Accra’s Kotoka International Airport is a small airport, but a functional one, with passport control and baggage claim well managed, despite not being exceptionally big spaces. Kotoka International has an open-air front concourse with seating and a coffee shop or two, and taxi pick-up takes place to the right, through a short passage, as you exit the terminal.
There’s also a user-friendly drop-off zone, making the start of one’s departure fairly seamless. Once you’re checked in, you’ll find security, gift shops, duty free and lounges upstairs.
As far as lounges go, the Adinkra and Akwaaba lounges are on the airside in the international departures terminal, with the latter closer to Gate 1. The Akwaaba lounge is charming, with a great view of the departing planes on the tarmac, comfortable seating, coffee tables and plenty of power points. It also has a bar in the corner, plenty of newspapers, a fridge with cold alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, coffee, snacks, clean and convenient restrooms, and most important, a speedy WiFi connection.
Accra’s hotel scene has been promising in recent years, but slower to deliver than travelers had hoped. However with the promise of economic recovery, things may at last be looking up.
The 5-star Mövenpick Ambassador opened in mid-2011 and until the opening of the new Kempinski had been the gold standard for international business travelers. Located in Accra’s downtown business district, the Mövenpick has all the amenities business travelers need, including a 24-hour business center and complimentary wireless Internet. The hotel has multiple dining locations, as well as 24hour room service.
Also located downtown and in close proximity to the State House, Accra International Conference Centre, and the National Theatre, Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City opened Nov. 1 with 269 rooms, including 22 luxury suites. It also has an extensive food and beverage offering, including its Papillon Restaurant, Lobby Lounge, Gallery Bar, and Cedar Garden. Additional facilities include a Resense Spa, health club, outdoor swimming pool, tennis court and a 19,000-square-foot conference center.
Downtown also has a Novotel and the Alisa Hotel in North Ridge. Accra’s only other 5-star hotel, Legacy’s Labadi Beach Hotel, offers something quite different from the Kempinski and Mövenpick. While it is located on the beach, it is within a short, but not always quick, drive of the city and airport. The hotel has a business center, conference facilities, and WiFi in the common areas. A few hundred yards up from Labadi Beach Hotel you’ll find LaPalm Royal Beach.
The Golden Tulip Accra is located five minutes from Kotoka International and is one of a host of hotels in the area. Others include Preferred Hotel Group’s Fiesta Royale, the Holiday Inn Accra Airport, the Best Western Premier Accra Airport, the African Regent Hotel, and a delightful boutique property called Villa Monticello.
The most recent opening was that of the Fiesta Residences Boutique Hotel & Serviced Apartments, a Preferred property created for guests who are planning an extended stay.
That covers the three main areas of Accra – the beach, downtown, and the airport – and because traffic can be a problem, it’s best to select a hotel that’s convenient to your meeting(s). BT