Talk to most people about Ghana and they’re likely to ask ‘Where’s that?’ Ghana is pretty much right at the centre of the world, being both incredibly close to the equator and on the line representing 0° longitude.
On a world map you’ll find it on the West Coast of Africa, the side closest to America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Follow the Western Coast of Africa until it curves inwards and you’ll have located the Gulf of Guinea.
Now draw a line straight down from London to the Gulf of Guinea and you’ll have landed in Ghana. Ghana’s time is exactly the same as Greenwich Mean Time as it shares a time zone with London. Hospitality session of Business day being you some interesting facts about Ghana.
Ghana’s Weather and Landscape
Ghana is one of a handful of countries vying for the title of ‘closest to the equator’, so you aren’t likely to find a climate more tropical than this. As such, Ghana doesn’t have four seasons, but rather two, one wet and one dry.
It’s also pretty hot, reaching about 30°C or 86°F on most days. The country is about equal parts sandy desert, shrubby savannah, and lush rainforest.
The area along the coast is dry, but the ubiquitous heat is tempered by cool breezes blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean. Just above the coast, the massive man-made lake Volta and it’s beautifully green embankments stretch out along the Eastern side of Ghana. In the middle of the country, sits the Ashanti plateau, a series of rolling hills overgrown with tropical forests.
Go further North and the area becomes drier and turns into arid grasslands. Popular National Parks include Kakum National Park, in the South, which boasts a canopy-level walkway through its jungle treetops and Mole National Park where huge herds of elephants roam the wide open spaces.
The Capital of Ghana
Ghana’s port city of Accra, is the commercial hub of the country, its most populous city and also the seat of its government. The country’s oldest university, The University of Ghana, is also located in the suburb of Legon.
Some points of interest in Accra, those on holiday in Ghana might enjoy include its pure white sandy beaches well-loved by surfers, the bustling street markets, where you can shop for handicrafts, and the National Museum of Ghana, which is the perfect place to explore Ghana’s rich cultural history through ancient artifacts.
International visitors flying into Accra will stop off at Kotoka International Airport. Other important cities include Kumasi in the forested Ashanti region and Tamale, in the Northern region, both of which have international terminals.
Ghana’s History
Ghana’s past is incredibly complex. The area now known as Ghana has been conquered by many African kingdoms and European nations over the past two thousand years.
The ancient Ghana Empire was actually located higher up than present Ghana and included Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal. The ruler of this empire was known as the ‘Warrior King’, the Ghana, which is how it became known to its enemies and allies. Towards the beginning of the medieval times, the empire was driven towards the coast by the rising Mali Empire. Later, during the Renaissance, this clan of tribes, known as the Akan people, formed the Ashanti Empire, with their main seat being in the central woodlands of Kumasi.
They became powerful and wealthy due to trading in gold and were pioneers in making contact with the Europeans.
Although they were given a run for their money by many other kingdoms that make up modern Ghana, the Ashanti were able to maintain control over the coastal area for many years which allowed them to trade with the Portuguese, Dutch and the British.
In the early 20th century the British claimed the area as part of their commonwealth naming it the ‘Gold Coast’.
During this time the country grew into a prosperous and educated nation through the production of non-endemic crops like cocoa and coffee and the establishment of many schools.
Ghana Gain Independence
In 1957, Ghana became the first self-governing country on the African continent under President Kwame Nkrumah. Their new flag incorporated the Pan African colours of red, yellow, green and black and many other African countries would follow suit.
Their coat of arms, was created to proudly display the black star, a symbol of Ghana’s emancipation. The national currency was changed from Pounds to Cedis.
Today Ghana’s president is Nana Akufo-Addo and a dollar will buy you 4.50 Cedis, meaning that Ghana is an affordable location for most foreigners.
Main Language of Ghana
The population of Ghana is incredibly diverse, and the government of modern Ghana recognizes many national languages.
Two of the most widespread are the Twi language of the Ashanti people, which is spoken language in the Southern and Central regions, and the Dagbani language of the Dagomba people, spoken by people in the areas to the North.
No Ghanaian culture historically used traditional forms of writing and kept their languages alive through oral traditions. However, the Akan people did use a form of symbolic depiction known as Adinkra.
These designs represent complex concepts, like proverbs and overarching concepts, than words and were used on everything from fabrics, jewelry, and pottery to walls, architectural elements and weights used in trading gold.
