Accra Sightseeing: Museums and Monuments

October 18, 2026

Accra’s main sights cluster in a few districts: the old colonial coast at Jamestown, the central monuments around High Street and Independence Square, and the quieter residential areas of Cantonments and Adabraka. Prices are in cedis (GH₵), at about 11.7 to the US dollar, and several sites include solemn memorials, so dress simply and keep voices low. Fees were confirmed from official pages where noted, and opening hours are worth checking before you go.

Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum

The park stands off High Street, on the grounds where independence was declared on 6 March 1957. The mausoleum holds the tomb of Nkrumah and his wife Fathia, and the grounds also hold a museum, an audiovisual tunnel, Adinkra walls, fountains and a restaurant. A vintage state Cadillac is reported on display. The park reopened on 11 July 2023. According to the official rates page , non-Ghanaian adults pay GH₵100 (about US$8.50), tertiary students 60 and children 30, and fees may be raised at any time. The rates page and the park’s FAQ give different opening hours, so check before travelling. Photography is allowed only in permitted areas.

National Museum of Ghana

The museum is at 2 Barnes Road in Adabraka, away from the monuments of central Accra. It opens daily from 9:00 to 16:30. For a non-Ghanaian adult the fee is GH₵80, with 60 for tertiary students, 30 for junior and senior high students and 20 for primary pupils, as shown on the museum’s page . Exhibits include royal regalia, Kente textiles, gold weights, archaeological relics and contemporary art.

Independence Square

Black Star Square was commissioned by Nkrumah in 1961 for the visit of Queen Elizabeth II, and the Black Star Gate and the parade ground face the Atlantic. Visitors view it from outside. State events can close it at short notice, and the neighbouring Nationalism Park opened on 20 December 2024 with an entrance fee.

Jamestown, Ussher Fort and the lighthouse

Jamestown is the oldest part of the city. The lighthouse is about 28 m high and was built in 1932. There is no official ticket office, and unofficial guides at the base take visitors up for a tip, so agree the amount first. Ussher Fort Museum holds slave-trade exhibits, and the building was a prison until 1993. It opens Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 16:30, and the fee is listed at GH₵40 to 80, so confirm at the desk. Treat it as a solemn site.

W.E.B. Du Bois Centre

The centre is at 22 First Circular Road in Cantonments, not at Ussher Fort. It is a heritage site for the American civil rights scholar W.E.B. Du Bois, who spent his last years in Ghana. The campus is under restoration, and the bungalow where he lived is closed, with the photo exhibit and archive lab open by private tour. Typical hours are Monday to Friday 9:00 to 16:00 and Saturday 10:00 to 15:00. No fee is confirmed, so ask when you contact them.

Osu Castle

Fort Christiansborg began as a Swedish trading lodge in 1652 and became a Danish-Norwegian fort in the 1660s, serving as a base of the slave trade. Later it was a seat of government until the presidency moved to Jubilee House. It is state-run and best seen from the road, as access for visitors is contested, so check with the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board and do not plan a tour. Ask before photographing it or any other government or security site.

Arts Centre and getting around

The Arts Centre, next to Nkrumah Park, sells stools, beads, brass weights and drums. Confirm it is trading, and expect firm bargaining. For a guided day that links several sights, look at Accra city tours . Ride-hailing apps give upfront fares, and street taxis have no meter.