Jamestown Lighthouse

The Jamestown Lighthouse is one of the most recognisable landmarks in old Accra, a red-and-white banded tower rising above the rooftops of the city's historic fishing district. The first lighthouse on the site was built in 1871, close to James Fort, the British trading post around which Jamestown grew. The present tower replaced it in the 1930s, stands about 28 metres tall and still serves as a navigational light, with a range of around ten nautical miles.

The reason to come is the view. A spiral staircase leads to a gallery near the top, and from there you look down over Jamestown's crowded lanes, the colourful wooden canoes of the fishing harbour and the long line of the Gulf of Guinea coast. Jamestown and neighbouring Usshertown are Accra's oldest districts, home to the Ga people and their fishing traditions, and the lighthouse gives a clear sense of how the old town is laid out before you explore it on foot.

The climb suits most reasonably fit visitors, photographers and anyone who enjoys a high viewpoint. The stairs are narrow and there is no lift, so it is not suitable for people with limited mobility, and young children need close supervision at the top. The lighthouse is not a formal museum and has no published opening hours; access is usually arranged on the spot through the people looking after the site, so ask politely and confirm any charge before you climb.

Visit in the morning, when the light over the harbour is good and the fishing community is at its most active as boats come in. Wear comfortable shoes and carry water, and be respectful when photographing people in the neighbourhood, asking permission first. Many visitors include the lighthouse as part of a guided walking tour of Jamestown, which adds context on Ga history, the old colonial buildings and local life. Note that the nearby James Fort and Ussher Fort were closed indefinitely by the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board in December 2025 for conservation work, so you can see them from outside only.

Jamestown lies on the coast west of the city centre, a short taxi ride from the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Makola Market. Ride-hailing drivers know the lighthouse well, and the walk down through the old streets to the harbour is part of the experience.