Nestled in the dynamic city of Accra, Circle is a bustling urban area that stands out for its vibrant atmosphere, rich history, and cultural significance. Whether you’re visiting for business or leisure, Circle offers a unique blend of attractions, commerce, and local flavor that you won’t want to miss.
Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra, Ghana
What is Circle?
Circle, also known as Kwame Nkrumah Circle, is a popular intersection and landmark situated in the heart of Accra. Named after Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, the area features a large road interchange that connects several major roads. The interchange itself is an architectural marvel, recently redeveloped to improve traffic flow and aesthetics. Surrounding the circle are commercial centers, local markets, and cultural icons that draw both locals and tourists.
The Kwame Nkrumah Interchange
Kwame Nkrumah Interchange is a 3-tier interchange which was constructed to replace the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in the centre of the city of Accra, Ghana. It opened in 2016. The construction of the interchange became necessary when the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, which handles over 84,000 vehicles from the arterial roads and their intersections daily.
Things to Do and See in Circle
The History of Ghana in 10 Minutes
Circle is famed for its vibrant local markets where you can immerse yourself in the local culture and shop for anything from fresh produce to unique souvenirs.
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Food enthusiasts will find Circle a fantastic location to indulge in authentic Ghanaian dishes. The area is dotted with street food stalls and local eateries serving popular dishes such as jollof rice, waakye, and kenkey.
A trip to Circle wouldn’t be complete without visiting the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum. Located nearby, this site is dedicated to celebrating the life and legacy of Ghana’s founding father.
Historical Significance
Circle, Accra, not only serves as a commercial and transportation hub but also carries historical significance. Its namesake, Kwame Nkrumah, was a pivotal figure in Ghana’s history, leading the country to its independence in 1957. The redevelopment of Circle into a modern interchange also symbolizes the progress Accra has made over the years.
Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park
Kwame Nkrumah: A Brief Overview
Kwame Nkrumah, of course, was one of the most significant figures of modern Ghana history. He began his life as a school teacher, but after completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at Lincoln College and then both a Master of Arts and Master of Science at U-Penn. When he returned to Ghana (at that point, the “Gold Coast Colony”) in 1947, he became an employee of the United Gold Coast Convention political party before launching his own Convention People’s Party in 1949.
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Because the CPP-fostered general strike for the goal of independence turned violent, he was sentenced to three years in Accra’s Fort James prison. The CPP, however, won the 1951 election, and Kwame Nkrumah passed directly from his jail cell to the role of prime minister! The nation gained its independence from the U.K.
If this were the full story of Nkrumah, his status as “founding father” and first president (1960) would seem like a very powerful legacy. By 1966, however, President Nkrumah’s policies had brought Ghana to an unpleasant state of affairs. One example would be the 1964 constitutional amendment that outlawed all political parties other than the CPP.
Nkrumah had traveled to Vietnam when the nation’s military and police services carried out a coup that removed the CPP from power. Nkrumah would never set foot on Ghanaian soil for the remainder of his lifetime. His friendship with the leader of Guinea, however, would see him named as honorary co-president of that nation.
The Memorial Park for Kwame Nkrumah centers on a massive mausoleum, constructed in 1991 from Italian marble. Our guide explained that it was intended to represent the base of a tree, broken across the trunk, to reflect that Nkrumah’s life was cut short. The massive bronze statue of him in front of the Mausoleum depicts him striding forward powerfully, and two statue phalanxes of horn-blowers in the fountain before him mourn his death.
The museum itself is somewhat limited in its collection, but it does show some of his outfits from historic events and some of his furnishings (such as a bookcase he brought home with him from Philadelphia). Apparently he was very fond of a particular walking stick on display, bound in leather.
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The museum doesn’t really address the ambivalence of the nation’s response to Nkrumah; yes, he was a key person who shaped Ghana’s early national history, but he was also essentially a dictator who was felled in a coup!
Transportation at Circle
Circle is easily accessible by public transport, including tro-tros and taxis. Here’s a breakdown of the transportation options available:
- Tro-tros: These sturdy buses weave through the city to form a web of routes that connect Accra. As such, they are the most accessible mode of transportation and take up a majority of the space at Circle.
- Okadas: Motor bikes, known as okada, that zip through the city’s streets as cars crawl through traffic. Getting an okada at Circle is just as easy as getting a taxi or trotro.
- Metro Mass Transit buses: The bright orange buses, sometimes referred to as Kuffour buses after the president who introduced them in 2006, operate like trotros but are heavily subsidized and are free for school children and the elderly.
- Aayalolo bus system: A fleet of buses that run on one particular route on a dedicated bus lane. These buses have air conditioning and USB ports to charge phones.
- Commercial bus terminals: These privately operated buses, all headquartered at Circle, ferry people and goods beyond Ghana, to Nigeria,Mali and elsewhere in West Africa. The VIP brand is the most popular.
Street Food and Commerce
Street food at Circle typically comprises spicy snacks such as khebabs and open grilled mutton, pork and tilapia to other indigenous Ghanaian dishes like Waakye, Kenkey and Jollof rice sold by small vendors. Tip Toe Lane is a very narrow and crowded street where cell phones, laptops, and their repairmen are based.
Roundabouts of Accra
A series of major roundabouts (traffic circles) and one interchange in the city commemorate some of the Big Six, Ghana's forefathers and leaders of the United Gold Coast Convention political party who agitated for and helped usher in independence from British rule in 1957.
The five monument spaces are indicated in the map below with black star. Click on each one to learn more about the site's history:
Map of Accra's Big Six Roundabouts
Conclusion
Circle, Accra, is more than just a geographical landmark; it’s a vibrant ecosystem of commerce, culture, and history. From its pivotal role in transportation to its historical significance, Circle serves as a gateway to understanding the heart of Ghana’s capital.
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