Attraction
Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park
The memorial park where Kwame Nkrumah declared Ghana's independence, holding the marble mausoleum of Ghana's first president and his wife, plus a museum and library.
National Museum of Ghana
Ghana's oldest and largest museum, opened on the eve of independence in 1957, with archaeology, ethnography and art galleries and a sculpture garden.
At a glance
- Type
- National history and ethnography museum
- Area
- Adabraka, Accra, Ghana
- Opening
- Open daily · 09:00–16:30
- Official site
- gmmb.gov.gh
Good to know
- Guided tours
- Sculpture garden
- Gift shop
- Library
- Open daily
Why we recommend it
The National Museum of Ghana opened on 5 March 1957, the eve of independence, and is the oldest and largest of the museums run by the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board. Its modernist building in Adabraka was designed by the architects Denys Lasdun and Lindsay Drake, with saw-toothed windows and a low, saucer-shaped aluminium dome. The museum closed for a long restoration in 2015 and has since reopened, so the displays and building feel considerably fresher than they did a decade ago.
The collection runs to more than 10,000 objects covering archaeology, ethnography and fine art, much of it from Akan cultures. The galleries are arranged around three themes. Ghana's Past covers prehistoric Africa; Traditions displays clothing, musical instruments and sacred objects such as Asante ancestral stools; and Arts and Culture shows sculpture and painting by pioneering and contemporary Ghanaian artists. Look out for chiefs' regalia, brass gold-weights, beads, textiles and pottery, as well as material on dance, farming, iron working and the slave trade. Pieces from elsewhere in Africa include Senufo masks, Zulu figures and bead work, and Ife bronze heads from Nigeria. Vehicles used by former heads of state have also been placed on display.
The museum is a good choice for first-time visitors who want context before travelling around the country, for students, and for families with older children. A sculpture garden with life-size statues, including one of Kwame Nkrumah, offers a break between galleries. Guided tours are available, and the gift shop sells baskets, jewellery, pottery and wood carvings. There is also a library and an education hall used for talks and workshops.
The museum is open every day from 09:00 to 16:30. Admission is charged, with lower rates for Ghanaians, students and children than for international adult visitors. Allow one and a half to two hours. Go early in the day to avoid school groups at their busiest, and bring cash in case card payment is not available.
The museum is on Barnes Road in Adabraka, north of the old commercial centre and close to the main ring roads, so a taxi or ride-hailing car is the easiest way to arrive. It combines well with the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Makola Market, both a short drive to the south.
National Museum of Ghana FAQs
What are the opening hours?
The museum is open every day from 09:00 to 16:30.
Is there an admission fee?
Yes. Fees vary by category, with separate rates for Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians and reductions for students and children.
When did the museum open?
It opened on 5 March 1957, the eve of Ghana's independence.
What are the highlights?
Asante ancestral stools, chiefs' regalia, gold-weights, beads and textiles, plus Ife bronze heads and Senufo masks from elsewhere in Africa.
Are guided tours available?
Yes, guided tours are offered at the museum.
How long should I allow?
About one and a half to two hours for the galleries and sculpture garden.
Is there a shop?
Yes, the gift shop sells baskets, jewellery, pottery and wood carvings.
How do I get there?
Take a taxi or ride-hailing car to 2 Barnes Road in Adabraka, north of the city centre.