5. Go back in time at Osu Castle

Once referred to as Christiansborg, Osu Castle is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and stands on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, serving as a constant reminder to Ghana’s gut-wrenching past.

Over the years, control of the castle changed hands between the Danes, Norwegians, Portuguese, and British and even served as the seat of the Ghanaian government in the post-slavery era up until it was moved to its current location at the Jubilee House in 2013.

Today, the castle offers visitors the chance to wander the halls British officials once walked and explore the harsh conditions of the slave dungeons.

The most meaningful experience, however, is the solemn “Door of No Return,” ominously named to symbolize the final time that those held captive would step foot on their native soil before boarding a ship bound for the New World.

It’s worth a visit, especially if you don’t have the time to travel to Cape Coast’s castles. Keep in mind that Osu Castle remains within a security zone and, as a result, is only open to the public on Fridays between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:00 pm.

6. Watch a soccer match at Accra Sports Stadium

The Accra Sports Stadium is a 39,800 seat facility that’s mostly used as the home venue for the Hearts of Oak and Accra Great Olympics F.C. soccer teams of the Ghana Premier League.

Although an upbeat atmosphere accompanies match day, it doesn’t come without its fair dose of unfortunate history.

In 2001, it was the site of the worst stadium disaster in all of Africa that claimed the lives of 126 fans. On that fateful day, Hearts of Oak was playing in a match against Asante Kotoko and trailed 1-0 until two quick goals changed their fortune.

Disappointed Kotoko fans responded by throwing plastic bottles on the pitch before law enforcement retaliated with tear gas. Due to the stadium’s poor design, fans bottlenecked at the limited exits and 116 supporters died of compressive asphyxia while another 10 passed away from trauma.

Today, a bronze statue of a fan carrying another fan to safety stands proudly outside of Accra Sports Stadium and reads “I am my brother’s keeper.”

Attending a professional match here remains one of my all time favorite experiences in Accra. In all honesty, I don’t remember how the game unfolded. We were too busy singing, dancing, and blowing vuvuzelas in the rain with the diehard supporters.