Ghana

Ghana National Flag
 Ghana is a country located in West Africa along the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean, it divided into sixteen regions. The republic of Ghana has its zip code as 00233 or 002331 and +233 as calling code. Ghana was the first place in sub-Saharan Africa where Europeans arrived to trade - first in gold, later in slaves.  The country was a British colony, being the first in West Africa to become independent on 6 march 1957 and a member of the British Commonwealth (formed by the United Kingdom and its former colonies). The official language is English, but also speak Akan, Ewe, Hausa, Mossi, Mamprusi, and Dagbani. Its share borders with  Burkina Faso to the north, Ivory Coast to the west, Togo to the east, and is bathed by the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. 






Brief History

The country  Ghana was formerly known as the Gold Coast and later named after the old Ghana Empire, one of the largest empires formed on the African continent that developed out of the coastal regions. Its area corresponded to the present regions of Mali and Mauritania, which borders the immense Sahara desert.
In 1470, a group of Portuguese arrived at the Gold Coast which marked the first contact between Europe and the Gold Coast or present-day Ghana.
The Portuguese In 1482 built the Elmina Castle as a permanent trading base.  Thomas Windham in 1553 made the first recorded commercial trip to the Gold Coast.
Over the next three centuries, Germans, English, Danish, Dutch, and Portuguese controlled various parts of the coastal areas. By 1821, the British government had taken control of the colony and trading activities on the Coast.
During the colonial period (between the 16th and 19th centuries), several inhabitants of the land currently, Ghanaians were sold as slaves to work on plantation forms in America and Europe.
Ghana gained its independence on 6 March 1957 and became the first African country to gain its own state against the European colonizing forces. In 1960, Ghana was proclaimed a Republic and remained a member of the Commonwealth.
In February 1966, Kwame Nkrumah who declared the country's independence was overthrown by a military coup. The overthrow marked the beginning of a period of instability and corruption.
 Late 1981, however, a young military officer, Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings took over power which marked his second coup. A new constitution was passed on April 1992, and Ghana returned to a civilian government starting a new era of economic stability and democracy.
Since 1992 Ghana has been conducting elections with the most recent being the 2016 elections.

Geographic location


Ghana covers 238,540 km² of land including water bodies. Its geographic coordinates are 800 N, 200 W. By comparison, Ghana is about the size of Britain. Sharing borders with  Burkina Faso to  the north, Ivory Coast (west), Togo  to the east, and is bathed by the Gulf of Guinea and  the Atlantic Ocean to the south. Ghana is a land of plains and low plateaus with a blend of many lagoons, streams, and rivers. The coastal belt is the lowest point of Ghana at 0 meters with a length of 539 Km and mostly sandy. The Greater Accra Region is the capital bordered on the north by the Eastern Region, on the east by the Volta Region, on the south by the Gulf of Guinea, and on the west by the Central Region. The Northern Region used to be the largest until recent two other regions Savannah Region and North East Regions were carved from it. It bordered on the south by the Oti region also carved out of the Volta region.  Upper West Region of Ghana is located in the north-western corner of Ghana and is bordered by Upper East region to the east. The Ashanti kingdom is centrally located in the middle belt of Ghana. The region shares boundaries with, Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regions in the north, Eastern region in the east, Central region in the south and Western region in the Southwest.

Mount Afadjato, is the highest point of Ghana measuring at about  880 meters above sea level. Ghana has a number of thick forests, lakes, streams and a number of rivers. Two major rivers - the Nakambe River(White Volta) and Mouhoun River(the Black Volta) flow from  Burkina Faso into Ghana. These two "Voltas" meet to form the huge Volta Lake the world's largest artificial lake. Lake Volta can be located in the Volta Region. Covering an estimated surface area of 3,283 square miles and 62 feet at average depth. The lake generates electricity, provides inland transportation and is a potentially valuable resource for irrigation and fish farming. The Volta Lake  stretches  from the Akosombo Dam in south-eastern Ghana to the town of Yapei, 520 km (325 mi.) to the north and enters the sea at Ada. 


 There are other bigger   lakes like  Bosumtwi in the Ashanti Region which is the second biggest in the country covering an estimated surface area of 19 square miles. It has a  maximum length of 5.3 miles and 5.0 miles in width with an average depth of 148 feet.
Other rivers in Ghana: River Densu Bia River, Tano River, Nini River, Ankobra River, Pra River,Ofin River, Birim River, Anum River,Ayensu River,Volta River, Todzie River and Afram River just to mention a few.
Ghana's low coastline is backed by plains and shrubs which is mostly sandy having a tropical rain forest belt near the Ivory Coast frontier extending northward from the shore which are characterised by a number of streams and rivers and heavily forested hills. This part of the country produces most of the  economic resources like cocoa, timber and the earth minerals.



