Osu (Accra)

Osu is a busy business, residential, and entertainment district in central Accra, Ghana.

Cantonments Road in the Osu district of Accra. While Cantonments Road continues north beyond Danquah Circle to Akuffo-Addo Circle in the Cantonments district, the strip shown above is referred to unofficially as "Oxford Street", which runs south of Danquah Circle, and is arguably the most cosmopolitan street in the capital.

(December 2008)

 The area regarded as "Osu" roughly comprises of those districts south of the Ring Road and Angola Road (heading south to the Independence Square/Arch), namely Nyaniba Estates (east), Christiansborg (south), parts of Victoriaborg (south-west), and the actual Osu district (west).

 A scenic view of the designated Osu district, which is on the western side of "Oxford Street". The photograph was taken from the rooftop of the Nova Hotel, looking towards the massive administrative block for the Ghana Parliament, which can be seen under construction in the background.

(February 2008)

By far the most popular thoroughfare is Cantonments Road, otherwise known as "Oxford Street", after the famous London locale. The "Oxford Street" area of Cantonments Road separates the Osu & Nyaniba Estates districts, and runs from Danquah Circle (on the Ring Road) to 28th February Road, the main coastal road.

 Bustling "Oxford Street", looking south, from a position that is roughly opposite of Frankies Restaurant & Hotel.

(December 2008)

This road, along with the adjacent streets, contains some of the best restaurants in the country (refer to our special reference webpage, The Greater Accra Restaurant Guide, for examples).

Many tourists & visitors to Accra also elect to stay in the Osu district due to it's vibrant location, with many excellent nightclubs, restaurants, and other business services. It is also a transport hub, conveniently allowing easy access to the public & deregulated transport services of the Greater Accra Region.

 Ghana-pedia You Tube video clip showing a drive through the Osu district of central Accra. The trip starts on 1st Ringway Road in Osu, heading down Embassy Road, before turning onto Cantonments Road ("Oxford Street") - the heart of the Osu district. The clip ends with a view down "Oxford Street", from the position of Frankies Restaurant & Hotel.

(February 2008)

In addition, the area is a retail and business centre, where products West African & international fashions, consumer electronics, books, and supermarket wares. Several financial institutions that trade throughout Ghana maintain branches along the "Oxford Street" strip, and indeed, the largest building along the road is the newly-constructed Fidelity Bank headquarters, a plate-glass monolith located towards the Danquah Circle end of the strip.

 In a two-photograph sequence, this first shot shows "Oxford Street" at peak hour, from a spot located outside of the Koala Shopping Centre, looking south. Not only does the photograph capture Accra's early-evening gridlock, it shows the huge advertising billboards that are a common site around the capital, and also the base of the new headquarters of the Fidelity Bank (left).

(December 2008)

"Oxford Street" is usually a bustling area during most days & nights, although it is somewhat quieter on Sundays, when the bulk of the business workers enjoy their day off. However, the area is generally packed with people after events such as international football matches are played at the nearby Ohene Djan Sports Stadium (where the crowd spills out onto the strip post-match), and during new year's celebrations, when the residents of Accra flock to the area to enjoy their public holiday.

 Ghana-pedia You Tube video clip showing nightime celebrations along "Oxford Street" in Osu on the evening of Ghana's public holiday for New Year's Day on the 1st of January 2007. The clip begins with footage taken from the balcony of the now-defunct Steers Fast Food restaurant, followed by a walk along the roadside, heading north towards Danquah Circle.

(January 2007)

 The actual Osu district, which also has a blurred demarcation with the Victoriaborg district, boasts several of Accra's, and indeed, Ghana's, most important landmarks. This includes Independence Square/Arch, where many important government functions, including the ceremony for the swearing-in of Ghana's Heads-Of-State are held. Another important juncture is at the convergence of Castle-Lokko-Angola Roads,  where Accra's main sporting venue, the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium, is located, along with the Accra International Conference Centre, Parliament House, and the Osu Military Cemetery.

Fans of the Black Stars, Ghana's international football team, flock to Ohene Djan Sports Stadium on the occasion of the 2008 African Cup Of Nations group fixture between Ghana v Namibia. The stadium can be seen on the right, while fans cross Starlets91 Road. The area is technically designated as Victoriaborg, although it referred to generally as "Osu".

(January 2008)

At the immediate end of "Oxford Street" in the Christiansborg district is Christiansborg Castle, the 17th Century coastal fortress which was the seat of power of The Gold Coast, and post-colonial Republic Of Ghana from 1876 to 2008, when Golden Jubilee House opened on the former site of Flagstaff House.

In a two-photograph sequence, this second shot shows "Oxford Street" again at peak hour, from a spot located outside of the Woodin/Wrangler outlet, approximately 100m south of Danquah Circle, again looking south down the popular strip.

(December 2008)

 The largely residential district north of Christiansborg Castle is criss-crossed by a network of tight laneways. A popular area for tourists/visitors looking for a uniquely Ghanaian experience is the Osu day/night market which is located between Lokko Road and the main coastal road, Labadi Road. Largely a food market, the site is popular due to the wide variety of Ghanaian cuisine that is available, and the friendly market atmosphere, which is somewhat less hectic than the Makola Market, located several kilometres to the west.