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.
Ghana National Mosque
Opened in 2021, Ghana's National Mosque in Kanda is an Ottoman Revival complex with four 65-metre minarets, room for 15,000 worshippers and a library and school.
At a glance
- Type
- Mosque
- Area
- Kanda (Kawukudi), Accra, Ghana
Good to know
- Ottoman-style architecture
- Four minarets
- Library
Why we recommend it
The Ghana National Mosque is one of the newest landmarks on the Accra skyline and one of the largest mosques in West Africa. Built in the Kawukudi area of Kanda, north of the city centre, it was funded by the Turkish Hudai Foundation with support from the Turkish government. Construction began in 2012 and the mosque was formally opened by President Nana Akufo-Addo on 16 July 2021. Ghana's National Chief Imam leads Friday congregational prayers here.
The architecture draws directly on the Ottoman tradition and is often compared with Istanbul's Blue Mosque. Four slender minarets, each about 65 metres tall, rise around a cascade of domes, and the exterior is clad in pale marble. Inside, thick carpets cover the prayer hall and the walls carry Quranic calligraphy, while the upper galleries reserved for women are decorated in blue with stained-glass windows. The prayer hall holds about 15,000 worshippers. Around it is a wider complex that includes a library, a school, a clinic and residential buildings, and its administrators have said its facilities are open to the wider public, not only to the Muslim community.
The mosque appeals to anyone interested in architecture and in Accra's religious life, and it makes a striking contrast to the colonial-era churches and forts closer to the coast. Photographers will find the exterior especially impressive in the late afternoon. Visitors who are not Muslim should check on arrival whether the prayer hall can be entered, as access depends on the timing of prayers and any events taking place.
As at any working mosque, dress modestly. Cover shoulders and knees, women should bring a scarf to cover their hair, and shoes are removed before entering prayer areas. Avoid visiting during the five daily prayers and particularly at midday on Fridays, when the complex is at its busiest. Allow 30 minutes to an hour, and be respectful when photographing people at prayer.
The mosque is in Kanda, a few kilometres north of the Osu and Ridge districts, and is easiest to reach by taxi or ride-hailing car. The surrounding area is residential, so combine the visit with sights in central Accra or with lunch in nearby Airport Residential Area or Osu.
Ghana National Mosque FAQs
When did the National Mosque open?
It was formally opened on 16 July 2021 after construction began in 2012.
Who built it?
It was funded by the Turkish Hudai Foundation with support from the Turkish government.
How big is it?
The prayer hall holds about 15,000 worshippers, and its four minarets are each about 65 metres tall.
What does it look like?
It is built in the Ottoman Revival style and is often compared with Istanbul's Blue Mosque.
What should I wear?
Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered; women should bring a scarf to cover their hair. Shoes are removed in prayer areas.
When should I avoid visiting?
Avoid prayer times, especially the Friday midday congregational prayer.
Can non-Muslims go inside?
Ask on arrival, as access to the prayer hall depends on prayer times and events.
How do I get there?
Take a taxi or ride-hailing car to Kawukudi in Kanda, north of the city centre.