Climate


Ghana is only a few degrees north of the Equator, its climate is tropical. Climatic conditions across the country are not uniform. The extent of drought and rainfall varies across the country. Generally, Ghana has two seasons the wet and dry season. Ghana experiences it raining seasons from about April through late June. Just after August which is generally dry another rainy season begins in September and lasts through November. From January to April, a longer harmattan season set in. The harmattan period always comes with a drop in humidity with the north experiencing much hotter day and cooler nights than the other regions. The southern part of Ghana is the rainiest with the southwest corner having the heaviest in the sub where it reaches 2,000 mm (80 in) per year. The northern savanna, The driest areas receives rainfall of around 1,000 mm (40 in) per year. The lower Volta region, Accra plains, including Takoradi rainfall averages drops below 800 mm (31.5 in). 
All year round temperature is usually high throughout the country with the northern part recording the highest. Ghana has a mean temperature between 26°C and 29°C. At mountainous areas temperatures are a bit low and conducive. In the north temperature as high as 31°C are prevalent while humidity can drops as low as 25 during the harmattan season. For the southern part of the country during the night hour humidity of 95 to 100 percent are common. But generally, the south is humid.




Economy



 The economy of Ghana is market-based, It is the second-largest export of cocoa globally. It also the largest exporter of gold in the sub-region. Ghana is well endowed with natural resources and agriculture accounting for about 20% of  GDP and employs more than half of the workforce. While the service sector accounts for 50% of GDP. The major exports of the country include gold, cocoa beans, and timber products. Others include tuna, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds, and horticulture. Just after independence in 1957 Ghana has tried to modernize its economy of which they made great progress, by developing industry and its agriculture.

Agriculture is based on coffee, banana, potato, corn, and rice production. The industry operates in food, beverage, cigarette, chemical, metallurgical and timber production. Ghana also cultivates many other export products, such as rubber, palm oil, and kola nuts. Though Ghana does export in agriculture, majority of it farmers do only subsistence farming.
Shortly after independence just about the 1960s to 1980s Ghana was hit by corruption and several military takeovers which brought the economy on its knees. 
The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and relevant international donor communities proposed radical structural adjustment to revive the troubled economy and to restore their productivity. The then  government led by Jerry John Rawlings accepted the reform, the government introduced a series of free-market reforms In 1983. In an effort to revive the faltering economy. As part of the reform, rural electrification was deepened and new roads constructed. Also, Farmers were paid more money for their crops thereby increasing agricultural production.
In 2001 Ghana was hit by another economic crisis, Ghana was declared a Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC). According to the then President, John Agyekum Kufuor, the decision was strategic because the economy he inherited was so bad that all donor partners had abandoned Ghana and the move was significant in putting the economy back on its tracks. In 2006 Ghana signed a five-year Compact, Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), which aims to assist in the transformation of Ghana's agricultural sector.
In 2007 Ghana discovered offshore oil within its marine boundaries and by the mid-2010, production officially began and is expected to boost economic growth.  In 2016 and 2017, the production of another two oil fields TEN and Sankofa started respectively. With TEN initially supplied about 20,000 barrels per day. Ghana has a gas processing plant at Atuabo producing gas for power generation which is from the Jubilee field. Apart from the oil reserves, there is significant natural gas deposits below the country’s seabed which is yet to be tapped. The gas deposit is estimated to be more than 20 billion cubic meters of natural gas. 
Whether the black gold resource for Ghana turns out to be a curse or a blessing only time can tell.

Ghana In 2009, signed a three-year Poverty Reduction and Growth  program with the IMF to improve macroeconomic stability, private sector competitiveness, human resource development and good governance and civic responsibility.
The government has also introduced several programs to help in development and poverty eradication.
Like Zongo Development Fund (ZDF), by the Ministry of Inner City and Zongo Development, the National Entrepreneurship Innovation Program (NEIP), the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Program (IPEP).One popular of them is the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) a program designed to employ the unemployed graduates.

 Through increased foreign direct investment, especially from China, lavish transfers of Ghanaian overseas, growing tourism and lending from relevant international development institutions such as the World Bank, IMF, and African Development Bank are contributing significantly to growth and modernization of its economy. Discovery of oil has also brought about enormously costly investments in the oil and gas sector and the necessary improvements in infrastructure.
But there is still considerable potential for growth in the traditional agricultural sectors and the poorly developed industrial sector. Going forward Ghana needs to massively develop its economy by investing in its agriculture and industrial sector through technology and innovation for the future. 



