Colorful Kente & Contemporary Design: The Ultimate Accra Shopping Guide

No shopping expedition in Accra can begin without experiencing the sensory symphony that is Makola Market. This sprawling commercial hub represents the city's commercial soul – chaotic yet surprisingly organized once you understand its rhythm. During my first visit, I arrived unprepared for the labyrinthine layout and overwhelming energy. Now, I navigate its sections with the confidence of a seasoned visitor.

The market divides into loosely organized sections: fabrics and textiles dominate one area with explosions of color from traditional Kente cloth to modern prints; household goods occupy another zone; while food vendors create a gastronomic maze of spices, produce, and prepared meals. For families, I recommend starting at the periphery rather than diving directly into the center – this allows children to acclimate to the sensory experience gradually.

Makola offers the most authentic shopping experience, but requires patience and negotiation skills. My Spanish-Indian heritage has proven surprisingly useful here – the animated bargaining reminds me of Valencia's markets, while my Indian roots taught me the dance of respectful negotiation. Start by offering approximately 50% of the initial price and work toward a middle ground, always maintaining a smile and sense of humor.

Before visiting, I recommend purchasing a crossbody bag to keep your belongings secure while leaving hands free to examine merchandise. The market's narrow pathways and crowds make bulky backpacks impractical and potentially unsafe.

While Makola offers everyday goods, the Arts Centre Market (officially the Centre for National Culture) caters specifically to those seeking authentic Ghanaian crafts and souvenirs. Located near Independence Square, this market has become my mandatory stop whenever I have colleagues or clients visiting Accra for the first time.

The market consists of hundreds of stalls selling woodcarvings, masks, drums, beaded jewelry, paintings, and of course, textiles. What distinguishes this market is the opportunity to sometimes watch artisans at work – particularly woodcarvers creating intricate designs with remarkable precision. For families, this interactive element provides an educational component that children appreciate.

Unlike the overwhelming nature of Makola, the Arts Centre's layout is more navigable, though prepare for enthusiastic vendors who will actively compete for your attention. My approach is to walk through once without purchasing, noting items of interest, before returning for serious shopping. This prevents impulse purchases and allows for price comparison.

One of my most treasured possessions is a hand-carved chess set featuring traditional Ashanti figures that I purchased here after negotiating for nearly 30 minutes with a craftsman who appreciated my genuine interest in his work. The price dropped considerably once we established mutual respect through conversation about his techniques.

When shopping with children, consider setting a budget for them to select their own treasures – this teaches valuable lessons about decision-making and money management while engaging them in the cultural experience. My nieces still proudly display the small wooden animals they selected during our family trip last year.

For those seeking a more refined shopping experience, Accra's Osu neighborhood represents the city's contemporary retail evolution. Oxford Street (officially Cantonments Road) serves as the main commercial artery, lined with boutiques, galleries, and shops catering to both locals and international visitors.

As a marketing professional who appreciates design innovation, I'm consistently impressed by how Ghanaian designers incorporate traditional elements into modern aesthetics. Several standout boutiques have become regular stops on my visits:

Elle Lokko exemplifies the new wave of Ghanaian retail – a concept store featuring fashion, accessories, and homeware from pan-African designers. Their curated collection showcases how traditional materials and techniques translate into contemporary design language. The store's minimalist interior creates a gallery-like atmosphere that elevates the shopping experience.

Christie Brown represents Ghanaian high fashion at its finest, with garments that blend African prints and silhouettes with international design sensibilities. While price points are higher, the craftsmanship justifies the investment for those seeking statement pieces.

Wild Gecko Handicrafts offers a more accessible price point for quality handcrafted items, particularly home décor and accessories. Their recycled glass beads make excellent gifts that combine sustainability with cultural significance.

When shopping in Osu with family, I recommend planning around meal times as the area boasts some of Accra's best restaurants. A shopping expedition punctuated by culinary exploration prevents fatigue, especially for younger travelers. During our last family visit, my brother's children remained enthusiastic throughout our shopping day thanks to strategic ice cream and snack breaks.

For comfortable walking around Osu's boutiques in Accra's heat, I've found my breathable walking shoes indispensable. The breathable material keeps feet cool while providing enough support for hours of exploration on uneven sidewalks.

While traditional markets offer cultural immersion, Accra's modern shopping centers provide climate-controlled comfort and convenience that families often appreciate, especially during midday heat or the occasional torrential downpour. As someone who balances business meetings with shopping excursions, I've found these malls offer efficient retail therapy when time is limited.

