Ghana’s current seat of government, the Jubilee House, once served as the location of the country’s first national zoo, according to Edward Quao, Director of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.

Speaking on GhanaWeb TV’s People & Places, Quao revealed that Ghana’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah, kept a private collection of domestic and wild animals at the then Flagstaff House, which was later opened to the public, particularly children.

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The recreational facility which formed the foundation of the nation’s first zoo housed animals such as lions, crocodiles and peacocks.

Read the story originally published by GhanaWeb on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, below:

Did you know that the current seat of government, now known as the Jubilee House, once hosted the country's first national zoo?

The first President of Ghana, the late Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, loved animals so much that he kept a collection of animals at the Office of the President, which used to be called the Flagstaff House.

Speaking to GhanaWeb's Ernestina Serwaa Asante in a special edition of People & Places on GhanaWeb TV, the Director of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Edward Quao, narrated how Nkrumah's love for animals led to Ghana having its first national zoo.

He said that what was Nkrumah's private collection of both domestic and wild animals was later opened to the general public.

"Dr Nkrumah, besides everything, was also a lover of animals. Most Ghanaians don't know, but our first national zoo used to be at the Flagstaff House.

"It was his private collection... that was later made public, especially to kids. He was a lover of animals," Quao said.

He also added that Nkrumah's collection of animals included lions, crocodiles, and other wild animals.

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"It was a zoo, so there was everything: the crocodiles, the lions, the peacocks, and all other animals were there," he added.



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