Population


picture: wiki
Ghana has a very young population with approximately 57% of the population under the age of 25.
The population of Ghana in 1921 was 2.2 million, by the year 1948 the population had almost doubled reaching 4.1 million within a period of 27 years. After the 1957 independence, Ghana did a population census in 1960 counted about 6.7 million people. About 12% of Ghana’s population in 1960 were immigrants. About 10 years after the country saw a 27 percent increase in population registering 8.5 million inhabitants in the national census in 1970. In 1984 Ghana had another census counting 12.3 million people. Just within the space of about 24 years, the population doubled almost. For the period between 1965 and 1980 Ghana had an annual growth rate of 2.2 percent. In 1990 Ghana’s population was estimated to have increased to about 15 million and to an estimated 17.2 million in mid-1994.From 1981 through 1989 Ghana had a population growth rate of   3.4 percent and a growth rate of 3.2 percent in 1992. By the year 2000 Ghana’s population had reached 18.9 million having a growth rate of 2.7 percent. In 2010 the population of Ghana has grown to 24.6 million. The results indicated that Ghana’s population increased by 30.4 percent over the 2000 population figure. Recording an annual growth rate of 2.5 percent as against 2.7 percent recorded in 2000. Ghana's population is being projected to reach 30.4 million by the year 2020
Ghana's significant population should break 40 million before 2035 and it is predicted to dwindle in the coming years, just below 2 percent by 2025.
There has been very rapid population growth, population density rose from 28 inhabitance per km²   in 1960 to 39 inhabitance per km² in 1970. The population density rose to 51 inhabitance per km² in 1984 and in 2000 it had hit 79 inhabitance per km².In 2010 the figure rose to 103 per km². The population density of the country is not even due to migration. Poverty and other developmental disparities continue to drive Ghanaians from the far north to the south, particularly to its urban centers especially Accra and Kumasi. Also increased emigration of skilled Ghanaians, especially to the US and the UK, drains the country of its health care and education professionals just in search of a better livelihood. 

Total fertility rate has declined from a high of around 7 children per woman in the 1960s to 6.4 in 1988. As at 1993 total fertility rate was recorded as 5.5, which has declined further to 4.6 in 1998 and as of 2015 it has declined to 4.3. But the fertility rate is not as even as estimated.  Fertility remains higher in the northern region than the Greater Accra region. On average, desired fertility has remained stable for several years; urban dwellers want fewer children than rural residents. By the year 2030, fertility will decline to an average of 3.4 children per woman over the course of her lifetime.  Within a period of 15 years, there has been a reduction of almost two children per woman. The crude birth rate has been high at about 45 per 1000 population in the 1960s and 1970s with marked decline observed only during the 1990s. Also, the crude death rate of 18 per 1,000 population in 1965 fell to 13 per 1,000 population in 1992, while life expectancy rose from a 1970 to 1975 average of forty-two years for men and forty-five years for women to fifty-two and fifty-six years, respectively, in 1992. Life expectancy has increased, due to better health care, nutrition, and hygiene, and reduced fertility have increased Ghana’s share of elderly persons; Ghana’s proportion of persons aged 60+ is among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, life expectancy for both male and female is 59.8 years and 62.3 years respectively and is expected to improve in the future. Though there has been an improvement this is below the average life expectancy at birth of the global population which is about 71 years. Ghana needs substantial investments in reproductive health and family planning, for fertility levels to continue to decline. With additional investments in family planning, health, and education, as well as economic initiatives to facilitate job creation in the country



Governance and Politics

The independence of Ghana was declared by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and since then the black African nation has been in charge of her own affairs. Though the country has been hit by several military takeovers but now it is generally stable. Ghana has a very strong democratic system backed by its 1992 constitution which came to effect on 7 January 1993. Ghana has a very vibrant Judiciary, a working Parliament and very forceful Executive. Ghana has grown to become the envy and beacon of African democracy. Since 1992 they have had successful elections. The first election was won by Jerry John Rawling who stood on the ticket of the NDC in 1992  and also won the 1996 election on the ticket of the NDC. The 2000 and 2004 election was won by John Agyekum Kufuor on the ticket of the NPP. The NDC made a comeback in 2008 with Professor Evance Fiifi Atta Mills, unfortunately for Ghana President Mills died in office and his Vice John Dramani Maham was sworn in as president. He won the 2012 election and was defeated in 2016 by  Nana Akufo Addo. Nana Akufo Addo's government has gone down in history books of the word as the largest government in the world ever. Having about 123 ministers. The term of office is four years and a president can only run for two terms. The constitution has wielded much power to the president: He appoints members of cabinet which is subject to approval by the parliament,
 Cheif justice and is head of state and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

The Vice-President chairs a 25- member council of state, composed mainly of regional representatives and presidential nominees, and a 20-member national security council.
Ghana’s constitution is a blend of the British and American law. There is sharing of powers among the arm of government. The national legislature is the unicameral Parliament, whose 275 members are elected by universal adult suffrage every four years with unlimited re-election. Its concern with making laws for the country and members represent their respective constituencies.
The Judiciary has the sole responsibility of interpreting the Constitution and laws, administering justice and providing other related services headed by the Chief Justice.
But political leaders are not the only guarantors of democracy. "Ghana places great importance on the leaders of its various communities, particularly the Chiefs, who are very close to the people. Chieftaincy plays a major role in maintaining law and order in the country.



