The Ghana National Mosque may be something to put on your list of “must-visit” places here in Ghana. Said to be the second-largest mosque in West Africa, the mosque covers 40-acres of land and was a $10 million investment by the Turkish Hudai Foundation and Turkey Government. The mosque’s construction began in 2011 and was just commissioned in 2021.
Situated in the Kanda neighborhood of Accra, the stunning marble structure is hard to miss as you drive into Kanda. Many people aren’t aware that you can visit the Ghana National Mosque on any regular day and don’t have to be Muslim to do so. This blog post will tell you what you need to know about visiting the mosque.
Location
The entrance to the Ghana National Mosque branches off of the main road where you’ll get your first view of the mosque. It is a bit out of the way than it appears. If you are using Uber and Bolt, tell your driver you are visiting the mosque, and they are likely to know how to take the roundabout to get to the entrance. The GPS should direct you straight to the entrance as well if you are coming from the main road.
Upon Arrival
As you pull up to the entrance, you will see several guards in their security booths standing or sitting in front of the gate. Let one of them know you are here to visit the mosque and take a tour. They will arrange for one of the guards among them to escort you around the mosque.
The Facility
While the mosque is the main attraction, the property that the mosque is located is not only limited to the mosque itself. There is also an all-boys senior high school named after one of the Turkish families that took part in supporting the mosque.
There is a library that is not yet complete but will be open to the public upon completion, an administration building, restaurant, basketball court, and conference center all housed within the complex of the Ghana National Mosque.
The Mosque
As you approach the entrance of the Ghana National Mosque you can tell that the architects of the mosque took their time on the details. Our guide Sam took us through the mosque and explained the background story of the buildings.
Shoes are not prohibited inside of the mosque, but there are cubicles and mats to lay your shoes on before you enter the rooms.
Things To Know Before You Go
- There are no toilet seats in the bathroom. Only a urinal that you will have to squat over, so it is best to make sure to use the bathroom before your visit if you can’t use a urinal as a woman.
2. Bring a head covering! Women must cover their heads to visit the mosque, both inside and outside. If you forget one, they can provide one for you! (However, you don’t know who had it on before you and how frequently it is washed, so keep that in mind).
3. I recommend wearing flip-flops or sandals that can be taken on and off easily as you will have to take your shoes off often to go in and out of the mosque.
The Ghana National Mosque is one of Accra’s best places I have visited. I honestly did not expect to be so captivated and intrigued by the mosque’s construction and the details behind the creation, but it truly is fascinating, especially considering Turkey’s involvement and I’m glad to have witnessed it.
3 Responses
Hello 🙂 thanks so much for this info!
I’m planning on visiting the mosque, but due to timing, I’ll likely have to go on Friday.
Is it advisable to visit the mosque on Fridays or would that be disrespectful to those attending regular Friday service?
Thank you!
Hi! Of course and I personally would not go during a regular service and I’m not sure if they even do tours during service times. I would say call beforehand to check but that can be a hit or miss in Ghana so I would avoid service times!