Accra Mall, located in the Tetteh Quarshie area, stands as the city's first modern shopping center and remains a popular destination. The air-conditioned interior houses international brands alongside local retailers, creating a familiar shopping environment with Ghanaian touches. For families, the food court and cinema provide welcome diversions when shopping fatigue sets in.

West Hills Mall and Marina Mall offer similar experiences with varying tenant mixes. What I appreciate about these developments is how they've become social spaces where Accra's growing middle class and expatriate community converge, particularly on weekends.

Despite their modern convenience, I find these malls most valuable for specific purposes rather than authentic shopping experiences. They excel for:

1. Practical necessities: Forgotten toiletries, electronics, or children's essentials can be easily acquired at the Shoprite supermarkets anchoring most malls.

2. Banking services: Secure ATMs and currency exchange facilities with better rates than hotels.

3. Climate refuge: When Accra's humidity becomes overwhelming, these air-conditioned havens offer respite while still engaging in retail therapy.

4. Local adaptation: Observing how international retail concepts adapt to Ghanaian consumer preferences provides fascinating insights for a marketing professional.

For families, I recommend packing cubes to organize purchases throughout your shopping adventures. They've proven invaluable for separating fragile crafts from textiles and keeping souvenirs organized during transit back home.

Ghana's textile tradition represents one of its most significant cultural expressions, and acquiring fabrics during your Accra visit offers both tangible souvenirs and windows into Ghanaian heritage. As someone who grew up surrounded by my mother's Spanish textiles and my father's Indian fabrics, I've developed a deep appreciation for how cloth carries cultural narratives.

Kente cloth stands as Ghana's most recognized textile, traditionally woven by the Akan people, particularly the Ashanti. These distinctive strips of silk and cotton interwoven to create geometric patterns each carry specific meanings and were historically reserved for royalty. Today, while still ceremonially significant, Kente is more accessible to visitors.

For authentic Kente, I recommend two approaches:

1. Bonwire Kente Village: If time permits, this village near Kumasi (a few hours from Accra) offers the most authentic experience, where you can watch weavers create Kente on traditional looms. The quality and provenance are unmatched, though prices reflect this authenticity.

2. Accra Alternatives: Within the city, the National Museum's gift shop and selected vendors at the Arts Centre Market offer quality Kente with proper documentation of patterns and meanings.

Beyond Kente, Accra offers numerous textile opportunities:

Adinkra Cloth: Stamped cotton featuring symbolic designs, each representing proverbs or concepts. The Ntonso crafts village specializes in this, though good examples can be found in Accra's markets.

Wax Prints: The vibrant patterned fabrics seen throughout West Africa. Ghana's GTP and Woodin brands produce high-quality versions with contemporary designs. Their dedicated shops provide fixed prices and consistent quality.

Contemporary Interpretations: Designers like Akosua Afriyie-Kumi of AAKS create modern accessories using traditional techniques, available in boutiques throughout Osu.

For preserving textile purchases, I travel with a garment folder that keeps fabrics protected and minimizes wrinkles during transit. This has proven invaluable for transporting delicate textiles from Ghana to my home in Chennai without damage.

Transforming shopping from a transaction into an educational experience makes all the difference when traveling with family. Accra offers several opportunities for immersive retail experiences that engage children and adults alike through participation and creation rather than mere consumption.

During my sister's visit with her children last year, we discovered several interactive opportunities that became trip highlights:

Bead Making Workshops: The Cedi Beads factory in Odumase-Krobo (a day trip from Accra) offers demonstrations and hands-on workshops showing how recycled glass transforms into colorful beads. My niece still wears the bracelet she designed there, proudly explaining its sustainable origins to friends.

Batik and Tie-Dye Classes: Several cultural centers and individual artists offer half-day workshops where participants create their own textiles using traditional methods. The Artist Alliance Gallery sometimes hosts these sessions, though scheduling in advance is recommended. The children's delight in revealing their creations after the dying process was priceless.

Drumming Sessions with Craft Component: At the Kokrobitey Institute, drumming lessons often include learning about drum construction and decoration. This combines musical experience with craft education in a way that particularly engages energetic children.

Chocolate From Bean to Bar: Though not strictly handicraft, Ghana's position as a premier cocoa producer makes chocolate workshops increasingly popular. '57 Chocolate offers sessions demonstrating how they create bean-to-bar chocolates using Ghanaian cocoa, often incorporating traditional Adinkra symbols into their designs.

To document these creative experiences, I've found my compact camera invaluable. Its quick focus and excellent color reproduction capture the vibrant workshop environments without being as intrusive or complicated as my professional equipment.

For families with varied interests, these workshops offer perfect compromises – parents appreciate the cultural education while children enjoy the hands-on activity. Most workshops welcome participants from around age six, though policies vary by provider.