National symbols

             Ghana state flag
The Ghanaian flag was designed when Ghana gained independence from the British on 6th March 1957. Theodosia Salame  Okoh was the one who designed the flag Using a  horizontal stripe of Pan-African colours a red, golden and green. With a five-pointed star in the middle of the gold, which embodies the freedom and unity of Africa. Most at times instead of gold usually the colour yellow is used, which is common to many flags of African countries.

The red colour symbolizes the blood shed in the struggle for political independence and freedom.
Gold represents the minerals wealth of the country.
Green stands for the wealth of the  forests and agriculture.
The star represents the lone star of African freedom.

       State coat of arms of Ghana
 Ghana’s  state coat of arms was designed  by  renowned artist Mr. Nii Amon Kotei, a Ghanaian, a student a teacher at Achimota School who died in 2011 at the age of 96 years. He was one of a small group of artists as well as Phillip Gbeho, who composed the national anthem created the state-bearing symbol.

The national symbol is characterized by a shield, divided into four quarters by a green St. George’s Cross, rimmed with gold
At the top left-hand quarter, is a  blue background with a crossed linguists’staff and ceremonial sword representing local administration.

On a light background which represents national government is a heraldic castle on a heraldic sea.
At the bottom left-hand quarter is a cocoa   tree which stands for the agricultural wealth of the country.
Also at the bottom right hand quarter is a mine shaft which stands for the mineral wealth of the country.
At the very heart of the Green St George’s Cross is a gold lion standing for the continuing link between Ghana and the Commonwealth.
On top of the shield  is a black five-pointed star rimmed with gold standing on the wreath of Pan-African colours (red, gold and green ) standing for the lone star of African Freedom.

On the left and right-hand side are two eagles supporting the shield, around each of whose neck hangs a black star suspended from a ribbon of ghana’s colours - red, gold and green symbolize protectors with strength, very clear and attentive eyes keeping watch over the country.
Under the shield is the motto FREEDOM AND JUSTICE standing for national aspirations.




                                 Regions and capitals

                                                                                                                     
         REGIONS
                                              CAPITALS
Greater Accra Region

 Accra
Ashanti Region

Kumasi
Volta Region
Ho

Oti Region
Dambai

Upper West Region

 Wa

Upper East Region
Bolgatanga

Northern Region
Tamale


Savannah Region
Damango

Ahafo Region
Goaso

Bono East Region
Techiman

Bono Region
Sunyani

North East Region
Nalerigu

Western North Region-
Sefwi Wiawso

Western Region
Sekondi

Eastern Region 

Koforidua
Central Region
Cape Coast


                 The New Map of Ghana





Mineral Resources and Energy


picture:myjoyonline.

Ghana is a field of mineral resources, yes a field of abundant unquantifiable precious earth goodies. No wonder the slave masters called it the Gold coast. The land is so gargantuanly blessed in gold, manganese, bauxite, industrial diamonds, timber, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, and limestone. Currently, Ghana is Africa's largest gold producer and the 9th largest producer in the world, having 23  large-scale mining companies (Asanko Gold, Golden Star Resources, Endeavour Mining, Kinross Gold, Perseus Mining, Xtra-Gold Resources,  Gold Fields, AngloGold Ashanti and Newmont Mining) producing gold, diamonds, bauxite and manganese. The sector also employs about  28,000 people excluding small scale miners. Ghana produced 3.6 million ounces of gold in 2011, the highest ever in the history of the country. Ghana’s mining sector contributes 5% to its GDP. In 2017 Ghana made GHC2.16 billion from the mining sector. In terms of Ghana’s total export minerals makeup 37%.
In 2010 Ghana made more discoveries of mineral deposits which are expected to boost the country’s economy and development. The deposits include copper, phosphate, nickel, chromium, and uranium.
The mining sector plays   an important role in Ghana’s  economy, with gold accounting for over 90% of the sector.
Ghana also has oil and natural gas, which rakes in massive revenue every year.



Tourism


Ghana is a beautiful place to be, the country is not only blessed in earth mineral resources but also has very attractive tourist destinations. Ghana has more than 20 plus tourist site to visit. The tourism sector accounts for 4.8% of its GDP and the fourth-largest source of foreign revenue for the economy currently. Ghana receives an estimated 1.2 million tourists in the year 2016 and made an estimated revenue of $2.2billion.During the 1960s tourism in Ghana was not giving priority until 1993 under the rulership of the then president Jerry John Rawlings who created the Ministry of tourism, art, and culture.

