Accra's Black Star Gate Arch At Independence Square — *Unsplash*

Updated on March 7, 2024

Group of Black women sitting between two canons with ocean in background at Cape Coast Castle In Accra Ghana — David Maja

There is no better feeling than being in West Africa, surrounded by a sea of beautiful Black people during what’s been dubbed as Detty December, a festive time when the African diaspora flocks back to our ancestral homeland to reconnect with the culture, pay homage to the ancestors, and connect with new people, places, and businesses. It’s truly the experience of a lifetime that many first-time visitors from the global Black diaspora liken to feeling free for the first time.

It’s a powerful energetic force that all Black people across the diaspora must feel. Moving through the world in our skin feels heavy for many of us, but when we finally return home, we can unclench our jaws, drop our shoulders, and breathe easier.

What a beautiful feeling that we all deserve to experience. Accra, Ghana, long considered the “Gateway to Africa” is the perfect place to begin. In 2019, Ghana’s tourism authority declared it the “Year of Return.” Four hundred years had passed since some of the first ships with enslaved Africans left the shores of the Jamestown neighborhood in Accra, Ghana, and landed up the shores of Jamestown, Virginia. Thousands of Black folks made their way back to the land of the Gold Coast, and plenty have been returning every year since to experience Ghana’s food, nightlife, culture, and history.

While many people visit Ghana all year around, visiting December in Ghana is a unique experience.

These are the eight best things to do in Accra, Ghana in 2024

Black women under red nightclub lights holding drink and smiling — *Accra has some of the best nightlife in Africa / Sedg Media*

1. Experience Accra’s Poppin’ Nightlife

Experiencing nightlife in Accra (especially during December) is one of the best things to do In Ghana, and there’s a vibe for everyone. If having a laid-back evening at an outdoor venue, listening to a live DJ, and sipping on a local drink sounds like a good time, visit the iconic Republic. The bar and grill has been around for years and is a staple amongst locals and travelers. It is well-loved for its chill atmosphere, excellent DJs, and outdoor dance floor. You can’t leave without trying a Kokroko, an icy cocktail made with a shot of local in-house liquor, hibiscus, lime, mint, and brown sugar. It’s a refreshing drink that is perfect for Accra’s sometimes-humid nights.

For club lovers looking for a complete nightlife experience, head to some of Accra’s best clubs like Ace, Kruna, Mad Club, and Twist. Those looking for a house-party vibe should head to Bloom Bar, one of the city’s most famous spots, where there are no sections—just dancing, good drinks, hookah, and the best DJs.

In December, Bloom Bar will host the legendary Everyday People Party from the New York collective. Another one of our favorite spots to visit is Front/Back. By day, it’s a private membership club for Accra’s creatives and entrepreneurs, and by night, it turns into a cozy dance party underneath string lights that feels like a backyard cookout on the best summer night.

Young Black woman in pink shirt and blonde braids sits on busy market street in Ghana — *Makola Market has something for every shopping need / Davino Dove/Unsplash*

2. Go Shopping At Makola Market

Visting Makola Market is one of the best things to do during your visit to Accra. It’s the city’s largest open-air market and one of the busiest in West Africa. Makola is bustling every day of the week with vendors selling produce, fabric, waist beads, clothing, shea butter, household goods, electronics, and more—anything you need, you can find at Makola Market.

Although visiting can be hectic for first-timers, it is a unique up-close look at the local culture and shouldn’t be skipped. Be sure to get there early in the morning to beat the crowds (even though beating the crowds is almost impossible). Suppose you’re looking for a calm shopping experience. In that case, we recommend visiting The Shop Accra, a boutique in Osu with a curated selection of products from Ghanaian and international designers, artisans, and makers.

3. See Street Art in Historic Jamestown

Exploring Jamestown is one of the best things to do in Accra. This historic corner of the city is known for its famous lighthouse with panoramic views at the top, 17th-century James Fort and Usher Fort, fishermen’s history, and boxing culture (the area produces more boxers per capita than anywhere else in the world). Every August, the annual Chale Wote Street Art Festival takes place, and street art usually still lingers for the rest of the year.

