What's on in Accra, Ghana through the year

Busy — December in Accra, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Harmattan haze (5 Dec – 10 Feb (usually)), December in Accra (15 Dec – 5 Jan)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Harmattan haze (5 Dec – 10 Feb (usually))

Busy — Ghana Independence Day, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Ghana Independence Day

  6 MarNational holidayClosures

  The 6 March holiday shuts offices and banks nationwide. The main parade has rotated around the regional capitals in recent years, so it is not guaranteed to be in Accra. Source ↗

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in April.

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Season

  The main rains

  1 May – 30 Jun · usuallyMonsoonRisk

  Accra's wet months are short bursts rather than all-day rain, but the drains cannot take them. Circle, Kaneshie and the Odaw floodplain go under within an hour and traffic stops with them. Source ↗

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: The main rains (1 May – 30 Jun (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in July.

Busy — Chale Wote Street Art Festival, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Homowo

  1 Aug – 10 Sep · usuallyMajor festival

  The Ga harvest festival, hooting at hunger, with kpokpoi sprinkled through the streets of Ga Mashie and Jamestown. Each traditional area sets its own date, so neighbourhoods celebrate weeks apart. Source ↗

• Festival

  Chale Wote Street Art Festival

  5–27 Aug · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  A week of murals, performance and film through Jamestown and Osu, closing the old streets to traffic for the finale weekend. Dates shift year to year and are announced late. Source ↗

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Homowo (1 Aug – 10 Sep (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in October.

Busy — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in November.

Busy — December in Accra, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Harmattan haze

  5 Dec – 10 Feb · usuallyDust season

  The coast gets a diluted version of the northern harmattan: hazy horizons, dry skin, and a fine dust on everything left outside. Strength varies a lot from one December to the next. Source ↗

• Holiday

  December in Accra

  15 Dec – 5 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

  The diaspora comes home for a fortnight and the city runs on it: flights from London and New York at their dearest, hotels full, and a concert or beach party every night in Labadi and Osu. Source ↗