merger of distinct separate settlements around British Fort James, Dutch Fort Crêvecoeur (Ussher Fort), and Danish Fort Christiansborg as Jamestown, Usshertown, and Christiansborg, respectively, Accra served as the capital of the British Gold Coast between 1877 and 1957 and has since transitioned into a modern metropolis. The capital's architecture reflects this history, ranging from 19th-century colonial architecture to modern skyscrapers and apartment blocks.