James Whitmee

I am in Accra this week researching the office land and development markets. I have a local mobile which is +233 272 023 017.

The city remains very low rise and green, as will be seen from this photo which is taken from the top of the TF Building on Independence Avenue (now renamed GNAT Height) facing towards the old CBD of High Street, with Ridge to the right.

Most of the development that is taking place is hotels/residential, and there is limited availability of offices. Prime office rents are generally in the low to mid $20 /sq m /month range, although $35 is being quoted to "shell and core" on the offices within the new Movenpick development. The offices at Marina Mall at Airport City, which is the only commercial development nearing completion, have let to a bank. This seems to be the pattern in Accra, as with GNAT Tower, namely that good office buildings lease before they are finished.

Here are some photos of the Movenpick development and the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Gardens on High Street, which I visited today.