From May 12 to June 12, 2025, nightlife in Osu, especially along Oxford Street, was completely dull.
The Ga Traditional Council imposed a ban on noise-making as part of preparations for the annual Homowo Festival.
This cultural tradition is very important to the Ga people, as, according to them, it is a time of peace, spiritual reflection, and respect for ancestral customs.
Every year during this period, loud music and other noisy activities are prohibited in many parts of Accra, including Osu.
Osu, particularly Oxford Street, is known as one of the liveliest neighbourhoods in Accra at night.
It is home to several popular hangouts such as Kona Lounge, Cloud 9 Club, and The Republic Bar and Grill, among others.
On a typical Friday night, you would hear loud music, witness traffic jams, and watch people move from bar to bar enjoying the nightlife, but this time, it was different.
During the ban, Oxford Street looked and felt like a completely different place. The loud music stopped. The usual traffic jams disappeared.
Some pub managers said business was badly affected. Without music, partygoers stayed away, resulting in a loss of sales.
Street food vendors and roadside sellers also felt the impact. Usually, after a night out, many people stop by these food joints for a late-night meal.
But on June 12, 2025, the ban was lifted. GhanaWeb exclusively returned to Oxford Street to see how the area is gradually bouncing back.
The loud music has returned, neon lights once more reflect cars passing, and crowds are beginning to gather to enjoy the night.
However, things are not yet fully back to how they were before the ban.
Although nightlife spots are open and operating, most are not as packed as they used to be.
Speaking to a manager at one of the popular pubs on Oxford Street, he explained that many people still don’t know the ban has been lifted.
“Some people call to ask if the ban has been lifted and if we are open. Many don’t know the ban is over, so they make phone calls, that’s one reason the pub hasn’t hit its peak yet,” the manager shared.
Due to this, some clubs and pubs are now working on ways to attract customers back.
They are planning events and using social media to let people know they are open again.
“We are going to hold events starting next month. Also, we’re in the rainy season right after the ban was lifted, and it mostly rains on weekends. Since we operate mainly on weekends, it’s a challenge. But gradually, people are finding out we’re open. We post our activities and events on social media to keep people informed,” said the manager of Kona Lounge.
Businesses on Oxford Street, including ride-hailing drivers, food vendors, and pubs, have noticed a slight improvement in revenue since the ban was lifted.
With music back and people beginning to come out, things are slowly picking up, though not yet at full strength.
Partygoers have stated that they missed the nightlife during the ban. Many described their Friday nights as boring since they had to stay home.
“During the ban on noise-making, Friday nights became very boring. When it’s Friday, we have nowhere to go because there’s no music to have fun with. I’m very excited that the clubs are active again so we can party,” one partygoer stated.
Even with the return of nightlife, Oxford Street still hasn’t reached its full potential. Traffic is lighter than usual, and the streets are not as busy as before. Some believe this is because many people remain unaware that the ban has ended.
Another challenge is the rain. The rainy season started just after the ban was lifted and often falls on weekends, affecting nighttime movement.
Since most clubs get busier on weekends, this has made it harder for nightlife to fully recover.
Based on conversations and observations, it is expected that Osu’s nightlife will fully return by late July, when the rains lessen and more people become aware that clubs and pubs are active again.
Oxford Street is slowly coming back to life. The music is playing, neon lights are on, and the party is starting to pick up again.
Also, watch an exclusive interview with Ayisi on the latest edition of Talkertainment below:
AK/EB
