Osu Castle — Attraction in Accra

I recently visited Osu during my trip to Ghana, and I must admit that the experience left me deeply disappointed and disheartened. As a traveler with a passion for history and cultural exploration, I was eager to delve into the rich heritage of Ghana. Regrettably, this visit turned out to be nothing short of a distressing encounter.

Upon arriving at the castle, I was met with a sense of disorganization and chaos. The lack of clear signage and direction made it challenging to navigate the premises, leaving me feeling lost from the start. The absence of knowledgeable staff further added to the frustration, as I was left to wander aimlessly without any proper guidance.

The most disconcerting part of the visit was the blatant attempt to scam visitors. The castle police officer seemed more focused on selling overpriced souvenirs than providing a meaningful historical context. The constant pressure to purchase items was both uncomfortable and unprofessional, tarnishing the authenticity of the experience I had hoped for.

Inside the castle, the conditions were deplorable. Neglected infrastructure and poorly maintained areas overshadowed any historical significance the place held. It was evident that minimal effort was made to preserve the site's cultural value, and instead, it appeared to be nothing more than a money-making venture.

Regrettably, the guided tour was equally disappointing. The guide lacked enthusiasm and seemed disinterested in sharing the castle's history. Their explanations were vague and lacked depth, leaving me with more questions than answers. As a history enthusiast, I longed for engaging stories that could bring the past to life, but unfortunately, that was far from what I received.

To add insult to injury, the entry fees were exorbitant compared to the lackluster experience provided. I felt cheated and misled.

In conclusion, my visit to Osu castle was a saddening and regrettable experience. I had hoped for a meaningful encounter with Ghanaian history and culture, but instead, I encountered a place driven by profit rather than preserving its heritage. I strongly advise fellow travelers to approach this castle with caution or consider alternative historical sites that offer a more authentic and...

I wish I had gotten a chance to have a tour of this historical monument, however my experience was ruined by the men who were selling tickets/offering the tours outside. They tried to charge me and my friend 150 cedis each to enter even though we had seen online that the price is significantly lower, with some people paying 25 or 40 cedis. We later learnt that they will judge you based on what you're wearing and give you a different price. A meaningful and important monument like osu castle should be properly run, with an official ticketing system, rather than by silly men who will try to scam you and prevent you from getting to experience it based on whether they feel like letting you in or not. When we realised we were being scammed, we tried to leave and find someone who worked there to give us an official tour but they shouted at us and prevented us from going to the reception area. They were very aggressive and I was very scared. My friend is Ghanaian and they said she wasn't Ghanaian because she didn't grow up in Ghana. The discrimination was disgusting. As we left they were shouting things at us which was very scary as we are two young women and they were a group of big men. It's such a shame that these people are gate keeping this sight. I would not recommend coming here until the ticketing system is improved and these men are not allowed to operate the...

It's one of the castle's in Ghana that is of huge significance in the history of Ghana, both pre and post colonial rule. Despite it being built over 3 centuries ago, it has been maintained in a very good condition. You get to see the several dungeons used for to house slaves before being carried abroad. You get to see the residences of the former presidents of Ghana who lived there, the room where Queen Elizabeth slept on her visit to Ghana, the 3-foot thick fortified walls, the beautiful gardens, the gate of no return, the burial sites of some departed slaves, the complex tunnels underneath the castle and the overall overwhelming architecture of the entire castle built and inhabited by over 4 different European countries. Shocking to see a church where the colonial masters gather to worship and underneath it, a dungeon where captured slaves are kept and mostly under starvation and other distress conditions. It was worth the visit and getting to know an important aspect of the history of then Gold Coast before independence from colonial rule. The time I went there, some parts were under renovation so couldn't get to see all the places within. The services of the tour guide was awesome, willing and ready to answer all of our questions. It's a place I'll like to...