Accra brings together several cultural and historical themes: the memory of Kwame Nkrumah, the collections of the National Museum, and the history of Ussher Fort. Consider whether you would prefer to focus on a political figure, broad collections covering the past, traditions and art, or the history of a fort. This will help you shape your stay around the topics that interest you most.

Commemorating Kwame Nkrumah

The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park focuses on the life and work of Ghana’s first president and a Pan-African thinker. Designed by Don Arthur, the mausoleum houses the remains of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and his wife, Fathia Nkrumah; it is the final resting place of Ghana’s first president and a Pan-African thinker. The park also has a museum, a library and guided tours that present Nkrumah’s life, work and ideals. The memorial and the biographical interpretation thus offer different perspectives on the same person. The park can be reached by taxi, public transport such as trotro or Metrobus, and Uber.

National Museum: Traditions, History and Art

The National Museum is located in central Accra and has three main galleries devoted to Ghana’s past, traditions and art. The galleries include exhibits on prehistoric Africa, as well as sculptures and paintings by pioneering and contemporary artists. Other exhibits include traditional clothing, local musical instruments and sacred artefacts. These include Asante ancestral stools, traditionally believed to serve as the seat of the soul of the chief who sat on them. The sculpture garden features life-size statues of historical figures, including Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president. Guided tours are also available. The exhibits span a range of themes, from early periods to contemporary art; the sculpture garden complements the galleries with depictions of historical figures. This gives the museum a broader scope than the Memorial Park’s specific focus on commemoration.

Ussher Fort: History and Collection

The Dutch fort Creve Couer was severely damaged by an earthquake. In 1868, it was transferred to the English, partially rebuilt and renamed Ussher Fort after the British administrator Ussher. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president and a leading figure in the independence struggle, was imprisoned there during the colonial period. The collection at the Ussher Fort Museum includes shackles, weapons, clay drinking cups, large grinding stones and a model of a slave ship. Here, a collection of specific objects sits alongside the history of the fort. It offers a different perspective from the National Museum’s broad subject areas and the Memorial Park’s biographical focus.

Choose a focus for your hotel search

When choosing accommodation in Accra, it is worth deciding in advance which topic you would like to focus on: Nkrumah’s life and work, the National Museum’s collections and art, or the history of the fort. Plan the rest of your trip around the visits that genuinely interest you.

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Go to the broader travel overview: Accra Metropolis.