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Within the past 12 months, the shopping opportunities and availability of goods have increased substantially. Most of this is due to the recent opening of the “Accra Mall” which features two large stores: one, Shoprite, a grocery store, and the other, Game, an appliance, technology, hardware, and general goods store – similar in style and content to a Wall Mart. There are a variety of new shops opening in the mall – offering everything from chocolate to cell phones, to sports clothes and pharmaceuticals. The mall also features restaurants and a food court.
Osu, the shopping and restaurant center of the city also offers an array of shops and services – you need to spend some time walking around the area to familiarize yourself with what is available.
Food: Shoprite offers a vast array of food and supplies. In other locations in the city the two major supermarkets which have been here the longest are Koala and Maxmart. They offer a range of standard food products including imported brand-name cereals, milk, cheeses, eggs, fresh meats, seafood products, yogurts, frozen foods, juices and other refreshments, freshly baked goods, rices and pastas, spices, as well as fresh herbs and vegetables. They also carry an array of ethnic ingredients: Lebanese, Japanese, Chinese, Italian and others. The selection of products increases with each passing year, and now with the opening of the Accra Mall, the availability of goods has increased even more.
There are also numerous fresh produce stands where you can purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. Tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, potatoes, onions, squash, garlic, ginger, and other local produce are available year round, as are pineapples (undoubtedly the best you’ll ever taste), watermelons, mangoes, papayas, apples, oranges, limes, lemons, and the list goes on.
Beverages—alcoholic and non: There is an excellent range of juices available, and soft drinks are inexpensive. (Ghanaians refer to pop or soda as “minerals”.) There is a large selection of wines (mostly French and South African, but including South American and Australian), spirits, and local and imported beer available at many locations throughout the city. There are several brands of good quality local beer, and Guinness is brewed here in Ghana.
Appliances and technology: All appliances are available locally – with a good selection of models and name brands. These appliances include stereo systems, TV systems, kitchen appliances, and many others. These are all 220V which is what you need here. Some may be dual voltage. As with appliances, the availability of technology is also increasing. Cell phones, computers, printers, scanners are all available.
Cosmetics and pharmaceuticals: while a diverse range of products are available, there is no guarantee that you will find the exact name-brand or types of products you prefer to use.
Arts and crafts: Given that Ghana has a flourishing and long-standing arts and crafts sector, there are many opportunities to shop for fabrics, carvings, paintings, beads and jewelry.
General household items: Household cleaning products, toilet paper, tissues, types of hardware, picture frames, carpets, furniture, bedding, towels, exercise equipment, children’s toys, party supplies, lamps are all available in the city. Quality and quantity vary – you really need to shop around, to see what is available.
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