There are no end of shops in Accra. There are shops literally everywhere from large supermarket stores to small room-size shops built in converted containers. Ghanaians are good at selling.
You need to visit the famous Makola Market to see what life in Ghana is all about.
For information on the best places to pick up a bargain, or some great souvenirs to look out for during your Accra shopping spree take a look at our Accra Shopping Guide below. Shopping can be hungry work, so why not stop to rejuvenate yourself at one of the great Accra restaurants available in Accra's more popular shopping districts.
Accra Shopping Guide
Almost every kind of commodity, even luxury items, can be found in Accra's markets. Traditional artefacts, handmade silver and gold jewellery can be found in these markets along with both modern and traditional African art that is widely available, although it can be quite expensive. Look out for the old-style brass weights that were used to measure gold, and for Ashanti stools. Other interesting items include leatherwork items, earthenware pots, and Bolgatanga baskets that are woven from multi-hued raffia and locally woven shirts, all of which are sold in the northern markets in Accra. You will also find the traditional Kente cloth native to Ghana.
The main areas for shopping in Accra are Makola Market, Osu and a market by the Arts Centre, with Osu's market being the wealthiest.
The most popular of the markets in Accra is the Makola Market, where you will find stores, makeshift stalls and vendors on foot. Almost every type of merchandise can be found here, especially fabrics. Other markets of interest are the Kaneshie Market and Kamasi Central Market, which is the largest market in West Africa.
The market by the National Museum is best for art and craft items, and you will find prints and paintings here by local artists. For a greater selection of arts and craft items in leather, wood, metal and textiles, visit the Centre of National Culture or the Arts Centre.
The Ghana Export Promotion Council's Handicraft Emporium has a good display for baskets, wood carvings, pottery, beads, clothes and leather at its Republic House central office.
Almost all types of goods are available on the street, but be sure to bargain on the street and in the stores in Accra, as you should actually be paying only a third or fourth of the price asked.
Some of the good shops in Accra to visit - where you will not have to deal with any haggling - are Wild Gecko (often called the best shop in Accra), which is located near the Tetteh Quarshie exchange; Suntrade (good for beads), located in Asylum Down; Hakim's (Former US President Bill Clinton shopped here for jewellery), located in Osu; Loom (an art lovers paradise), located near Circle; and Herschell Gallery, located in East Cantonments.
Ghana Money
Gedi (GHC) is the official currency of Ghana. Each cedi is divided into 100 pesewas. You will be able to exchange foreign currency at forex bureaux and at some commercial banks. Most banks and foreign currency exchanges are located at the airport and in major towns. Keep all your currency exchange receipts so that you can re-exchange when you are leaving the country.
Banks function from 8:30am to 3pm, Monday to Friday. Most large commercial banks in Accra have ATMs outside, although you will only be able to withdraw a limited amount of cedis per transaction.
Banks and forex bureaux in Accra accept traveller's cheques, but the exchange rate given will probably be lower than what one gets for cash transactions.
American Express, Visa and Diners cards are the most commonly accepted cards but while they can be used at major hotels and shops, it is risky to use them as credit card fraud is very common. US dollars, British pounds and Euros are the best currencies to travel with and will get you the best exchange rate.
The Markets of Accra
The two most famous markets of the city of Accra are the Makola Market that is on Kojo Thompson Road and the Osu Night Market, where hundreds of lanterns and candles illuminate the stalls.
Located in the busy downtown area of Accra, Makola Market is filled with fabric stores. Here you will find wax-print pagnes, also known as kitenges in East Africa, beaded and embroidered cotton and tulle. Look out for wax prints belonging to the Ghana Traditional Prints (GTP) as well as the Akosombo Textile Company, which is quite well known for its annual range of designs. You will also find interesting fabrics at Woodin, which is quite an upscale store in Osu, and at the A&P, a shopping mall located in East Legon, which offers a variety of shiny and patterned cotton fabric as well as readymade clothing.
Kaneshie Market, which is usually referred to as 'the three-story yellow Maggi monstrosity', is not only a great place to shop in Accra but is also a transit centre. On the first floor are household items, on the second floor are hair salons, beads, handbags, shoes and beauty products, and on the third floor are fabric stores and seamstresses.
Be sure to note down the Accra shop number if you're getting something tailored by the expert seamstresses and tailors on the third floor, as it can be a hard task trying to find your way around the maze of stores.
The National Cultural Centre located near Black Star Square is a good spot for curio shopping in Accra, even though it can seem a little overwhelming. There is a smaller market for curios at the Tetteh Quarshie Circle, close to the off-ramp that leads to Dzorwulu and Lapaz.
At The Centre of National Culture or Arts Centre, you will find vendors by the hundreds selling masks, beads, leather and brass crafts, wooden carvings, fabrics, African music, paintings done by local artists, and drums.
At Wild Gecko, which is located between the Tetteh Quarshie Circle and University of Ghana-Legon campus, you will find a large range of pricey curios, furniture, crafts, and batik clothing. They also have a good collection of Christmas ornaments as well as some Adinkra symbols. A little further down the road are well-stocked stores selling pottery and crafts.
A Westernised shopping experience can be had at the Palace Shopping Mall, which is located on Spintex Road. This large department store sells everything from the smallest of items to high-end products such as LCD TVs and jacuzzis. With over 15,000 items on sale, it is a great place to stop for a visit.