The Government of Ghana then led by Jerry John Rawlings  saw this area of opportunity and capitalized on it, ultimately appropriating the Ghanaian culture and utilizing it as a source of income. Through the establishment of public memorials honoring the "illustrious sons" of Ghana and castles that were once used for the slavery were refurbished. The government also encouraged private sector participation via incentives, the government was effectively able to push tourism forward with the cost of capitalizing on Ghanaian culture.

Today tourist come from far and near to have a feel of Ghana’s rich culture and tradition. People from neighboring countries like Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Togo and European countries like the UK, Germany, France, Denmark, and the Netherlands

Ghana has a massive and immense tourism resource. The country is richly blessed with historical, natural, cultural and other man-made attractions.
Ghana is a fascinating country with breathtaking nature and wildlife having over 30 castles and Forts most of which are in good shape. The Cape Coast Castle, Elmina Castle, Fort William at Anomabu, Christiansborg Castle at Accra, Fort Patience at Apam, Fort Amsterdam at Abandze, Fort Apollonia at Beyin, Fort St. Sebastian at Shama, Fort St. Anthonio at Axim, Fort Metal Cross at Dixcove and Fort Orange at Sekondi just to mention a few.
The country is also blessed with numerous national parks: Kakum National Park, Bia National Park, Digya National Park, Nini Suhien National Park, Bui National Park, Kyabobo National Park, Mole National Park and Asubima Forest Reserve. This parks and forest reserves are filled with different wildlife species.
When it comes to waterfalls the country is not left out. It has very beautiful and neat waterfalls like the Kintampo waterfall, wli waterfall and Boti waterfall.
The largest man-made lake, the Volta Lake can be found in Ghana. Another important lake is  Lake Bosomtwe located in the Asante kingdom. Apart from these major water bodies, Ghana has a number of animal sanctuaries such as Monkey sanctuary, Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary, and the Paga Crocodile Pond.

The south coast runs around 539 kilometers and is flanged with palm beaches and traditional fishing villages. In the future, the nation is planning for one of the iconic and ambitious projects in the history of its Tourism investment. The project which is dubbed the “Marine Drive Tourism and Investment Project,” The project which stretches from the Accra Osu Christiansborg Castle to the Arts Centre in the Gamehsie enclave and will cover a total of 241 acres of land. The project is being estimated at 1.2 billion U.S Dollars and will employ some 150,000 people during and after completion.
This and many other projects the government is doing to enhance its tourism sector.


Ethnic Groups And Languages In Ghana

Ghana is an ethnically diverse country with several ethnic groups and tribes speaking different languages. It used to be said that before independence the country had about 100+ ethnic group’s languages. Currently it very difficult to tell the exact number of ethnic groups in Ghana. But officially the major ethnic groups in Ghana are the Akans, Mole-Dagbane, Ewe, Guan, and Ga-Adangbe.All these ethnic groups are subdivided into subgroups. The subdivisions of each group share a common cultural heritage, history, language, and origin.
The Akan group is the majority in present-day Ghana. They belong to the Kwa group like the Ewe and the Ga-Adangbe according to linguistic language classification. While the  Gur-speaking people are the Gurma, Grusi, and Mole-Dagbane.The Kwa and the Gur are the two major linguistic subfamilies which come from Niger-Congo linguistic family. The Kwa linguistic group can be found in the south  of the Volta River, constituting 75% of Ghana’s population  while the Gur group are in the north of the Volta River.

Akans
The Akans are divided into the Asante, Fante, Akwapim, Akyem, Akwamu, Ahanta, Bono, Nzema, Kwahu, and Safwi.The Asante’s are the biggest in the Akan group and also in the country. They speak Twi and makeup 47.5% of Ghana’s population. The Twi dialect has become one of the commonest dialects in the country coming second after English. The Asante’s are said to be proud and confident because of their wealth and power. The Asante Kingdome is one of the largest in Africa. Though the Kingdom pride itself in gold and other precious minerals, more than 50% of its inhabitance are very poor.

Mole-Dagbane
Mole Dagbane groups form 16.5% of the population of Ghana and have a common ancestor. They speak the Dagbani language and are related to the Mossi who have their homeland in present-day Burkina Faso. Its speakers are culturally the most varied; they include the Nanumba, Dagomba, Mamprusi, Wala, Builsa, Frafra, Talensi, and Kusase. The northern sector of the country is the most deprived in term of development and most of the poorest communities can be located there.


Ewes
The Ewe land which constitutes a single linguistic group, are divided into the Nkonya, Tafi, Logba, Sontrokofi, Lolobi, and Likpe.The Ewes are said to hail from the northern part of Nigeria, other accounts say east and another suggests it west. They are located in Benin, Togo and the Volta Region of Ghana. They speak four dialects that are Anglo, Awuna, Hudu, and Kotafoa. They account for 13.9% of the Ghanaian population and speak the Ewe language. Most of the dwellers are traditionalist with a large number of smaller deities. They have a very rich culture which is music-driven. The  Ewe women are said to be the most beautiful and industrious in the country. The region is blessed with oil but it's among one of the deprived and underdeveloped regions in the country.

