Walking Accra: Jamestown, Osu and Makola

October 18, 2026

Accra is a city for short walks in distinct districts, linked by ride-hailing rides, rather than one long route. Heat, traffic and uneven pavements keep most walks to a couple of hours, so start early and carry water. Prices are in cedis (GH₵), at about 11.7 to the US dollar. Sachet “pure water” varies in quality, so buy sealed bottles when you can.

Jamestown and Usshertown

Jamestown is the oldest quarter, built around James Fort. The lighthouse is about 28 m high and was built in 1932. It is run by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and has no official ticket office. Unofficial guides at the base take visitors up for a tip, so agree the amount before climbing. A 2013 Time Out report described the stair as possibly not overly safe and mentioned a tip of about GH₵5, so take care and expect prices to have moved.

Ussher Fort Museum, a short walk away, has slave-trade exhibits, and the fort was a prison until 1993. It is open Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 16:30, and the fee is listed at GH₵40 to 80, so confirm it at the desk. Treat it as a solemn site. Brazil House on Brazil Lane honours the Tabom returnees who came back from Brazil, and has been a museum since 2007. One listing shows about GH₵10 for entry, and it is sometimes shut for works, so check first.

Ga Mashie and Chale Wote

Ga Mashie is a residential and fishing area with painted walls and busy lanes. Always ask permission before photographing people, market sellers or elders, and consider a local guide from the Jamestown youth associations. Chale Wote Street Art Festival is held each August, organised by Accra [dot] Alt. The 2026 edition ran from 10 to 17 August in Jamestown and Osu, and the festival listing gives the dates. Expect crowds and closed streets during the festival.

Guided and volunteer walks

Accra Greeters offers free walks led by volunteers. Private half-day Old Accra walks were listed at about US$80 in a 2024 listing, which should be taken as a rough guide. Compare Accra walking tours if you want a guide to arrange everything.

Makola and Kantamanto

Makola Market is the main commercial market, with printed fabrics, spices and produce. The 31st December Makola Market stalls are being redeveloped and traders relocated, which is disputed, so conditions change. Kantamanto, next door, is a very large second-hand clothing market. It burned on 2 January 2025, was rebuilt and is trading again, though traders reported slow business in January 2026 according to GNA . Go in daylight with a bag in front of you. The UK Foreign Office says pickpocketing and bag-snatching are rising in Accra, so carry little and keep phones away from the street edge. Prices in markets are cash in cedis, and bargaining is normal.

Osu and Oxford Street

Oxford Street in Osu is the local name for Cantonments Road, and it is the best district for an evening stroll with food stalls, shops and restaurants. Venues here open and close, so check that a place is trading before you head for it. Use an app for the ride back, since Uber, Bolt and Yango show the fare upfront, and do the same if you leave after dark. Global Mamas has a store in Osu that runs a free fair-trade mini tour on weekdays for groups of three or more, per secondary listings, so confirm ahead.

Tips

Wear a hat and closed shoes, take water, and plan for a slow return journey, since the roads are busiest from about 6:30 to 10:00 and 16:30 to 20:30. Malaria is present all year, so use repellent in the evening.