Black Star Gate
A monument to Ghana’s independence in Accra.
Ghana · Africa · Available experience
Accra
A coastal capital, opened one district at a time.
Follow a stylised ceremonial approach to the Black Star Gate and look for the date, motto and star that commemorate Ghana’s independence.
Black Star Gate
Scene details
This walk depicts the Black Star Gate and a stylised ceremonial court. The separate seafront Independence Arch lies outside the walk. Planting, paving, distances and the ground marker are design approximations.
- Still to find Ceremonial ground
- Still to find Black Star Gate
Preparing the scene
Learn more
Click the scene. Walk with W A S D or the arrow keys. Drag to look.
Drag the pad to walk. Drag the scene to look.
Accra DiscoveryComplete the mission to earn it
Cultural notes
This walk depicts the Black Star Gate and a stylised ceremonial court. The separate seafront Independence Arch lies outside the walk. Planting, paving, distances and the ground marker are design approximations.
Capital on the Gulf of Guinea
VerifiedAccra is the capital and largest city of Ghana. It stands on the Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean.
Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Accra. Accessed 2026-11-11. Reviewed from the Britannica scholars edition of the Accra article.
Colonial capital from 1877
VerifiedIn 1877 Accra became the capital of the British Gold Coast colony.
Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Accra. Accessed 2026-11-11. Reviewed from the Britannica scholars edition of the Accra article.
The coastal villages that formed the city
VerifiedOsu, Dutch Accra (later called Ussher Town), and James Town grew as coastal villages and became the nuclei of Accra.
Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Accra. Accessed 2026-11-11. Reviewed from the Britannica scholars edition of the Accra article.
The national flag
VerifiedGhana adopted the red, gold and green flag with a black star in 1957. The Ghana Free Zones Authority describes the black star as a symbol of African emancipation.
Source: Ghana Free Zones Authority, Country profile · National Colours. Accessed 2026-11-13.
District
Black Star Square
Black Star Square is also called Independence Square. The Ghana Tourism Authority records its use for civic and military parades. World365’s court ends at the wall.
Black Star Gate
Look above the three openings for the star, the date and the motto. Together they mark the gate as a monument to Ghana’s independence.
Look from the wide central opening up to the inscription and star. What does each detail tell you?
Read the date and motto
AD 1957 recalls the year Ghana gained independence from the United Kingdom. Beneath it is Ghana’s motto, “Freedom and Justice.”
Archnet · Independence Monument (opens in a new tab)Follow the black star
The star above the gate also appears on Ghana’s flag. On the flag it represents African emancipation.
Ghana Free Zones Authority · Country profile · National Colours (opens in a new tab)A rectangular triumphal arch
VerifiedThe gate has a broad central opening between two narrower ones. The Black Star crowns the structure above the inscription.
Source: Archnet, Independence Monument. Accessed 2026-11-11. Architectural description. The page spells the patron “Kwame Nkruman”.
The inscription
VerifiedThe Black Star Gate bears the year of independence, AD 1957, and Ghana’s national motto, “Freedom and Justice.” The model reproduces both inscriptions.
Source: Ghana Tourism Authority, Independence Square. Accessed 2026-11-12. Distinguishes the Black Star Gate at the northern roundabout from the seafront Independence Arch.
Independence Day
VerifiedGhana gained independence in 1957. The Ghana Tourism Authority identifies 6 March as Independence Day and records the parade at Black Star Square.
Source: Ghana Tourism Authority, Independence Square. Accessed 2026-11-12. Distinguishes the Black Star Gate at the northern roundabout from the seafront Independence Arch.
Completed in 1961
VerifiedArchnet says the monument was commissioned after independence in 1957, and dates completion of the square to 1961, coinciding with the state visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Ghana.
Source: Archnet, Independence Monument. Accessed 2026-11-11. Architectural description. The page spells the patron “Kwame Nkruman”.
A gate and a seafront arch
VerifiedThe Ghana Tourism Authority places the Black Star Gate in the roundabout north of the main square and the Independence Arch at the southern, seafront end.
Source: Ghana Tourism Authority, Independence Square. Accessed 2026-11-12. Distinguishes the Black Star Gate at the northern roundabout from the seafront Independence Arch.
Ceremonial ground
The rings underfoot mark this stop in World365’s stylised court. From here, look toward the star-topped gate.
Imagine the square filled for a parade. What anniversary would the gathering mark?
Reveal the occasion
Ghana’s Independence Day falls on 6 March. Black Star Square is a site for the Independence Day parade.
Ghana Tourism Authority · Independence Square (opens in a new tab)A place for public gatherings
VerifiedThe square was commissioned by Kwame Nkrumah to celebrate Ghana’s independence. It opened in 1961 and has hosted civic gatherings and parades.
Source: Ghana Tourism Authority, Independence Square. Accessed 2026-11-12. Distinguishes the Black Star Gate at the northern roundabout from the seafront Independence Arch.
A square by the coast
VerifiedBlack Star Square lies between 28th February Road and Accra’s southern coastline.
Source: Ghana Tourism Authority, Independence Square. Accessed 2026-11-12. Distinguishes the Black Star Gate at the northern roundabout from the seafront Independence Arch.
Played in the scene above
Mission
Independence ground
Discover the ceremonial ground and the gate, read both notes, and answer one question.
- Find the ceremonial ground. Walk onto the paved approach. The rings mark this place in the approximation.
- Read the ceremonial ground. Open the note for the ground in front of the monument.
- Reach the Black Star Gate. Continue toward the star above the central opening.
- Read the arch. Open the Black Star Gate note and look for the inscription.
Accra Discovery. You walked the ceremonial ground and reached the Black Star Gate and discovered a piece of Ghana's history.