Jamestown Lighthouse

Jamestown Lighthouse

Jamestown Lighthouse, Accra
Location	Jamestown, Accra, Greater Accra Region
Coordinates	5°31′59″N0°12′44″W / 5.5331°N 0.2122°W / 5.5331; -0.2122
Tower
Constructed	1932 (replacing 1871 structure)
Foundation	Stone
Construction	Stone and concrete
Automated	Yes (modern)
Height	28 m (approx.)
Shape	Cylindrical tower with lantern
Markings	Red and white horizontal bands
Operator	Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority
Light
Focal height	35 m above sea level
Lens	Originally oil lamp; modernized with electric light
Range	10 nautical miles (approx.)
Characteristic	Fl W 10s (one white flash every 10 seconds)

Jamestown Lighthouse is a lighthouse located in the Jamestown district of Accra, Ghana. Standing approximately 28 meters tall, the lighthouse was constructed in the early 1930s to replace an earlier 1871 structure, and has served as a key navigational aid for vessels entering the port of Accra. ^{[1] [2]}

History

The original Jamestown Lighthouse was erected in 1871 as a navigational aid ^[3] . By the 1930s, increasing maritime traffic necessitated a larger and more modern structure. The current lighthouse was constructed in 1932, maintaining the original site and orientation. ^[4]

Architecture and design

Jamestown Lighthouse features a cylindrical stone tower attached to a keeper's house. It is painted in distinctive red and white horizontal bands, with a lantern and gallery at the top ^[5] . The focal height is about 35 meters above sea level, allowing the light to be seen up to 10 nautical miles. ^[6]

Gallery

• 
  Frontal view of Jamestown Lighthouse
• 
  View from the top towards the Gulf of Guinea
• 
  View of the lighthouse
• 
  Interior of the lighthouse
• 
  General perspective of the lighthouse in 2017

See also

• List of lighthouses in Ghana

References

1. Briggs, Philip (2014). Ghana (Sixth ed.). Bradt Travel Guides Ltd. p. 147. ISBN   9781841624785.
2. Rowlett. "Lighthouses of Ghana" . Retrieved 11 November 2025.
3. "The Jamestown Lighthouse". Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
4. "Jamestown Lighthouse - A beacon of history on Ghana's coast". Humbo. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
5. "Jamestown Lighthouse comes alive with Stanbic Bank's 'Litxmas'". GhanaWeb. 24 December 2020. Archived from the original on 24 December 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
6. "Jamestown Lighthouse - DiasporanD" . Retrieved 12 November 2025.