Accra City Tour: Ghana's independence history with local guide

Nkrumah's mausoleum sits on 5.3 acres designed so the museum stays underground and doesn't compete for attention.

This guided tour of Accra traces Ghana's path to independence through five key sites, led by a trained local guide who speaks English. You visit the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Memorial Park, where the first president is buried beneath a catafalque in the center of the grounds; the National Museum to see artifacts spanning from the stone age onward; Makola Market, built in 1924 and still the city's trading heart; the W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre with its open-air theatre and the scholar's personal library; and a 28-metre structure offering views across Jamestown and the city. An air-conditioned vehicle picks you up and returns you at the end of the day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. W. E. B. Du Bois Memorial Centre for Pan-African Culture1h · entry included
2. Makola Market30m
3. National Museum of Ghana1h · entry included
4. Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Memorial Park2h · entry included

Explore Accra's history and culture

• Visit W. E. B. Du Bois Memorial Centre
• Walk through Makola Market
• View Jamestown community from tower
• Tour National Museum of Ghana
• Explore Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Memorial Park

The experience

If you've just arrived in Accra or have a free afternoon, this tour moves through the city's core historical sites without you having to arrange transport or navigate on your own. A Ghanaian guide trained in the country's history walks you through each stop, explaining how Ghana moved from colonial Gold Coast to independence on March 6, 1957, under Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The route covers roughly five to nine hours depending on how long you spend at each site, and an air-conditioned vehicle handles the driving between stops.

The Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Memorial Park anchors the tour. The 5.3-acre grounds hold Nkrumah's body under a raised catafalque at the center, surrounded by bronze statuary and symbolic design elements: the mausoleum itself shaped like swords turned upside down to represent peace. A subterranean museum beneath the grounds displays his personal effects, publications and photographs showing him with 20th-century leaders: Nehru, Mao, Castro, Kennedy, Queen Elizabeth II, Pope Pius XII and many others. The guide walks you through these images to show the scale of Nkrumah's international standing. At the entrance, seven bare-chested flute-player statuettes line the walkway on either side.

The National Museum holds artifacts from archaeology, ethnography and fine art spanning the stone age to recent history, offering a tangible connection to Africa's layered heritage. Makola Market, constructed in 1924 and still the city's main trading district, lets you walk among the traders and see how the market operates. The W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre sits in a pastoral setting with an open-air theatre directly behind the scholar's former home. The museum library and seminar room contain his personal collection of works. A 28-metre structure built in the 1930s provides an overview of Jamestown and the wider city from above.

What’s included

• All fees and taxes.
• air-conditioned vehicle throughout the day.
• pickup from your location and return at the end of the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 50 years) · Senior (51 to 80 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Blemawe Xpo Ghana

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, so you follow the commentary comfortably without needing to arrange a translator. Children from age 1 are welcome, though the tour spans five to nine hours depending on time spent at each site, so plan accordingly if you're traveling with young ones.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (6 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 5 years).

What does the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum actually contain?

The mausoleum holds Dr. Nkrumah's body beneath a raised catafalque at the center of the 5.3-acre park. A subterranean museum below the grounds displays his personal effects, publications and photographs showing him with world leaders of his era, including Nehru, Mao, Castro, Kennedy and Queen Elizabeth II.

Can I walk through Makola Market and talk to the traders?

Yes. Makola Market, built in 1924 and still Accra's main trading district, is part of the tour route. You walk among the traders and can speak with them about their work and goods.

What is the W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre like?

The W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre sits in a pastoral setting with an open-air theatre directly behind the scholar's former home. The museum library and seminar room hold his personal library and collection of works, allowing you to see the spaces where he lived and studied.

How does the tour cover Ghana's independence story?

The guide, trained in Ghana's history, explains how the country moved from colonial rule as the Gold Coast to independence on March 6, 1957, under Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The National Museum reinforces this with artifacts spanning from the stone age to recent history, and the mausoleum itself commemorates Nkrumah's role in leading that independence campaign.