[Updated Oct 2020] A guide to serviced offices and office space to rent in Accra as well as general information that may be useful if you are considering renting office space in the city.
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History & Geography
The capital and largest city of Ghana is located far to the country’s south on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. Accra is a fairly small city built mostly around the old Dutch, British and Danish colonial forts. The name Accra is thought to be derived from the word ‘Akan’ meaning ‘ants’ in reference to the numerous ant-hills located in the country surrounding the city. The Ga people first settled in the area around the 15th century and Accra quickly became an important trading centre. Accra soon became known predominantly as a major slave-trading centre, engaging in trade with European ships from Portugal, Sweden, the Netherlands, France, and Britain. Soon the European powers each built a fort in the vicinity of the town and the slave trade continued unabated until it was abolished in 1807. Denmark eventually vacated Accra, selling their main fort, Christianborg, as well as several other minor forts, to the British. After several wars with the Asante people, the British destroyed their capital of Kumasi, captured Accra, and declared Ghana a colony of Great Britain in 1877. This event was followed by a large influx of Europeans into Accra and the development of a fairly advanced infrastructure, including a rail link to Kumasi. This made Ghana’s inland cocoa-producing regions accessible, creating a link between them and the port at Accra. The slow but steady influx of Europeans into Accra continued, as well as an influx of native Ghanaians from the surrounding rural regions. After WWII the British invested more money into the infrastructure of the city and Accra’s CBD was created. In 1957 Ghana gained independence from Britain and Accra was declared the capital of the new country. The new president of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah, embarked on an ambitious building and renovation plan for the city, including a number of landmarks such as Independence Square and the State House. Today the city is one of west Africa’s most dynamic and culturally important cities as well as being a transportation hub and commercial centre.
Economy
Accra currently makes up about ten percent of Ghana’s GDP and is the country’s commercial and economic hub. It’s GDP is approximately USD three billion and it has an economically active population of a little over 800,000. Accra is the financial services centre of the country with four development banks, nine commercial banks, the Ghana Stock Exchange, assorted building societies, nine finance houses, nine insurance companies, and multiple real estate developers. However, it is mining, fishing, and farming that make up the main sectors of Accra’s economy. Manufacturing and construction are also bulwarks of Accra’s economy, as well as several tertiary sectors. These include the hotel and restaurant industry, transportation, storage, communication, and public administration. Fishing is also still a fairly large industry around Accra. Redfish, tuna, yellowfish, and grouper are the main types of fish caught and approximately ten percent of the catch is exported, with the rest consumed locally. Accra also has a thriving tourism industry with many hospitality services built around this.
Tourism & Culture
While South Africa gets the lion’s share of African tourism, Ghana, and Accra in particular, has carved a niche for itself. The city has a wide range of sites and experiences which are enough for any tourist. One of the largest museums in the city is the National Museum which charts Ghana’s history and has a wide range of cultural treasures from the country. The National Cultural Centre is also a popular tourist destination and features an arts and crafts bazaar as well as a traditional textile market featuring hand-woven textiles from all over the country. Also worth a visit is the DuBois Centre, which houses the grave of famed African-American scholar W.E.B DuBois as well as an extensive research library. The old European forts in the city are also prime tourist destinations, the largest of which is the old Ussher Fort and James Fort, built in the 17th century. The city is also famous for its long sandy beaches. Labadi Beach is the most popular, along with the famous Kokrobite Beach located about 25 kilometres from the city centre. For luxury-seekers Accra has numerous five-star hotels as well as a number of nightclubs, restaurants and bars.
Transportation
The city of Accra is served by the Kotoka International Airport which is located approximately six miles from Accra city centre. The city also serves as the main railway hub of the country, which has two lines, to Kumasi and Takoradi. Automobiles are fairly rare in Accra so most residents of the city use the public transportation network. This mainly consists of minibuses and vans dubbed ‘trotros’ as well as taxis. Currently, a USD 1.5 billion metro monorail is planned for Accra and is to be finished within the next five years.
Currently, Accra’s CBD is experiencing chronic congestion and many businesses are choosing to locate their offices elsewhere. Currently, most major financial institutions and corporations have their headquarters in the CBD, which is located in the Tudu and High Street areas, though this is due to change. Among the choices rising in popularity are West Ridge, Airport City, Adabraka, and Spintex Road. Many of these areas were formerly only residential suburbs which are now slowly transforming into commercial districts as well. Airport City is particularly popular, it is a mixed-space area with high rise buildings and industrial parks.
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