The name is a leftover from the army. A cantonment is a military station, and in colonial Accra the land east of the old town held barracks and quarters for soldiers and officials. The soldiers moved on, the name stayed, and Cantonments became one of the most expensive addresses in Ghana.
Military roots
Colonial authorities set aside land for the military and for European officials away from the crowded African town. Nearby Burma Camp, the headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces, still carries that military history, named after the Burma campaign of the Second World War in which Gold Coast soldiers fought.
Embassy row
Today, Cantonments is home to many embassies and high commissions, including the large United States Embassy compound. Diplomatic residences line its quiet, tree-shaded streets. Security is visible, and some roads around embassies have restricted parking.
Expensive land
Cantonments is among the most expensive residential areas in Accra. Large plots, mature trees and security make it attractive to diplomats, executives and wealthy Ghanaians. Rents are often quoted in US dollars, a reminder of its international population.
Next to Labone and Osu
Cantonments borders Labone, Osu and Airport Residential Area. Its edges have restaurants, cafés, schools and offices, but its inner streets remain largely residential.
Schools
Several international schools and well-known private schools are located in or near Cantonments, adding to its appeal for expatriate families.
Changing character
As Accra’s property market grew, old bungalows in Cantonments were replaced by apartment blocks and townhouses. Long-time residents complain that the quiet, green character of the area is being lost to construction.
The Ringway
The Ringway and nearby roads link Cantonments to the rest of the city. Morning traffic towards Osu and the Ridge can be heavy, and road closures for diplomatic events occasionally add to it.
Life inside the walls
Many Cantonments houses sit behind high walls topped with razor wire, with guards at the gate. The quiet streets can feel almost empty during the day, when residents are at work and children at school. In the evenings, embassy staff and residents jog along the tree-lined roads. The area has few markets or street traders compared with neighbouring Osu or Labone, and many residents drive to supermarkets and malls for shopping. For visitors, the contrast between the calm of Cantonments and the busy streets a few minutes away is one of the clearest pictures of inequality in Accra.
The diplomatic calendar
Independence days of foreign countries, receptions and visiting delegations bring regular events to Cantonments. On such days, traffic around embassy residences slows, and police escorts are a common sight. Residents learn to plan around them.
Cantonments was once a place for soldiers. Today the uniforms are mostly those of embassy guards, and the barracks have become some of the most valuable land in West Africa’s growing capitals.
