Accra, Ghana :
West Coast way of life

This fifteenth place is demanding, and could be snatched away at any moment by one of the continent’s many other cities undergoing change. Certain chapters of the continent's contemporary history and decolonisation took place here. What comes to mind is Kwame Nkrumah dancing with Elizabeth II, Queen of England, the day after the Gold Coast gained its independence. Visitors are moved by the Independence Monument with its black star which is also the national football team’s emblem. When people talk about Ghana, they almost always refer to its political stability and democracy. The country has just held its ninth presidential election since 1992, with its fourth peaceful change of power. Welcome to Accra, often called Abidjan’s English-speaking cousin, a metropolis that is holding its own in a context of economic crisis, IMF plans and inflation in recent years. Despite pollution and hellish traffic, the capital is building on its fundamentals. It boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure and new projects, like the major four-level interchange at Pokuase on the Koumassi road and the expansion of Kotoka International Airport. Tema Port is opening up to the ECOWAS markets. Special economic zones (Airport City, Appolonia City) are attracting investors. The city has a high-quality university network (both private and public) and an educated and ambitious young population. It also has the facilities to attract international conferences. People also come here for the lifestyle, culture, gastronomy and hotels, with Labadi Beach embodying the unique West Coast way of life. Sometimes, the contradictions of the system and its shortcomings are very apparent. The construction of the national cathedral, Nana Akufo-Addo's dream, has been at a standstill for several years, becoming ‘the most expensive hole in the country's history’. The project has been criticised for its staggering cost in a country in crisis and with complex religious identities. The new administration of President John Dramani Mahama wants to put a definitive stop to the expenditure.