While in Jamestown, be sure to check out Brazil House. It’s the home of the Tabom people, a group of formerly enslaved Afro-Brazilians of Yoruba descent who settled in Jamestown during the 1830s. For good eats in Jamestown, try Osikan, an open-air bar and restaurant on the ocean. At Jamestown Cafe, enjoy local food al-fresco, and there are often live music nights, too.

*AfroFuture Festival is a diaspora reunion filled with live music, food, and art.*

4. Dance At AfroFuture Festival

AfroFuture Festival is a whole vibe. Every December, the music festival in Accra at El Wak Stadium features everything from local food to dope art installations. Their line-up has featured some of the top AfroBeats artists in the world, from Burna Boy to Davido, and every year, it seems to get better. Dozens of vendors sell handmade goods, clothing, and delicious food across the diaspora from Ghana to Jamacia.

Grab our Ghana Guide for the complete list of our favorite clubs, bars, lounges, and nightlife events and the best things to do in Ghana.

Visiting Cape Coast Castle is one of the most essential experiences for every Black traveler to Ghana / David Maja

5. Walk Through History At Cape Coast “Castle”

Taking a day trip from Accra to Cape Coast “Castle” (more like a dungeon) is an emotional experience for any visitor and those from the African diaspora. It’s a harrowing but necessary experience that is sure to bring up a range of emotions, from anger to pride, as you’re led through the dungeons where our people were kidnapped, held, and tortured. One of the most crucial parts of the experience is walking through the “Door of No Return” — a place that colonizers never expected us to see again and the last doorway that many of our ancestors walked through before being herded onto ships as human chattel and forced across the Atlantic to the places we call home today, from the US South to Brazil. Elmina “Castle” is also an important visit to make. It’s located in the small town of Elmina, less than 12 minutes away from Cape Coast Castle.

For many, a visit to either also includes a refreshing cool down among nature at the stunning Kakum National Park—we experience both on our annual Ghana trip.

Beach in Ghana with palm trees and a wooden colorful boat anchored at shore — Yoel Winkler/Unsplash

6. Have A Beach Day Outside Of Accra

Ghana is a beautiful coastal country with 300 miles of shoreline, so naturally, one of the best things to do in Accra (and beyond) is planning a beach trip. Our favorite places in Accra are beach clubs like Alora Beach Resort, Beach Afrique, Sandbox Beach Club, and Polo Beach Club. Accra’s best beach clubs have direct waterfront access, but you can also eat, drink, swim in the pool, smoke hookah, and listen to live DJs on most nights.

While Accra is a vibrant place, Ghana’s best beaches are outside the capital. For a quick day trip, head to Kokrobite Beach, just a forty-five-minute drive outside of Acca. The beach is full of people, has local food and drinks, and the sunsets are amazing. If you're up for an adventure, try surfing at Mr. Brights’ Surf Shop. For a truly unique experience, book a night in a glass mirror beachfront cabin at Sojourn Cabins in Anomabo, 3 hours outside Accra.

TRAVEL TO GHANA

The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park is full of important Ghanaian history / David Maja

7. Learn About Ghana’s Pan-African History

Pan-Africanism isn’t new. The diaspora has been finding ways to connect across time zones, languages, and oceans for generations. Kwame Nkrumah, the leader instrumental in leading Ghana to independence from colonial powers, is revered nationwide. In Accra, the recently-renovated Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum honors his legacy and teaches visitors about his steps to inspire the unity of the continent and its people. One of Nkrumah’s most famous quotes, “I am not African because I was born in Africa but because Africa was born in me,” is painted on the walls and makes for a unique photo spot to commemorate any visit to the Accra.

Grab our Ghana guide for our complete guide to the best things to see, do, eat, and experience in Accra, Ghana.