Just to mention a few numbers of languages spoken in different regions of Ghana. The Asantes speak Twi. Within the Upper West Region, languages ​​are spoken include Gagaare, Birifor and Sisaala. Ghanaians living in the Northern Region speak Dagbane, Gonja, Anufo / Chokosi, Mampruli, Mo, Deg, Nawuri, Chumburung, Birifor, Hanga, Konkomba and Tampulma among other languages. In the Volta Regions of Ghana, the languages ​​spoken are Akyode, Nkonya, Adele, Ntrubo and Ewe. Kasem, Buli, Frafra, Kusaal, Kasem and Koma are spoken by people living in the Upper Eastern Region of Ghana. People who live in the Greater Accra Region speak Ga and Dangbe. On the other hand, those who live in the western region speak the Nzema.   

List of Ethnic Groups in Ghana and Population Percentage
Ashanti 47.5%
Mole-Dangbon 16.6%
Ewe 13.9%
Ga-Dangme 7.4%
Gurma 5.7%
Guang 3.7%
Grusi 2.5%
Mande 1.1%
Other Groups 1.4%



FOOD IN GHANA
Food is a human necessity in every society and it not different in the Ghanaian society. Ghanaians place a lot of value and time on their everyday meals. Ghanaians are very creative when it comes to their foods. These food are eating at all occasion, whether naming ceremony, parties, funerals, Christmas or festivals. Ghanaian foods are made from yam, cassava, plantain, rice, millet, sweet potatoes, cocoyam, corn, wheat, beans, etc. Ghanaian foods are starch dominated and these foods are eating raw or with stew or soup or sugar. Though modernization has influenced the way of life in the country the change is not that dramatic, Ghanaians have well blended western culture into theirs.

In the morning generally, some households preferably take milo or tea with bread. For the greater majority, they head striate to the wayside "Ameria" for their Hausa Koko and kosae. Hausa Koko is spicy millet porridge made from fermented millet. The millet is first soaked in water for about two to three days. The water is then drained away milled with some spices like red chili peppers, ginger, and black peppercorns. Hausa Koko is enjoyed with bread, bofrot, and kosae. Hausa Koko is best prepared by northerners in Ghana because it their food.
If Hausa Koko is not your favorite there are other  options like "Oblayo"or Ekoagbemi.The two are made from crushed corn. Just that the size of the Oblayo is bigger than that of the Ekoagbemi. These can be enjoyed with peanuts, milk, bread and bofrot. Ghanaians really have variety to start the morning. other like Tombrown,Oat, and wheat porridge.
The Ewes have a very popular Porridge called "Korklui", it is made from corn dough. The dough is sieved into small rounded pebbles. The Ewes also have Porridge made from corn flour: white  porridge(silky smooth porridge made from corn dough), white  porridge with saltpeter(saltpeter is added to change the coloure and flavour).

Not all Ghanaians do the porridge thing in the morning. For some whether in the morning, afternoon or evening they like something heavy.
Ethnically the Akans preferably the  Asantes like Fufu and they can eat it any time of the day.Fufu is pounded cassava and plantain for the Asantis but other forms exist, where pounded tubers are kneaded together and eating with groundnut soup, palm nut soup or light soup. Almost all Ghanaian soups look to have the same preparing formula. Most ingredients used are tomatoes, onions, garden eggs, smoked fish, meat, pepper, garlic, salt and other spices. For example, palm nut soup is done by first boiling the palm nuts and it then pounded, sieved and the other ingredients added to teste.

The Akans have a very delicious soup prepared with fresh feces or droppings of a grasscutter and it most enjoyed with fufu.

Akple is the favourate of the Ewes and it most enjoyed with okro soup or grounded pepper and kate schoolboys or stew. When it comes to Akple they do not joke and there are different  types of Akple. Akple is made with cornflour or dough. As said the Ewes are very creative when it comes to their Akple.They have Amokple(prepared with corn dough), Awodeme(cornflour and cassava dough or gari cooked together) Dzankple or Akpledzi (beans, coconut,palm oil and cornflour meat,fish). The list is never-ending, Akple can be eating with palm nut or groundnut or light soup as well.
If it comes to cooking in Ghana the ewe women are best and almost any Ghanaian can testify to that effect that the "Davis" are good. The Ewes have a very long list when it comes to food. You can make mention of Abolo,yakayake and  many others

The Ga's love their Kenkey and hot pepper. Kenkey is a corn-based food, which is made by molding fermented corn dough into balls and wrapped with corn husk which is then boiled. The meal is served with pepper sauce, fried crab, octopus or fish, stew or soup and is a delicacy of the Ga people.

