Ghana's Architectural Heritage

In November 2023, CNN reported that UNESCO had reached 100 heritage sites in Sub-Saharan Africa, still an incredibly low number for the continent’s rich history. In Ghana, as previously mentioned, the focus of architectural heritage conservation has been on the forts and castles. However, the nation has such a diverse and rich architectural history that transcends the eras of slave trade and colonization.

Architectural Heritage in Ghana consists of three broad categories: indigenous or traditional architecture, monumental and symbolic architecture, and historic buildings and neighborhoods. Broadly, architecture found across the country can be classified into indigenous architecture of the various ethnic groups, architecture of the colonial era, the tropical modernist style of the independence era, and the architecture in contemporary times. 

There are many untold historical narratives of other structures in Ghana’s built environment beyond the status quo that are worthy of attention. The lack of the historical narratives of buildings of historic interest is due to the fact that much remains unwritten and when they exist, remain unavailable to the public in ways they can appreciate. Conservation goes beyond protecting the built environment and generating tourism around them. It also involves preserving the stories surrounding them, researching and documenting the areas where documents are unavailable, and documenting the intangible elements of our culture such as music and oral traditions. 

The most popular examples of traditional architecture are the 10 Asante traditional buildings, the last remaining buildings that point to the great Ashanti civilization, which can be found near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. They are religious temples that have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Arranged in a courtyard formation and constructed of earth and wood, they feature arabesque-like motifs and traditional Adinkra patterns in bas reliefs on the walls. 

To list a building as heritage requires identifying its value and significance to make the case for its preservation: What does it mean for the community and what sentiments does it embody for the people of that community? In the case of the Ashanti traditional buildings, for example, according to UNESCO’s document they are the last remaining testimony of the unique architectural style of the great Asante Kingdom. The traditional motifs of its rich bas-relief decoration are imbued with symbolic meaning. They are also classified as Heritage based on their integrity, authenticity, protection and management requirements.

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So far, there has been no established national heritage list for Ghana’s historic buildings beyond the medieval forts and castles and the pre-colonial traditional Asante buildings. The political and development history of Ghana in the Colonial era form the basis of urban architectural heritage through the development of regional capitals in Ghana. The British colonial administration initiated urban development and the development of road networks between cities and towns, housing, industry, transport, and commerce, birthing urban centers like Accra’s Jamestown, Adabraka, Osu and Kumasi’s Adum. In Accra, colonial buildings form a major part of its most iconic architectural heritage buildings.

Ussher Fort and James Fort built in the 17^th century, the magnificent Supreme Court building, the Romanesque Methodist and Anglican cathedrals, the unique Indo-Islamic-styled Accra Post Office, the Accra Railway Station, the Jamestown lighthouse, and several commercial stores such as Patterson and Zochonis, GB Ollivant and the United African Company UAC (Unilever) building, all located in Jamestown, Accra, are a few historic landmarks in fair condition. Jamestown is without a doubt worthy of inscription on the UNESCO heritage list. However, sadly, the majority of the historic buildings have been neglected, leaving large areas of derelict structures in poor condition. 

The Independence era gave Ghana its architectural legacy of modernist architecture (The International Style) which, over the last decade, has been receiving international attention. Dubbed Tropical Modernism and recognized as the prevailing architectural style of public buildings in the country during this period, it was featured in the Graham Foundation’s Architecture of Independence: African Modernism in 2016, and the 2024 Tropical Modernism exhibition by The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London, following its debut at the 2023 Venice Biennale, curated by Lesley Lokko. A similar exhibition on Ghana’s modernist architecture is being planned by New York's prestigious Museum of Modern Art in 2026. 

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The popularity of these exhibitions in Europe is bound to draw attention to Ghana’s architectural heritage and will broaden the number of places and buildings to visit in the country. Additionally, several award-winning historical writers have gained international acclaim for publishing Accra’s narrative on the modern movement in World Architecture. Publications such as Stanek’s Architecture in Global Socialism (2015) capture the efforts of the Nkrumah government and its utilization of Eastern European architects and planners to build a new Accra after the domination of the field by British modernist architects in the 1950s, an area also extensively researched by authors Iain Jackson and Ola Uduku. 

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Ghana’s architectural development as the first African country to gain independence south of the Sahara, elaborates on the optimism demonstrated by newly independent nations to rid themselves of imperialism through the adoption of the International Style. Accra’s State House Job 600 Parliament buildings, the Trade Fair site, the VRA building, Cedi House and George Padmore Library, Kumasi’s Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) campus, and the Bolgatanga Library in Northern Ghana form components of the story of modernism in West Africa.

The iconic Black Star Arch and the Black Star Gate are monuments that reflect the nationalistic vision of the first leader of the nation. Besides these well-known civic buildings, there are gems of private homes in the modernist style hiding behind tall walls and security fences.

One residential structure that has gained prominence is the Scott House, residence of Architect Kenneth Scott located in Ridge- Accra. Through the efforts of his family, private viewings of sections of the home and grounds are organized to give a firsthand insight into the life of the architect. The Ghanaian-naturalized Australian architect, who was also a founding member of the Ghana Institute of Architects, has a long list of building credits in the country to his name among them being KNUST’s Pharmacy, Engineering and Classroom blocks, the Tamale Air Force Barracks and the Accra Police Headquarters. The idea of house museums is a nouveau concept in Ghana, however, as noted previously, others are requiring such attention and support to restore and maintain and possibly made accessible to the public.

As Africans gain control of their postcolonial narratives, the resonating topic being discussed is safeguarding the cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible, from slipping into oblivion.

In the past two decades or so, Ghana has had a spurt in development in the building sector. Urban centers like Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi are experiencing growth beyond their original boundaries. Whilst the new urban growth is positive and exciting to see, it has come at the expense of several buildings of historic significance which are disappearing at an alarming rate. Precautions need to be taken on how development projects are done so as not to erase valuable historical structures and sites. The old and new can coexist as is done in many cities across the world. This is not merely a nostalgic effort. Celebrating our heritage offers great social benefits such as education, through which nationalistic pride can be inculcated for growth and development. Preserving our cultural heritage engages the international community in the larger conversation on conservation and its relevance in our society

Advocating for our architectural heritage, means taking stock of what we have and establishing a national heritage list. This goes hand-in-hand with generating interest and tours around them. Of course, developing the tourism potential of a place needs to be supported with infrastructure - hospitality (lodging and restaurants), transportation, roads, pedestrian walks, health and finance - to create a well-rounded and pleasant experience for visitors. The street experience needs to be enhanced to create ease of access and movement for pedestrians and tourists. Marketing strategies and campaigns around tourism need to be rigorous to attract more visitors annually, including researchers and writers, and all these need to come under the umbrella of national policy to protect and develop them. Sections of urban centers and buildings with historic value need to be designated as historic districts which should be integrated into city planning. With the “historic” status comes the need for the required legal protections in the face of development and guidelines for any rehabilitative or restorative works on them.

In line with this thinking, heritage building regulations need to be embedded in a national cultural urban agenda with a vision to brand the nation as the preferred destination for tourism and investment. This emphasizes the significance of culture in shaping vibrant and sustainable urban environments.