Viktoriaborg was developed in the late nineteenth century and was an exclusive European residential neighbourhood. At the time, the historic neighbourhood was located on the eastern edge, outside of Accra, near the cliffs where it was always windy. The complex included luxury homes, a racecourse, golf, polo and cricket fields, tennis courts, and racially segregated hospitals. It was a piece of England brought to the face of the city of Accra. As the polis expanded, the suburb of Victoriaborg was incorporated into the city's neighbourhoods.
After Ghana's independence, Victoriaborg was de-Europeanised. The area was nationalised in a tellingly symbolic way: the country's main financial institution, ministries, Independence Square and the central offices of newly established national companies were deliberately established here.
Today, the neighbourhood's architecture ranges from elegant Georgian colonial buildings to gleaming modern high-rises, illustrating the transition from Victorian suburb to modern business district. The former European complex now contains a number of important landmarks and new institutions. It is home to the Supreme Court of Ghana, the Memorial Park and the mausoleum of former Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah. Nearby is a century-old Anglican church, the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity.
One of the two largest street markets where you can buy almost everything from food to suitcase is the Makola Shopping Centre. Here the national flavour is felt most keenly. The arch honouring Ghana's independence is located in Independence Square, formerly known as Black Star Square, the second largest in the world. A guard of honour is posted here and is forbidden to be removed.
The Victoriaborg neighbourhood is home to the Ohene Dyan Stadium and the National Hockey League, as well as the National Bank of Ghana and the state House of Representatives.
