Africa · capital city
What Is the Capital of Ghana?
Accra
The capital of Ghana is Accra. About 2.7 million people live in the Accra urban area — 7.6% of the country's population.
2.7 million
Urban area population
UTC0
Time zone
5.55°N
Latitude · 0.22°W
No
Largest city: Kumasi
Accra at a glance
Name origin
The name derives from the Akan word nkran, meaning "ant," and may refer to the nickname local forest dwellers gave to the Nigerian tribes who settled in the area in the 16th century.
Time zone
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). No daylight saving time.
Coordinates
5 33 N, 0 13 W · IANA time zone Africa/Accra
Location of Ghana
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
Largest cities in Ghana
1
Kumasi
3.8 million2
Accra Capital
2.7 million3
Sekondi Takoradi
1.1 millionUrban-area population · CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Capitals of neighbouring countries
Capitals closest to Accra
Lome, Togo — 171 km
Porto-Novo, Benin — 330 km
Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire — 576 km
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso — 771 km
Niamey, Niger — 922 km
Abuja, Nigeria — 941 km
Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe — 965 km
Malabo, Equatorial Guinea — 1,017 km
Straight-line distance between capitals.
Frequently asked questions about Accra
What is the capital of Ghana?
The capital of Ghana is Accra. About 2.7 million people live in the Accra urban area — 7.6% of the country's population.
Is Accra the largest city in Ghana?
No. The largest urban area is Kumasi (3.8 million), while Accra has about 2.7 million.
What time zone is Accra in?
Accra is on UTC0 — UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). There is no daylight saving time.
Where does the name Accra come from?
The name derives from the Akan word nkran, meaning "ant," and may refer to the nickname local forest dwellers gave to the Nigerian tribes who settled in the area in the 16th century.
Which capital is closest to Accra?
Among the capitals of neighbouring countries, Lome (Togo) is the closest, 171 km away in a straight line.
Data: CIA World Factbook (public domain); population: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0).