The northerners also like their Waakye and Tiozafi. Waakye is simply rice and beans cooked together and can be eating with stew. Tiozafi is also a corn-based food.The "Amerias" make the best Waakye Tiozafi and Hausa koko in the country.
There are also some general foods you can find on the streets of Accra like Jollof rice, red-red(beans,gari,palm oil and fried plantain),kelewele(spiced fried plantain) Gari soakings (cassava flacks),Ampesi(boiled yam,cassava,plantain  eating with stew such as kontomire) and a host of other foods.

As l said early on that Ghanaians are masters when it comes to cultural integration. On the streets, you can find restaurants that serve both western dishes and local cuisines and there are restaurants that serve strictly western food such as chines, Italian Turkish restaurants. The cost of eating at these places is much expensive. Food usually ranges from $ 20 and above.
Most average Ghanaians do not have that much to spend so they prefer the Chop Bars which are the localized restaurants. Food at these places are generally far cheaper. Just with $1 or better you can eat and be satisfied.
These Chop Bars serve variety of local dishes from kokontey(face the wall),banku,fufu, omotuo,TZ,Ampesi.The soups cames with variety of  meat (bush meat, chicken etc) and fish. You choose what you eat.


Marriage in Ghana


picture:myjoyonline
Before the white man brought his religion and influence to the Gold Coast our forefathers had ways of doing things.  Today modernity and western culture has a lot to say in majority of Ghanaian culture and tradition.
Marriage rites are one of the most important cultural practices of the people of Ghana. Though marriage rite differs from ethnic group to ethnic group there seem to be some similarities in the process.
Taking the people from the three northern regions of Ghana, these rites seem to be the same. 
Among the northerners marriage used to be inexpensive. A man who has seen a beautiful young lady and wants to marry her will start giving her gifts. The man also gives the girl’s parent gift just to announce to the girl’s parent his intentions. These gifts could be cola nuts, yam, meat and in some cases money. Most often the gift given varies from community to community.
Among the northerners, betrothal is very common and a girl can be given to prospective husband as soon as she is given birth to and the man takes responsibility of her till she is of age for marriage. Child marriage is very common among northerners. A teenage girl can be given to a man who is 40 0r 50 years older than her and it's considered a normal way of life.  
A man who is ready to marry first goes to tell the girl's parent his decision, a day is fixed for the marriage ceremony. In most of the northern tribes, it is the fathers that marry for their sons. On the fixed date the man's father sends the bride price. Bridewealth can be kola nut and money. Infect bride price range from simple to complex. In some communities the bridewealth can be a number of cows, others demand a number of dogs without it the marriage rite can’t be performed.
After the bride price is taking by the parent, the girl is asked if she wants to marry the prospective husband. The girl is asked three things in the presence of family and friends gathered. The kola nut is shared among those present if the girl agrees, each present takes a bite affirming that they agree to the marriage. The money is then shared among the gathered family as witnesses to the marriage.

On a set day and date the bride is sent to her husband’s home. On her arrival to the husband's home, she is given to an elderly woman to care of her and teach her for seven. During this time the husband would visit her and she is familiarised with her husband’s property and family. She is not officially accepted until the man’s parents are sure she can stay with them. In some communities like the Sisala, the bride is accompanied by a sister who stays with her for a few months.

Marriage among the Akans and the Ewes is very similar. In general, the marriage process begins  with "knocking" the Akans call it kokako while the Ewes call it  “vofofo” and Ga-Adangbe calls it Agboshimo and it done by presenting two bottles of Schnapps to the family. The presented drink is called "tiri nsa" in Akan. In this ritual, the future husband accompanied by his father or someone elderly could be senior uncle and some selected members of his family go to the bride's house to announce their intentions towards the bride. Most of the time, this takes place a week or two before the official wedding ceremony but in recent times it done with the traditional wedding.

The time period allowed is to afford the girls' parents to do their own assessment of the prospective husband and family. The girl is also asked if she wants to marry the man asking her hand in marriage. If she agrees then a prepared list of items that would be needed in order for the traditional wedding to hold would be presented to the man's family and a day is set to perform the necessary marriage rites.
As part of the list given to the groom is the Dowry. The Dowry is an important part of the list and marriage ceremony. It is a valuable gift given to the bride's family in exchange for their "precious flower" and for the investment that her parents have made in her since birth.
Other things on the list are jewelry, engagement ring, whiskey or wine, sewing machine and a host of other things.

