By Sheila A. WILLIAMS
Situated right in the heart of West Africa, is the gateway to Africa – Ghana. Until you travel to Ghana to discover the true magical experience with everything Ghanaian, you would not acquire facts about Ghana.
Ghana’s borders extend from the Gulf of Guinea, covering a distance of about 672km from the south to the north, and about 540km from east to west.
Hospitality
The people in Ghana are by far the nicest and most polite people alive on this planet, Earth. Ghanaians are so warm with uncompromising genuine smiles and treat visitors and foreigners alike, like high school classmates.
Interesting Places to Visit
Most of our attractions are just natural and very “organic”, like the butterfly sanctuary in the Brong Ahafo Region. Of course, there are a few ones which have been touched up lightly to maintain their looks and importance.
The beaches in Ghana are so cool. One of my favourite is the beautiful Bojo Beach. This is a must visit beach to look out for when you are in Ghana.
Kakum Forest is one of the natural forest reserves in this country. Walk on the canopy of trees over 100ft from the ground – terrifying and fun for adrenaline junkies. Afraid of heights? Stay away.
The historic places like the human slave wall in the Northern Region, and also the Golden Stool conjured from the skies by Okomfo Anokye, in the ancient Ashanti Empire give you amazing and electrifying stories which are very hard to believe, but trust me it all happened here in Ghana, some years back.
Security
You shouldn’t be worried about your safety in Ghana since it is politically stable, with democratic government rule and this can be reflected by the cosmopolitan society found in Ghana.
You’re safe, regardless of location and time. People tend to be their “brothers’ keeper” by watching out for each other and helping out when a neighbour or a stranger is being burgled. But watch out, just like in any other country, thieves are everywhere – another form of bad profession.
Business
Ghana is blessed and endowed with some of the most useful and profitable natural resources you can ever find in one country.
Natural resources such as gold, diamond, bauxite, manganese, cocoa, timber, cola, rubber, salt, oil and gas are all major contributors to Ghana’s foreign exchange. Investors are welcome from all over the world to do business with Ghana.
It will give you an in-depth knowledge of the Ghanaian culture, its history and related topics, a concise travel guide about all Ghana attractions including our nice exotic beaches, hotels, restaurants and other hang-out places.
Facts about Ghana
There is so much to talk about, when it comes to facts about Ghana. For the purpose of this page, I would discuss the most common ones that would be useful to anyone trying to know Ghana in a flash.
Below are answers to commonly ask questions about Ghana:
Location
So where is Ghana? Is Ghana in Africa?
Yes!!!!! Ghana is located in West Africa. It is sandwiched between Ivory Coast to the West and Togo to the East, Burkina Faso to the North and the sandy shores of the Gulf of Guinea to the south.
People
Ghanaians are made up of many ethnic groups. Some of these groups include the Akans, Mole-Dagbon, Ewes, Krobos , Ahantas, the Ga-Dangbes – just to name a few, with the Akans being the majority ethnic group dominated in Ghana.
Language
Due to the diverse ethnicity, there are over 100 different dialects spoken in Ghana. English has become the official language since the British took over in the colonial days, English universally is used in schools in addition to nine other traditional local languages, but the most widely spoken local languages are Ga, Dagomba, Akan and Ewe.
Religion
There is freedom to choose any kind of worship or belief, depending on your tribe, culture, etc. The latter consists of idol or traditional small gods worshipers, Buddhists, Hindus and a few that belong to “none of the above”.
Traditional religions account for 5.2% of the population. The Christians consist of about 71.2%,(Pentecostal/Charismatic which is the largest, Protestant 18.4%, Catholic 13.1%, other 11.4%), The Muslim population (17.6 % of the total) is located chiefly in the northern part of the country, whereas Muslims traditional is 5.2%, others are 0.8% .
Population
Currently Ghana’s is population is 28,621,197 as of Wednesday, June 14, 2017, based on the latest United Nations estimates, from www.worldometers.info/world-population/ghana-population
- Ghana population is equivalent to 38% of the total world population.
- Ghana ranks number 48 in the list of countries (and dependencies) by population.
- The population density in Ghana is 126 per Km2 (326 people per mi2).
- The total land area is 227,544 Km2 (87,855 sq. miles)
- 2 % of the population is urban (15,533,945 people in 2017)
- The median age in Ghana is 7 years.
Government
Constitutional Democracy
President
Capital City
Accra
Climate
Demographic Regions & Capital
Ghana is a big country, which is made up of ten regions. In these regions, there are small villages under the regions. The regions are;
Accra is both the national and Greater Accra Regional capital. This is where the president of Ghana stays.
Central Region with its capital called Cape Coast is where most of the slaves were sent to before being sent away from Ghana.
Eastern Region has its capital as Koforidua.
Sekondi-Takoradi is the capital of the Western Region.
The Ashanti Regional capital is Kumasi.
Northern Region’s capital city is Tamale.
Upper East Region has Bolgatanga as its capital.
Upper West Region has its capital as Wa.
Ho is the capital of the Volta Region.
Brong Ahafo Region has its capital as Sunyani.
Ports (Habours)
There are two – Tema & Takoradi.
Airports
Ghana currently has seven (7) airports, which comprise one international – the Kotoka International Airport in Accra – and six regional or domestic airports, namely Kumasi Airport, Takoradi Airport, Tamale Airport, Sunyani Airport , Wa Airport , Yendi Airport.
