Things to do

Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was Ghana’s first president post-independence from Britain. Kwame Nkrumah was a leader in the independence movement in post-WWII Africa and is considered a revolutionary not only among Ghanaians but also as a leader for a pan-African movement, even winning prizes and awards for it throughout his life. After Ghana declared independence in 1957, Nkrumah was elected as the first president and under him, the country enjoyed a rise in energy-projects, education for the youth and the promotion of African culture and decolonization across the continent. Kwame Nkrumah was deposed in 1966 and spent the rest of his life in Guinea where he was named honorary co-president.

The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park is dedicated to his life and what he’s done for Africa and Ghana. The grounds for the park were built on top of a former British polo ground and houses the body of himself and his wife. The design of the monument is an upside-down sword, symbolizing peace and is clad with Italian marble with a black star on top symbolizing pan-African unity.

Explore the museum

The monument here is both a park and museum as well as a mausoleum with the body of Dr. Nkrumah and his wife Fathia. As previously mentioned, the museum was built on former British polo grounds meaning that the area surrounding it is very large and spacious. The museum and mausoleum have displays in English for visitors and the information here covers just about every facet of Kwame Nkrumah’s life from his birth and education to his death in the 1970s. There are also a bunch of personal items on display, including the president’s former personal car. The tour is about a half-hour and culminates in the mausoleum which has a skylight at the top illuminating his grave.

Walk the grounds of the park

The museum and mausoleum is not only the highlight here, but the park on which everything stands in is beautiful as well and is well worth your time to walk through. The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park is on 5 acres (2 ha) of land that is groomed and manicured with statues and fountain fixtures surrounding the mausoleum. The tomb is surrounded by water, which is symbolic of life and taking in the museum part from the outside really makes you appreciate the architecture and design that went into building Nkrumah’s mausoleum.

Travelers tips

Stay hydrated

For travelers coming from colder climates, be sure to drink a lot of water. The heat in Accra can get pretty high and being near the coast means the tropical climate can make you dehydrated very quickly. Always carry water around with you or buy bottled water. Voltic Water is a local reliable brand and always make sure to check if the seal is unbroken before consuming.

Be respectful

Although you’ll likely get a pass as a tourist, there’s a certain kind of respectfulness that Ghanaians practice. Make the effort to not eat or offer with your left-hand and make sure to always greet people. Greetings are important in Ghanaian culture and usually come in the form of a simple “good morning/afternoon”.

If you want to impress the locals, learn the Ghanain handshake. It is a normal handshake at first followed by the snapping of your thumb and middle finger.

How to get there

Public transit

There isn’t really a standard public transport system here but there are vehicles known as Tro Tro’s. They are minivans that go around town acting as the de facto bus service. They are the cheapest form of transportation but are very slow and uncomfortable.

Taxi

To wave a taxi down, extend your arm out with your finger pointed to the ground. Very few cabs are metered in Accra so make sure to negotiate a price before your driver takes off. Some drivers don’t know their way around so make sure to instruct your driver based on landmarks. The charging system is largely at the discretion of the driver so always make sure to establish a price.

Uber

Uber is by far the best way to get around town as they will usually be more comfortable than the taxis of Accra and you won’t have to hassle yourself with negotiating a price with your driver.

How to book tickets

Tickets can be bought on-site when you arrive to enter the museum portion of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. The cost is about 10 GHC which is about 2.50 USD.

Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park information

Address: Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park & Mausoleum, Accra, Ghana

Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)

Official website: Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park

Department of tourism: Visit Ghana

Price: 2.50 USD