Glittering beaches. Modern high-rises. Cliffsides and monuments. All of these and more are key parts of our next virtual tour to Accra, the capital and largest city of Ghana. Accra boasts beautiful sites, as well as a rich history involving trade, European colonial powers, and an eventual successful movement for independence. Join us on our virtual tour of this captivating city and learn more about what makes Accra so special.
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Visit the Museums and Sites in Accra
As stated previously, Accra is home to a variety of important sites tied to its complicated, evocative history. Nowhere is this clearer than at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Memorial Park, which is where the first president of Ghana was buried. A prominent Pan-African leader, Nkrumah’s strong voice and bold vision helped guide Ghana to independence from British colonial rule — the memorial park reminds visitors of this past truth. To learn more about the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Memorial Park, you can visit this blog from MOMAA. You can also watch the vlog from Stella Shanelly and the vlog from Lyela Ghanem, with both having auto-generated captions.
Another significant yet dark portion of Ghana’s past takes place in the famed Osu Castle, which was built for trading gold, ivory, and enslaved people in the 17th century. Although ownership was traded between several European countries through the years, it now operates as the seat of government within Ghana by holding the offices of the President. Between a maze of rooms and views of the vast ocean, the Osu Castle is a major landmark in Ghana, explaining some of the country’s history. For a closer look at the castle, be sure to visit the Google Arts and Culture virtual tour, which holds some images and videos, as well as the blog by My Marvellous Mundane.
One must visit place is the Independence Square in Accra, a powerful symbol of Ghana’s journey to freedom from colonial oppression. Also known as Black Star Square, the square hosts key monuments, such as the Independence Arch, the Black Star Gate, and the Liberation Day Monument. These buildings were brought up in the style of tropical modernism, incorporating triumphal arches, vast expanses of concrete, and palm trees. For more information, be sure to read the blog from My Marvellous Mundane. Also, definitely watch the vlog from Kels Acosta and the vlog from Spart Con - Travel Vlogs, with each having auto-generated captions.
For a more bustling attraction that gets closer to local life, look no further than the Makola Market. As Accra’s largest open-air market, Makola Market has vendors selling everything from food to jewelry to home goods. Interestingly enough, the market has historically been dominated by female traders and sellers, with them serving as the foundation for this cultural institution. To learn more about the Makola Market, be sure to visit the blog from Being Christina Jane and the photo-journalism article from Aperture, which details the lives of the women selling products in the market. Also, watch the vlog from Tatiana Haina, which has auto-generated captions.
Tune in to Movies About Accra and Ghana
There are many movies set in Accra and Ghana overall that are sure to excite many different audience members. From the expansion of Ghallywood to smaller productions across the country, it is clear that Ghana’s impact on film is significant. Unfortunately, we could not find any easily accessible television shows centered around Accra or Ghana this time around. However, aside from these film picks, there are many, many more that have subtitles and are generally accessible.
In Kukurantumi: Road to Accra, family drama and relations are at the center. This comedy-drama follows Addey, a truck driver who has just lost his job, whose next order of business is to arrange a marriage for his daughter. The hustle and bustle of Accra is contrasted with the peace of the rural town, Kukurantumi, as the main characters deal with sudden issues and the promise of a rich merchant who can make all their problems disappear. This film is available on YouTube and has English closed-captions.
On a more light-hearted note, unexpected love and soul ties are the heart of the film My Very Ghanaian Wedding. One man, the main character, has it all — he is rich, he has the woman of his mother’s dreams, and he is living it up in Accra. However, at his best friend’s wedding, he meets a fascinating stranger and falls in love. To learn how it all ends, be sure to watch this film on YouTube — it comes with English subtitles.
In a meta way, Fix Us is a film about films. Or rather, the trials of being a movie star. When three women, Nadie, Chioma, and Jaya, run into each other at an audition, they form an unbreakable bond tied together by their shared dream of being a star actress one day. However, they are still tested through conflicting romances and keeping public opinion at bay. This film is available on Netflix and has English closed captions.
If you are interested in fantasy and drama, then The Burial of Kojo is definitely for you. Taking inspiration from the style of magical realism, this film follows the story of a man and his vengeful brother trapping him in a mine shaft. The man’s daughter springs into action and goes on a wild journey to rescue him. The Burial of Kojo is available for viewing on YouTube and has English closed captions.
