Its capital is Accra - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue, "Its capital is Accra," is a classic example of a straightforward geography question often found in crossword puzzles. These clues test your general knowledge of world capitals and countries, serving as reliable entry points into a grid if you know the fact.

Clue Analysis

The clue is a simple declarative statement. The key is identifying the proper noun "Accra" as a capital city. The puzzle then asks for the country ("Its") to which this capital belongs. There's no wordplay, pun, or misdirection here; it's a direct test of factual recall.

Thinking Approaches

1. Direct Recall: For many solvers, this will be an instant connection. If you've studied geography or are familiar with major world cities, Accra is strongly associated with its country.

2. Regional Association: If the answer isn't immediate, try to place Accra geographically. The name has a West African sound to it. From there, you can mentally scroll through countries in that region: Nigeria (capital is Abuja), Ivory Coast (Yamoussoukro), Senegal (Dakar), and so on, until you land on the right one.

3. Leveraging Crossings: This is the universal crossword strategy. If you're unsure, wait for some intersecting answers to give you letters. For a five-letter country, getting even one or two letters, like a 'G' at the beginning or an 'A' in the second slot, can be enough to trigger your memory.

Background Context

Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, a nation on West Africa's Gulf of Guinea. Ghana is known for its diverse wildlife, old forts, and secluded beaches. Historically, it was a British colony known as the Gold Coast, a name derived from the large amounts of gold traded from the area. In 1957, it became the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence from European colonization, a landmark event in the continent's history.

Conclusion

This clue is a perfect example of how a solid foundation in general knowledge, particularly geography, can be a huge asset in crossword solving. It's a fair and direct clue that rewards factual recall. For those who didn't know it offhand, it serves as a great opportunity to learn a new capital-country pair and practice using crossing letters to solve a clue.

Hints

1. Hint 1: This is a country in West Africa.
2. Hint 2: It's known for its production of cocoa and gold.
3. Hint 3: It was formerly a British colony known as the Gold Coast.

The answer is GHANA.