Morbidity in a representative sample of women aged 18 and older was assessed by the Women’s Health Study of Accra, using a home interview, a comprehensive medical history and medical examination and laboratory tests. The burden of illness associated with non-communicable conditions is striking. Obesity and other risk factors for heart disease are prominent. Reproductive health problems, including HIV, are not as salient as in other African studies – however fertility in Accra is now quite low. Comparisons of the scores of the Accra women on standardized health status measurement scales such as the SF36 reveal narrower differences than expected with comparable UK or US women. This study provides a basis for the design of future studies of health status in urban African populations.