Potato Potahto is a divorce comedy that takes things to the next level. When a freshly divorced couple decides to keep living in their ex-matrimonial home, they soon realize that the “ingenious” idea is far easier said than done. To find out what happens, be sure to watch the film on Netflix — it has English closed captions.
Get Lost in Books About Accra
Accra and Ghana have been both the background of literary action, as well as the subject of intrigue within a variety of books.
In Taiye Selasi’s book Ghana Must Go: A Novel, the importance of knowing where one comes from rings true. Here, a renowned surgeon and failed husband, Kweku Sai, dies suddenly in Accra — the news of his death bringing his estranged family together once again. This book is available on Amazon and has a Kindle and Audiobook version.
A highly praised book, His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medle centers around a brave young seamstress, Afi Tekple, who makes a sudden move to Accra following her marriage to a wealthy businessman. The hectic, uncertain world of Accra is new and scary for her, not to mention her less than present husband. To find out if Afi sees her marriage through or if she goes on another path, be sure to get this book from Amazon. It also has a Kindle and Audiobook version.
If you are interested in stories of spectacular fraud and high stakes, then Anansi's Gold: The Man Who Looted the West, Outfoxed Washington, and Swindled the World by Yepoka Yeebo may be for you. The book examines the life of con man Ackah Blay-Miezah who declared himself the owner of an alleged Nkrumah trust fund worth billions. He fooled international investors while living in luxury, and eluded his FBI pursuers for years. To learn more about this scam, get this book from Amazon. It also has a Kindle and Audiobook version.
For mystery lovers, we have picked out Kwei Quartey’s Wife of the Gods: A Novel, which is the introductory story in the Darko Dawson series. Dawson begins this tale by leaving his home in Accra for a murder investigation in the small town of Ketanu, where a young woman has been found dead under suspicious circumstances. While Dawson’s outsider presence frustrates local officials, Dawson is under an internal mental strain, as this place reminds him of his family he left behind and the disappearance of his mother. This book is available on Amazon and has a Kindle and Audiobook version.
Boasting a collection of original noir anthologies, Accra Noir, edited by Nana-Ama Danquah, is composed of flawed narrators, death and deviance, and sinners within the capital city of Accra. Claiming that the city is a “virtual map of the nation’s soul”, these stories give insight into the long-standing indigenous traditions of Ghana as they intersect and contrast cosmopolitan sensibilities of Accra’s wealthiest. This book is available on Amazon and has a Kindle and Audiobook version.
For a local virtual bookstore in Ghana, be sure to check out the wares from Akenkan Bookstore and Library. They sell diverse, affordable books that are either international or from Ghana’s own authors.
Bring Accra to Your Kitchen
Like Ghana as a whole, Accra is home to a varied, flavorful cuisine that brings locals together and encourages community bonds. While many of these recipes are usually not vegan or gluten free, we have sorted through those available and found some great dishes that seem to be representative of Ghana’s kitchen culture.
First up, we have chosen a recipe for a vegan and gluten free red red stew, or Ghanaian beans stew. This recipe is actually naturally plant based, as it consists of black eyed peas simmering in a savory tomato sauce. Be sure to check out the recipe for red red stew from The Canadian African and serve the stew alongside some fufu, or pounded yam.
Another staple of African cuisine is jollof rice and many African nations have their own specific versions. However, what they all have in common is that they are made up of a comforting rice dish stewed in a tomato and pepper stew, sometimes served with meat. Check out a vegan, gluten free version of this jollof rice recipe from Whisk it Real Gud — it will make your home smell delicious!
On the sweeter yet still spicy side, the classic Ghanaian dish of kelewele enhances the average fried plantain. Usually served as a snacking food, fried plantain slices are mixed with ingredients like ginger, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper — the sweetness works its way through the initial bite of spice. To make kelewele, check out the recipe from The Storied Recipe and whip up a batch for yourself and your friends.
Finally, the best way to end a meal — dessert! In Ghana, a popular dessert/snack is puff puff, or fried dough balls covered in sugar. You can find these in food stalls all over the country and Africa as a whole, as they are satisfying and only slightly sweet. For a gluten free and vegan recipe, be sure to check out the chocolate puff puff recipe from From My Bowl and enjoy!
Where to Next?
Thanks for wandering Accra with us virtually. Join us next time as we explore Rabat, Morocco.
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