Osu
Busy and central. Oxford Street is lined with shops, food spots, bars and clubs, and it stays loud late into the night.
In the game: live in Osu, party on Oxford Street, drink at Republic Bar.Accra Life › Accra guide
The Accra guide
Accra, chale. The city in one page.
Where to go, what to eat, how to move and what people are saying in Ghana's capital. Every part of it is also in Accra Life, the free game where you live your own Accra story.
Neighbourhoods
Accra is a city of very different areas, from old fishing quarters to gated estates.
East Legon
"East Leg." Upscale homes, restaurants and lounges in the north-east of the city.
In the game: the East Leg Trap House party and the estates where Dbee kids grow up.Cantonments
"Cants." Leafy streets, big houses and many of the city's embassies.
In the game: a quiet, pricey place to rent a room.Airport Residential and Airport City
Offices, hotels and apartments around Kotoka International Airport.
In the game: Airport Hills homes with estate power, and flights out of Kotoka.Jamestown
One of Accra's oldest districts, with its lighthouse, fishing boats and the Chale Wote street art festival.
In the game: haul nets with the fishermen by the lighthouse.Labadi (La)
Home of Labadi Beach, where weekends mean music, horses on the sand and big crowds.
In the game: Labadi Beach and the beach clubs along the coast.Nima
A dense, lively neighbourhood known for its market, street food and community spirit.
In the game: a classic place to start life on a small budget.Kasoa
A fast-growing town just west of Accra on the Winneba road, full of traders and hustle.
In the game: where Ante ba hustlers begin.Legon and Madina
The University of Ghana campus at Legon, and the busy market town of Madina next door.
In the game: study, tutor and live like a Legon student.What to eat
"Where de cho dey?" means where's the food. Here's the answer.
Waakye
Rice and beans cooked together, served with shito, gari, spaghetti, egg and stew. The breakfast of champions.
Kenkey and fish
Fermented corn dough with fried fish, raw pepper and onions. "Kenkey and tills" in Accra talk.
Banku and tilapia
Soft fermented corn and cassava dough with grilled tilapia and pepper.
Red red
Bean stew in palm oil with fried ripe plantain.
Jollof
Ghana jollof rice. The only correct jollof, if you ask anyone in Accra.
Kelewele
Spicy fried plantain cubes with ginger and pepper, a night-time street favourite.
Fufu and light soup
Pounded cassava and plantain with a peppery soup of goat or fish.
Fan Ice and pure water
The frozen treats and sachet water sold in traffic all day.
Hungry? In Accra Life you fill your cooler with waakye, kenkey and J rice, order Uber Eats to your door, and send food to your friends.
Play and eatGetting around
Every ride has its own vibe. Rush hour at Circle and Tetteh Quarshie tests everyone.
🚐 Trotro
Shared minibuses that run fixed routes. The mate hangs out the door calling the stops. Cheap, crowded and everywhere.
🚕 Taxi
Shared or "drop" taxis, usually painted with yellow corners. Agree the fare before you get in.
🚘 Ride-hailing
Uber, Bolt and Yango work across the city and are popular for night trips.
🏍️ Okada
Motorbike taxis that weave through traffic. Fast, risky, and their legal status is often debated.
🛺 Pragya
Three-wheeled tricycles that carry passengers on short hops, mostly away from the main roads.
✈️ Kotoka
Kotoka International Airport, with domestic flights to Kumasi, Tamale and more.
Ride it yourself. In Accra Life you pick trotro, taxi, okada, Pragya, Uber or your own car, then watch the trip from outside, the cabin or your seat. Flights to Kumasi and Tamale leave from Kotoka.
Take a rideNightlife
Accra goes out late, especially on Fridays and in December.
Osu and Oxford Street
Bars, lounges and clubs close together, with street food outside.
East Legon
Lounges, rooftops and house parties.
Labadi and the beach clubs
Sundowners, live bands and dancing on the sand.
Detty December
The festive season when the diaspora comes home and the whole city parties.
Buy the section. In Accra Life, clubs have five sections from Silver to the Owner's Booth, a rooftop club with a glass elevator, and DJs you can pay to play your song.
Go out tonightLandmarks
The places every visitor, and every Accra Life player, ends up at.
Black Star Square
The huge parade ground with the Black Star Gate, by the sea.
Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park
The mausoleum of Ghana's first president.
Makola Market
The city's most famous market. Bargain hard.
Jamestown Lighthouse
Old Accra's red and white lighthouse above the fishing harbour.
Accra Sports Stadium
Home ground of Accra Hearts of Oak.
Achimota Forest and Accra Zoo
Trails, monkeys and the zoo in the forest reserve.
Accra slang
You'll hear these within an hour of landing. You'll hear all of them in Accra Life.
ChaleFriend, mate. Also "wow" or "sorry" depending on the tone.
Ei!Surprise, shock or disbelief.
AkwaabaWelcome.
AyekooWell done, good work.
Small smallSlowly, little by little.
DumsorPower cuts. "Ei, dumsor again."
SikaMoney.
Where de cho dey?Where's the food?
Your pocket no reachYou can't afford it.
I deyI'm fine, I'm around.
ChopTo eat. "Make we go chop."
Sharp sharpQuickly, right now.
Everyday life in Accra
Is there a game set in Accra?
Yes: Accra Life, a free 3D life sim set in Accra. Make a Sim, get born into a Dbee, Old Taker, Ohiani ba or Ante ba family, and live in Nima, Osu, East Legon or Kasoa with real players online.
What is dumsor?
Ghana's word for power cuts. People keep candles, rechargeable lamps, inverters, generators or solar kits. In Accra Life the light goes at random too.
How do people pay in Accra?
Cash and mobile money (MoMo) are everywhere, from market stalls to taxis. Accra Life has a MoMo app on your phone.
When is the best time to visit Accra?
December is the busiest and most festive month. The weather is hot all year, with rains roughly from April to July.
What is the currency?
The Ghana cedi (₵, GHS). Everything in Accra Life is priced in cedis.
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