Ga Mashie (Old Accra)
Ga-Mashie District, Accra, GHA
Ga-Mashie (also known as Old Accra) is the vibrant heartland of Ghana's Ga community, the original settlers of the city. Rich in cultural heritage, Ga-Mashie showcases colonial-era architecture and fishing villages along the Densu River and Chemmu Lagoon. You can learn about local culture and traditions by watching artisans practice net weaving and canoe hollowing.
Begin an adventure in Ga-Mashie by heading to Usshertown where you can see the colonial-era fort of Ussher Fort, which has since transformed into a museum. After exploring the exhibits, take a 10-minute walk to Fort James, a former trading post and prison that’s also now a museum. Round off your Jamestown adventures with a visit to Jamestown Lighthouse, which offers views of the local area; then finish your day by browsing some local arts and crafts shops.
The fort museums in Ga-Mashie are typically open to the public seven days a week.
With so many fishing villages nearby, it’s a great idea to try fish while you’re exploring Ga-Mashie at a humble local restaurant such as Jamestown Kenkey.
The surfaces can be uneven in Ga-Mashie, so some areas may not be wheelchair-accessible.
If you start at Accra Railway Station, it takes around 20 minutes on foot to get to the heart of Ga-Mashie by walking down Kwame Nkrumah Avenue. Alternatively, if you want to get a taxi from the station, it’s a much quicker journey and takes around eight minutes to get to Ga-Mashie.
It’s best to come to Ga-Mashie during Accra’s dry season, which is typically mid-November through April. Coming at this time means low risk of flooded roads from heavy rainfall, so it’s easier to spend time exploring the great outdoors. The wetter months tend to be April, May, and June.
If you want to plan your Ga-Mashie trip around local festivals, then one of the most important ones is the Homowo Festival. It's a harvest festival celebrated by the Ga tribe between May and September, with face painting, singing, and traditional dancing. Another notable festival is the Chale Wote Street Art Festival, a celebration of art with graffiti murals, street painting, theater, and photography—typically in August or September.
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