Independence Square, Accra: the walk every visitor starts with
Greater Accra
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Black Star Square, the Independence Arch and the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park make up the ceremonial heart of the capital.
Black Star Square was built for Queen Elizabeth II’s 1961 state visit and remains the stage for Ghana’s Independence Day parade every 6 March. The Black Star Gate, the Independence Arch and the Eternal Flame of African Liberation all stand within it.
A fifteen-minute walk west is the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, where the first president and his wife are buried beneath a sculpted mausoleum, with a museum of his papers, photographs and personal effects.
The two sites plus the National Museum make a comfortable half day on foot, best done early before the coastal heat builds.
Quick facts
- Region
- Greater Accra
- Location
- Osu, central Accra seafront
- Square
- Open access, no ticket required
- Memorial Park
- Daily, 9:00 to 17:00
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon
What to see
- The Black Star Gate and the Independence Arch
- The Eternal Flame of African Liberation
- Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum
- The National Museum, reopened after refurbishment
Getting there
- Central Accra, walkable from Osu and a short ride from most city hotels.
- Roads close around the square on 6 March for the national parade.
Get directions
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Visitor tips
- There is almost no shade on the square, carry water and a hat.
- Guides at the Memorial Park are licensed and worth taking.
