Labone is what people mean when they say they want Osu without the noise. It is leafy, residential and central, with Oxford Street a short walk one way and Cantonments the other, and it goes to sleep at night in a way its neighbour does not.

At a glance
District Split between La Dade Kotopon Municipal and Korle-Klottey Municipal
Rent band Highest, band 5 of 5, on both sides
Best for Central living without the nightlife on your doorstep
The catch The price, and security around the presidency
Near Osu, Cantonments, the coast, Labadi Beach

Labone straddles an assembly boundary, which is why it appears in the rankings for both districts. It rarely matters in practice, but it does mean the district census figures describe much wider areas than the neighbourhood.

What it is like

Quiet residential streets, large plots, older houses and newer apartment blocks, restaurants and cafes along its main roads rather than in every building. There is a local neighbourhood feel that much of central Accra has lost.

Jubilee House, the seat of the presidency, is on its edge. That brings a heavier security presence nearby and, occasionally, closed roads.

Rent and housing

The top rent band, the same as Cantonments and Osu. Expect:

  • Detached houses on generous plots, some divided into flats
  • Apartment blocks, older and new
  • Boys quarters, a common and good-value way in

Upper-end lets are often quoted in dollars. Ask for a cedi price.

— Rent in Accra, every district ranked — The rent advance

Getting around

  • Central. Osu, Ridge and Cantonments are short trips, and the airport is not far.
  • Trotros and taxis on the main roads; ride-hailing arrives quickly.
  • Parking is far easier than in Osu, and most houses have their own.

— Getting around Accra

Schools and healthcare

Schools. Labone Senior High School is one of the city’s established public secondary schools. The international schools in Cantonments are close.

Hospitals. The 37 Military Hospital and Ridge Hospital are both a short drive, with private clinics nearer still.

— Schools in Accra — Hospitals in Accra

Power, water and flooding

  • Power is on prepaid ECG meters. Many houses have a generator; ask.
  • Water is more dependable than in the outer city, and a polytank is still worth having.
  • Flooding is a street-by-street question. Ask the neighbours about the rains.

— Electricity and dumsor — Water in Accra

Daily life

  • Restaurants and cafes along the main roads
  • Osu a short walk away for everything else
  • The coast close by, and Labadi Beach a short trip east
  • Quiet evenings, which is the point

— Accra’s beaches — Things to do in Accra

Who it suits

It suits people who want to be central and able to walk to Osu, but sleep somewhere quiet. Families often end up here for that reason.

It does not suit anyone on a tight budget, or anyone who wants the street life on their own doorstep rather than a walk away.

— Living in Osu — Living in Cantonments

Before you sign

  1. Check how close the house is to Jubilee House and its security cordon
  2. Visit in the evening to confirm it really is quiet on that street
  3. Ask about water and generator arrangements
  4. Get a cedi price, or the exchange rate in writing
  5. Get the advance and the period it covers in writing

— Where to live in Accra — Your tenancy agreement — Housing and land scams