Accra: Museums, Fort History and the Nkrumah Memorial

In Accra, you can explore Ghana’s past, traditions and art, as well as the life of Kwame Nkrumah. The National Museum, Ussher Fort Museum and Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park each focus on different aspects.

Culture and art at the National Museum

The National Museum in Central Accra has three main galleries covering Ghana’s past, traditions and artistic culture. They display exhibits on prehistoric Africa, as well as sculptures and paintings by pioneering and contemporary artists. Historical themes and artworks from different generations thus come together in one museum.

Traditional clothing, local musical instruments and sacred artefacts are also among the exhibits. These include Asante ancestral stools, which, according to traditional belief, are considered the seat of the soul of the chief who sat on them. This traditional interpretation adds cultural significance to the objects. The museum thus brings together tangible collection pieces, traditions and beliefs.

The sculpture garden features life-size statues of historical figures, including Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president. Along with the sculptures and paintings in the galleries, the garden offers another way to explore the themes of art and history. Guided tours are also available at the National Museum.

Ussher Fort: Fort history and collection

The history of Ussher Fort dates back to the Dutch Fort Creve Coeur. It was badly damaged by an earthquake, transferred to the English in 1868 and partially rebuilt. It was subsequently renamed Ussher Fort after the British administrator Ussher. This sequence places the fort’s changes in the context of its colonial history.

Dr Kwame Nkrumah is also connected with the site: Ghana’s first president and a leading figure in the independence struggle was imprisoned at Ussher Fort during the colonial era. Exhibits at the Ussher Fort Museum include shackles, weapons, clay drinking cups, large millstones and a model slave ship. The fort’s history and Nkrumah’s personal connection to it offer two different ways to engage with Accra’s past.

Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park

At Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, a museum, a library and guided tours focus on Kwame Nkrumah’s life, work and ideals. The mausoleum, designed by Don Arthur, is the final resting place of Ghana’s first president and the Pan-Africanist thinker. It houses the remains of Nkrumah and his wife, Fathia Nkrumah. The park thus focuses both on Nkrumah’s work and on commemorating him.

Getting there and finding a hotel in Accra

Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park can be reached by taxi, public transport such as a trotro or Metrobus, and Uber. Check current connections when planning your journey. It is also worth checking the times in advance for guided tours at the National Museum and the Memorial Park.

When looking for a hotel in Accra, your cultural interests can be a useful starting point: would you like to focus mainly on collections and art, explore the history of Ussher Fort, or learn about Nkrumah’s life and ideals? Considering which of these interests matters most to you can help you search for hotels in Accra that better match your needs.

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