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Im Jahre 1877 wurde der Sitz der Gold Coast Administration von Cape Coast nach Accra verlegt da Accra zentraler lag. Es ist zwar mit 2577 qkm die kleinste Region Ghana's, aber dafür die dichtest besiedelte.

Accra hat seinen eigenen Stil. Hier findet man keine Wolkenkratzer aus Glass und Cement, sondern eine Stadt die in erster Linie das Zuhause für mehr als 2 Millionen Menschen ist. Accra ist keine besonders schöne Stadt aber sie hat Character.

Geographisch gesehen liegt Accra in einem Trockengürtel der sich entlang der Küste von Cape Three Points bis nach Togo streckt. Dies ist der Grund weshalb es kaum regnet in Accra. Da Accra von Wasser umgeben ist hat die Trockenzeit wenig Einfluss. Accra hat den Ozean auf einer Seite, den Volta Stausee und vier Lagunen auf den anderen Seiten. Accra liegt nur 25 Meter über dem Meeresspiegel.

Man kann heute nicht genau sagen wo der Name Accra herstammt aber es hat etwas mit schwarzen Ameisen zu tun die in der Sprache der Ga's Gaga heißen. Eine andere Andeutung auf Ameisen kommt in dem namen Nkran - Schwarze Ameise - vor der traditionelle Name von Accra im Akan Dialekt. Der Ga Stamm war der erste der sich in der Gegend von Accra niederliess. Der Stamm hatte viele Feinde und die Hügel in der Gegend gaben ihnene Schutz. Um 1471 kamen die Portuguiesen zu der Küste Accra's und fingen den Handel mit Gold, Pfeffer, Elefenbein und Sklaven an.

Da die Ga's kein kriegerischer Stamm waren so mussten sie sich anders beschützen und das taten sie indem sie sich auf guten Fuss mit den Ausländern stellten. Die Ausländer wiederum bewunderten den Geschäftssinn der Ga's und beschüzten Ihr eigenes Interesse indem sie die Ga's beschüzten. Bald wurde die Gegend um die Castles in der Ga Region attraktiv für andere Stämme und viele kamen um sich nieder zu lassen. Die Region nahm sehr schnell zu und fing an sich auszubreiten. Die erste größere Niederlassung war Ussher Town, direkt um das Ussher Fort herum. Als nächstes kam James Town was sich um James Fort entwickelte. Labadi war eine Kolonie von Famern die den Rest der Gegend mit Gemüsse belieferten. Die Kolonien die direkt am Meer waren lieferten den Fisch.

Heute ist Accra wohl nicht so viel anders als jede andere Großtadt. Nur Accra hat etwas Spezielles - afrikanische Tradition und Kultur gemischt mit dem Einfluss der Neuen Welt. Accra ist der Trendsetter für West Afrika was Mode und Musik angeht.

Du Bois Memorial Center
Dr. W.E. Du Bois war der Führer des Pan - African Congress zwischen 1919 und 1927

National Museum
Hier findet man eine einzigartige Sammlung von traditionellen Kunstwerken sowie Archeologische Funde.

Center of National Culture
Samstag nachmittags gibt es hier Theater und Musik Aufführungen und das Anansekrom Museum bietet eine Kunstausstellung

Arts Market
Neben dem Arts Center findet man einen tollen Markt gefüllt mit ghanischer Kunst - Schniztereien, Messingarbeiten, Lederwaren, Körbe etc.

Coffin Shop
Die Sargmacher von Teschie machen Särge in allen Formen - Maiss Kolben, Bierflaschen, Flugzeuge, Hühner etc.

Accra became the seat for the Gold Coast Administration in the year 1877 the reason was simple - Cape Coast, the then Capital of the Crown Colony, was too far away from the other parts of the country and since then Accra has been the centre point for the ten regions. Accra is the smallest of Ghana's Regions with only 2577 sq. km but it is the most densely populated.

Accra is proud of it's style. As Ghanaians are proud of their culture and heritage they are also proud of their style. Accra is one of the few cities in Africa which does not try to copy the Western World or America. You will not find towering buildings from cold cement and glass nor will you find snobbish shopping arcades. What you find is a city which is first and foremost a home to it's population of more than 2 million. Accra is not necessarily a beautiful city but it was made according the style and taste of those that live in it and around it.

Due to Accra's geographic situation it hardly rains in Accra. It is situated in the middle of a very dry coastline that stretches from Cape Three Points to Togo. Due to this the area around Accra and Tema is among the driest in the country. Accra is surrounded by water and as such is not affected by the absence of rain. The sea, one lake and four lagoons are ample enough. Accra is only 25 meters above sea level and is surrounded by hills 350 meters high on the other three sides.

No one really knows where the name Accra originated, but one thing is for sure, it has a connection with Black Ants also known as Gaga in the Ga language. Another sign for the connection of ants with the name is the traditional Akan name for Accra is Nkran - Black Ant. The Ga were the first to settle in this area. They were mostly farmers and as such they preferred living on higher grounds, but also because they had many enemies and the surrounding hills gave them cover. Around 1471 the Portuguese landed on the coast in this region and soon set up a trading point to trade their wares against the riches of the African Coast - Gold, Pepper, Ivory and Slaves.

The Ga were quite a small tribe and as such had problems defending themselves against their countless enemies. But one thing they had in their favor was the fact that they were smart and used the foreigners to protect them. The Foreigners found the Ga' s to be good tradesmen and wanted to protect their interest. Soon the areas around the Castles in the Ga area became attractive for other settlers and the region grew in population with people migrating down from other regions. The first large settlement was around the Korle Lagoon which became Ussher Town when the British took over the Ussher Fort. Similarly James Town became the area around the British James Fort. Labadi was formed by a colony of Farmers which supplied the other areas with food crops whiles the folk along the coastal strips supplied fish and as such there was a constant bartering between the Ga's and the foreigners. When the British finally took over in the middle of the 19th Century Accra was born.

Today Accra is no different from any other metropolis only maybe more interesting as one finds the old tradition and the new American and Western influence as a refreshing mixture. Accra is quickly growing into a model city for the rest of West Africa - Accra dictates Fashion and Music trends for West Africa.

Sightseeing

Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park

Dr. Nkrumah was the first President of the Republic of Ghana.

Du Bois Memorial Center

Dr. W. E. Du Bois was the leader of the Pan African Congress between 1919 and 1927 as well as vocal anti - segregationist, prolific writer and speaker and he was one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The Center serves as a Library for students of pan - Africansim but is also a memorial for Du- Bois himself and is open to the Public.

National Museum

The museum has an excellent display of traditional crafts as well as an ethnological and archeological array of items.

Center for National Culture

In the Ghana Center for National Culture you can spend the Saturday afternoon watching local music and drama shows. Adjoining there are several displays of traditional art at the Anansekrom Arts Center.

Arts Market

Besides the Art Center on the High street you find a market devoted solely to traditional Arts and Craft. Here one can spend hours rummaging through little stores and sheds looking for souvenirs amongst carvings, beads, material, baskets and leather ware.

Makola Market

This is the largest market in Accra and is interesting in it's variety of items sold as many different people from all walks of life selling and buying.

Coffin Shop

In Teshie a suburb of Accra one finds the Coffin Makers.