Culture and Attractions
- Historical Sites
- Ussher Fort, James Fort (Jamestown)
- Must-See Landmarks
- Black Star Square, Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park
- Religious Sites
- Holy Spirit Cathedral, National Mosque of Ghana (Kanda)
- Annual Events
- Chale Wote Street Art Festival (August), Afrochella/AfroFuture (December)
- Cultural Districts
- Jamestown (Fishing port and colonial history)
- Theater Venues
- National Theatre of Ghana (Victoriaborg)
- Local Markets
- Makola Market, Arts Centre (For souvenirs/crafts)
- Music Scene
- Highlife and Hiplife; live bands at +233 Jazz Bar & Grill
- Street Art
- Jamestown Murals, Airport City street art installations
- Cooking Classes
- Auntie’s Kitchen Experience (Booking via Airbnb Experiences)
- Art Galleries
- Nubuke Foundation (East Legon), Artists Alliance Gallery (Labadi)
- Historic Buildings
- Christiansborg Castle (Osu Castle)
- Local Heritage
- Kente Weaving, Adinkra Symbols (representing wisdom and proverbs)
- Museums & Art Venues
- National Museum of Ghana, Gallery 1957 (Kempinski Hotel)
Essentials
- City
- Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana
- Population
- Approximately 2,700,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 45 Mbps (Fiber available up to 200 Mbps via MTN or Surfline)
- Currency & Banking
- Ghanaian Cedi (GHS). 1 USD ≈ 13.50 GHS, 1 EUR ≈ 14.65 GHS
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use bottled water like Voltic (5 GHS per 1.5L) or sachet water
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (UK style) / Type D sockets. Frequent power cuts (Dumsor) common.
- SIM Card
- MTN Ghana (Best coverage), Vodafone (Telecel), AirtelTigo. 10GB data approx. 120 GHS
- Banking for Expats
- Ecobank, Standard Chartered, Zenith Bank; Mobile Money (Momo) is essential
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, meQasa (local portal), short-stay apartments in Cantonments or Osu
- Cashless Friendly
- Moderate; Mobile Money (Momo) is used everywhere, cards in malls and upscale restaurants
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and local serviced apartments like Libi Homes
- Budget Accommodation
- Somewhere Nice (Adabraka) - Dorms from $20/night, Pink Hostel - $35/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Osu (Nightlife and culture) or Jamestown (History/vibe)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Cantonments (Secure/Quiet), East Legon (Trendy/Modern), or Osu (Central/Social)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Impact Hub Accra (Osu) - $15/day, BaseCamp Initiative (East Legon) - $12/day
- Best Cafe for Work
- Cafe Kuku (Cantonments), Second Cup (Airport Residence), Vida e Caffè (Various locations)
- Networking Events
- Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) events, Barcamp Accra
- Social Events for Expats
- Accra Expat meetups, events at Alliance Française, and 'Accra Weizon' gatherings
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Bolt (Most common), Uber (Reliable), Yango (Cheapest)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Not common for public rental; private rentals through cycling clubs in East Legon
- Best Beach Nearby
- Labadi Beach (Public/Lively), Bojo Beach (Quiet/Private), Kokrobite (Surfer vibe, 45 mins away)
- Top Regional Airline
- Africa World Airlines (AWA), Passion Air
- Top International Airline
- Ghana Airways (partnering with United), Emirates, Delta, British Airways, KLM
- Highway Access
- N1 (George Walker Bush Highway), Accra-Tema Motorway
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Accra Central Railway Station (Limited service); VIP Jeoun Bus Terminal for regional travel
- Public Transport Passes
- N/A - Tro-tros (minibuses) are paid in cash/momo per trip (3-15 GHS)
- Regional Travel
- VIP Bus or STC Bus to Kumasi or Cape Coast ($10-$15)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Nyaho Medical Centre (Airport Residential Area), Ridge Hospital (Public/Modern)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Bliss Yoga Accra (Osu), Pippas Health Centre (Ring Road)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Fitrip (Cantonments) - $15/session, Aerobicize (Airport City)
- Laundry Services
- Washly Ghana, CleanLine Laundry (Cantonments) - Approx 80 GHS per load
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Glovo, Bolt Food, Hubtel
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Jollof Rice with Grilled Tilapia or Kelewele (Spicy fried plantains)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Tatale (Osu), Assase Pa (High Street), Buka (Osu - has veggie sides)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Pinkberry (East Legon), Kay’s Klassic (Cantonments), Araba’s Homemade
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Makola Market (Traditional), Madina Market (Budget clothing/goods)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Jumia Ghana, Tonaton (Classifieds)
- Grocery Delivery
- Shoprite via Glovo, MaxMart Online
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Osu (Oxford Street), East Legon (A&C Mall area)
- Local Brewery
- Club Premium Lager (Accra Brewery Ltd), Inland Microbrewery
- Wine Bars
- The Wine Shop (Labone), Sai Wine & Champagne Cafe (Osu)
- Street Food Stalls
- Osu Night Market (Fried fish/Kenkey), Auntie Muni Waakye (Labone)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Santoku (Japanese - Airport), Bistro 22 (Continental - Labone)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Legon Botanical Gardens, Aburi Botanical Gardens (45 mins away)
- National Parks Nearby
- Shai Hills Resource Reserve (1 hour away) - $15 entry
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- University of Ghana campus (Legon) - very walkable and green
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Skybar 25 (Villaggio Towers) for city skyline views
- Birdwatching Locations
- Sakumono Lagoon, Muni-Pomadze Ramsar Site
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Big Milly’s Backyard (Kokrobite beach area)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- DHL Ghana, FedEx, Aramex
- Tech Repair Services
- Freddies Corner (Circle), iStore (Accra Mall for Apple)
- Table Tennis Spots
- L'Agora (Osu), various community centers in East Legon
- Language Classes
- Language Centre (University of Ghana) for Twi/Ga classes
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Ghana Library Board (Central Accra), Balme Library (Legon)
- Community Centers
- Alliance Française (Airport Residential), Goethe-Institut (Cantonments)
- Gaming Lounges
- The Esports Hub Ghana (Osu), Virtual Reality Ghana
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Millionaires Casino (Golden Tulip), La Palm Royal Casino
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $2,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $112,000 in Airport City)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $1,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $48,000 in Adenta/Amasaman)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $2,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $150,000 in Cantonments)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $1,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $60,000 in Spintex)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $2,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $176,000 in Labone)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $900 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $72,000 in East Legon Hills)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% (standard), reduced rates for hotels and manufacturing
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 8%
- Tax System
- Residency-based; residents taxed on worldwide income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% (for income exceeding 600,000 GHS per annum)
- VAT
- 15% (plus additional levies like NHIL, GETFund, and COVID-19, totaling approx. 21.9%)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Ghana has transfer pricing and CFC provisions
- Property Tax
- Yes, annual rates based on property rateable value (District Assembly determined)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp duty varies from 0.25% to 1% depending on value
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific visa yet; residents taxed on global income remitted to Ghana