Personal and home accessories, as well as clothing, incorporating these symbols, can be purchased from Ghana’s many artisans.
Modern Ghanaians communicate across linguistic barriers using English as a unifier. Many, about half of the country, speaks English, and it is one of the official languages, so much so, that Ghana’s National Anthem is sung in English.
Religion People Ascribe to in Ghana
Today most Ghanaians self-identify as Christians. However, the native religion of the influential Ashanti Empire was a form of pantheism known as Akom, a Twi word meaning ‘to be hungry’. Many of the traditions of Akom are still very much alive today and are combined with Christian traditions.
The Akom cosmology centres on a creator god, most widely recognized by the name Nyame, who makes his home in the sky, and his wife, Asase Yaa, the earth.
Their wishes are carried out by spirit beings. Relatives who have passed over are also part of this nonphysical realm. A favourite spirit of traditional Ghanaian storytellers is Anansi, a swindling spider, represented in the Neil Gaiman’s novel, American Gods, which was recently made into a TV series.
Ghana’s Food
You will find tomato-based stews with complex flavours throughout Ghana. The stews usually contain a type of marine or freshwater fish and are eaten with a dough which is used to scoop up the fish and soak up the fragrant sauce.
The dough, sometimes called fufu or akple, is made from any type of starch, including cassava, plantain, yam, maize, millet, sorghum, potatoes or cocoyam. Another staple of Ghanaian cuisine is jollof rice, a kind of biryani flavoured with tomatoes and chili. Peanuts are often used to flavours stews and garnish dishes.
You’ll also find taro leaves and okra in many dishes. Street food is a beloved Ghanaian custom, so be sure to buy a few takeaway meals in the market, if you ever visit.
Fashion Sense in Ghana
The Ashanti Empire was incredibly influential in shaping the culture of modern Ghana and fashion is no exception. Kente cloth, the fabric worn by Ashanti royalty, is still a point of national pride. Folklore tells of two boys exploring the jungle, being taught by Anansi, the spider spirit, how to weave the sacred fabric made from cotton and silk.
It is created using a style of basket weaving to create the distinctive blocks of brightly coloured stripes. Each colour has a unique meaning and was customarily woven to deliver specific powers to certain person or occasion. Today, you can buy kente cloth in any market or shop throughout Ghana.
Modern Ghanaians wear a mix of Western and traditional clothing but remain advocates of brightly coloured, boldly patterned local fabrics.
How Children are named in Ghana
The first names of children of Akan tribes like the Fante and Ashanti are based on the day of the week on which they were born.
The day on which you are born, and therefore your name, is said to influence an aspects of your spiritual and professional path as well as your personality.
Uniqueness of Ghanaian Coffins
If you’re ever in Labadi, or Teshie all in Accra, you’re likely to spot a huge fish or airplane sculpture travelling down a side street on the shoulders of several gentlemen.
You might be surprised to learn that these detailed wooden carvings are not only artworks, they are also coffins. The custom of creating elaborate coffins for persons of prominence originates from the Ga people’s belief that life carries on after death.
The style of coffin is usually based on the person’s vocation and the goal is to make a good impression once the deceased gets to the other side of the world.
Types of Music Originated in Ghana
Customarily music had a social function in ancient Ghanaian society. Drumming was used as a form of communication and stories told using music helped to convey the history of the people. A praise singer, or griot, would have the role of writing and conveying the accomplishments of kings. String and wind instruments were common in the North while in the South drumming was the main way to make music.
The Portuguese, Dutch and British introduced the people of Ghana to European instruments and soon after they gained independence musicians in Ghana began creating traditional rhythms using these instruments, thereby developing a style now known as highlife.
Today the style has evolved into hiplife, electronic beats featuring Twi language rap. Upbeat gospel songs are also favoured by the majority due to Ghana being a predominantly Christian country.
Ghanaian Movie Industry
Though lacking funds and infrastructure, a straight-to-video film industry sprung up in Ghana during the 1980s. Accra was, and still is, the capital of this industry and the films usually revolve challenges faced by residents of urban Ghana.
What many foreigners notes is that the spirit world has a very physical presence in these films. The largest media capital in Africa, Nigeria’s Nollywood, has even taken an interest in Ghana’s film-makers and actors, setting up several recent partnerships.
Sheila A. WILLIAMS
