Photo rules: protected sites and self-appointed fee takers
- Accra, Ghana
- Posted on
About this trap
Filming at protected sites such as Osu Castle, Flagstaff House, ministries and prisons needs national security clearance, and the castle needs a separate heritage permit, so keep cameras away from government buildings. The UK advisory also warns of self-appointed officials who charge fees to photograph well-known sites. Ask for an official ticket or ID before paying anyone, and always ask people before photographing them or their stalls.
Where
Photo rules: protected sites and self-appointed fee takersProtected heritage sites and landmarks across Accra
Open in Google Maps(opens in a new tab)More Tips & Traps in Accra
11 posts from Local Friends and travelers who know the city.DS TipEventsDetty December: plan ahead for Accra's festive season
Accra, GhanaFrom mid-December to New Year, Accra fills with concerts, beach parties, art shows and cultural events known as Detty December. In 2025 the Ghana Tourism Authority backed a month-long December in GH programme of more than 100 events nationwide, from Afrofuture and AfroBeach festivals to a highlife centenary…
2J TipMusic & Nightlife+233 Jazz Bar & Grill for live highlife and jazz
Accra, Ghana+233 Jazz Bar & Grill in North Ridge, formerly Bassline Jazz Club, is Accra's long-running room for live bands playing highlife, blues and jazz. It hosted The Ghana Jazz Experience for International Jazz Day 2026 with Gyedu-Blay Ambolley and his Sekondi Band, so it is clearly still active. Go on a band night, check…
TipSleepPick your Accra base: Osu, Labone, Cantonments or airport
Accra, GhanaOsu puts you on Oxford Street, walkable and busy, with street art, bars and a mix of budget and luxury stays, though petty theft is reported so stay alert at night. Labone is calmer and artsy with some of the best-value rooms, and Cantonments is polished and quiet. Airport Residential suits an early flight. East Legon…
TrapMiscellaneousAt Kotoka airport, accept help only from badged staff
Accra, GhanaAt Kotoka International Airport, thieves have posed as porters, officials or drivers to get hold of bags and documents. Genuine airport staff wear ID cards showing a name and a photograph, and a card without a photo is not valid. Say no to unsolicited help, keep your bags with you, and ask any driver for ID that…
AB TipShopArts Centre: walk past the entrance hassle to the back
Accra, GhanaThe Arts Centre, officially the Centre for National Culture on Barnes Road, packs kente, beads, wooden carvings, masks, baskets and paintings into one craft market. The stalls near the entrance are the busiest and pushiest, so walk through to the back, where it is calmer. Open with an offer well below what you would…
TipShopKantamanto is rebuilt after the 2025 fire, with new rules
Accra, GhanaKantamanto, Accra's huge secondhand clothes market, burned on the night of 1 January 2025 and traders have rebuilt it. It reopened in 2025 with new wiring, fire extinguishers, trained fire wardens and a security force, and overnight stays are now prohibited, so go in daylight hours. Wander section by section and take…
DR TrapArt & CultureDu Bois Centre: the bungalow is closed during renovation
Accra, GhanaThe W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre in Cantonments is under renovation, and in October 2026 the bungalow where Du Bois lived was reported closed to visitors. A photograph exhibit tracing his life from the United States to his final years in Accra was shown on a recent visit, but check what is open to the public. Ask…
LB TipSport & OutdoorsLegon Botanical Gardens: canopy walk, canoes and birding
Accra, GhanaLegon Botanical Gardens lies off Atomic Haatso Main Road at Agbogba Junction, about five minutes from the University of Ghana main entrance. It has a 138 m canopy walk set 13 m above the ground, a high ropes course, canoeing around islands and bird watching, enough for a relaxed half day. Plan the visit for Wednesday…
Know Accra well?
Share a tip, or warn travelers about a trap. It only takes a few minutes.