3 Best Sights in Accra, Ghana

Many monuments mark this African nation’s struggles for freedom from colonizers, as evidenced by the three striking structures of this complex. The Flame of African Liberation, lit by the country’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, in the mid-1900s, still burns here. Marvel at Independence Arch. The Black Star Monument honors Ghana’s fame as the “Black Star of Africa,” the star representing African emancipation. Ironically, although the area is a tribute to freedom, President Nkrumah commissioned the square to honor the visit of Queen Elizabeth II.

A large bronze statue and two hectares (five acres) of what used to be a British polo field are dedicated to Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president and one of its founding fathers. This location is where Nkrumah declared independence in 1957. A museum traces Nkrumah’s life, and many of his personal items are on display. The mausoleum is the final resting place of Nkrumah and his wife. Narrated tours are available.

A bunch of baboons is the welcome committee here, but although they look cute and friendly, don’t engage them—they are wild animals and will snatch what they want. That’s why visitors who walk this park do so with armed guides. Four-wheeled drive vehicles may be the best option. Arrive early in the morning or at dusk to see the baboons, as well as birds, antelope and monkeys. The landscape is breathtaking. Hike to the 76-meter (250-foot) -high Tsenku Falls, to sacred caves full of bats, and to a cool, dry evergreen forest, which is a striking change from the tropical jungles associated with Africa. Wear long pants and sturdy, closed-toe shoes, preferably boots.