Danquah Circle
Danquah Circle is a roundabout and traffic interchange located in Osu, Accra, Ghana. It forms a key node within the city's arterial road network, linking Ring Road East, Oxford Street and Cantonments. Serving as both a traffic and cultural landmark, the circle was named in honour of J. B. Danquah, a member of The [Big Six (Ghana)|The Big Six] and a leading figure in Ghana's independence movement.
Danquah Circle is an urban junction that facilitates movement between central Accra, Labadi, Cantonments, and Osu. It carries an estimated 28,000 vehicles daily, according to the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre in 2015.
History
Danquah Circle dates back to the 1950s when Accra's early urban planning schemes sought to decongest the central city and improve connectivity toward the newly developing eastern suburbs. Following Ghana's independence, the circle was dedicated to The Big Six member Dr. J. B. Danquah, symbolising national pride and civic honour.
Location
Danquah Circle is located in Osu, Accra, and on the Ako Adjei Interchange to Labadi Road. The roundabout features a bronze statue of Dr. J. B. Danquah, which is surrounded by sculptures as well as other statues commemorating him alongside the culture of Ghana, such as "Pounding Fufu" and "Drumming the Bongo Drums". These monuments have been described as "non-partisan" and historically significant by local historians and civic commentators. According to Ghana Investment Promotion Centre in 2015, Danquah Circle carries an estimated 28,000 vehicles daily.
Events
On 26 May 2024, the Department of Urban Roads, under the Ministry of [Roads and Highways (Ghana)|Ministry of Roads and Highways], began construction near the Danquah Circle, which ended on 29 July. The construction was in collaboration with the International Hospitals Group and the Ministry of the Interior to improve the drainage system and pedestrian safety near the police station's hospital. On 20 January 2025, GhanaWeb reported that the University of Ghana historian Kweku Darko Ankrah cited the statue at Danquah Circle as non-controversial due to its historical relevance and the critical thinking behind its erection.