On the set day, the two families sit face to face in the girl’s family  home.  Prayers are said to mark the beginning of the ceremony. The Dowry and all the other items on the list are presented one by one by the groom's family. At each step, the items are checked against to ensure that everything on the list is there. The items presented differs from community to community.   At this point, the bride is not present in most of these procedures. All discussions and negotiations are conducted on behalf of both the bride and the groom by a spokesperson designated by their families. The presentation of the bride and groom is the next step, the bridegroom is first introduced to his in-laws, then the bride makes her entrance accompanied by some relatives. Beautifully cladded in kente and gold jewelry.  The bride is asked three times if she agrees to marry the man. Prayers are said for the couple and rings are exchanged. Nowadays due to modernism,inter-ethnic marriages and international marriages things have changed. All this are done amidst dancing, singing  and cracking jokes just to make the ceremony lovely.
After the traditional marriage some couples go to court to officially register their marriage and some choose to do the western  church kind of marriage and it all recognized by the law of the land.





Naming and outdooring ceremony



Naming and outdooring a newborn is a compulsory culture rite done by the family of the baby in the presence of family members. In the Akan community, it is called abdinto and the  Ewes call it vehehedego. For the Akans and Ewes, the two ceremonies are done together unlike the northern tribe that does their outdooring on the third day after birth.
Naming and outdooring a newborn is to give the child identity and introduce the newborn into society and introduce society to the child. Without proper ceremony, it is believed that evil spirits around can bring bad luck to the newborn. Western culture has some kind liberalized the way things are done adays. Before western influence naming ceremony began and ends before sunrise. Usually, the name to be given to the child is the responsibility of the man but this could be a shared responsibility of the couple. In the traditional days, the naming process was done by an elder in the family which could be the child’s grandfather or chief priest. But nowadays naming ceremonies are done by Clergymen.

Traditionally two cups are provided, one containing water and the other gin but this too has shifted a bit, in place of the gin some use salt and additions like honey and soft drink are made. The ritual process differs from place to place based on their beliefs.
An elder or clergyman dips his index finger into the water and place it on the mouth of the infant child and followed by saying “when we say it is water, say it is water” .This process is repeated thrice. He dips his index finger into the gin and places it on the mouth of the infant child saying, “when we say it is gin, say it is gin”. This process is repeated in the same way thrice. In some setting, a cutlass is giving to the child if it a male and a broom is given if it's a female. This process is done to instill morality and a sense of responsibility into the child. After these prayers are said for the child and they are wished long life and prosperity
The name of the child is then announced to those gathered and this is received with joy and cheer.
During the ceremony, gifts are presented to the newborn and merry is made amidst dancing, music drinking, and eating.


Funeral rites in Ghana


picture:ghana.photographers-resource.
If you are visiting Ghana for the first time you might be mistaking a funeral for a festival. In Ghana, funerals are important! Often, they take place several weeks after the death of the person, to allow the family to inform all relatives and raise the money necessary for the ceremony.
Whether the deceased is very elderly or very young the families mourn extensively. Funerals in Ghana seem to share common procedures with just a little noticeable difference. Extravagant occasions that can last over a week to a month. A week after the death of the person, the families meet to observe a one-week ceremony just to celebrate. Under this meeting, they plan, share responsibility on how they will bury their loved one. Such meetings are held many times before a day is picked while these meetings take place the body of the deceased is kept at the mortuary. From the day the person dead to the date of burial could take several months or years depending on the caliber of the individual. For kings and chiefs, they are given a much more elaborated funeral and the rituals involved are more rigorous compared to commoners. Certain things are needed for the burial like the coffin, dress for the deceased, food, money and host of other things. In some traditions, the coffin is to be purchased by the children of the deceased or if it a child the parent will take responsibility. If the deceased belongs to an association and he or she is committed the association will opt for the coffin or the dress or even pay mortuary fees. Majority of funerals are held on Saturdays. Before that very Saturday, the body is taking from the mortuary on Friday and given to an undertaker to prepare the body for burial. Services of criers who weep to entice guests to join in are employed. The body is then laid in state till Saturday morning. If the deceased is a Christian on the day of burial he or she is taking to church for a burial service. Coffins are built to reflect the profession of the deceased. After the service, the body is taking to the graveyard for burial
Mourners are cladded in red, black and white garments depending on the age and culture and beliefs of the people.

After the burial, the people head striate to the funeral grounds for the final funeral rites. In the Akans especially the Asantes this is done in the late afternoon. A photo of the deceased is placed in the middle of the gathering for those who did not know the deceased to have an idea of what he or she looked like.
On the funeral grounds, friends and family make donations. The donations are to help offset or reduce the cost incurred as a result of the funeral. Receipts are issued to those who make a donation and the amount announced publicly to the hearing of all that are gathered.
At the funeral grounds, songs are played to console and mourn. 
During thanks given service on Sunday, the family of the deceased dress in white and black. Sunday church service is to thank God and the congregation for their support and prayers.
A day is set by the family to meet and count their cost and the donations that came. This day could be the next day which is a Monday. Profit or loss would be made. If there is profit it's shared among the family to pay off their investment and a loss too is shared among the family to pay. At this meetings, other matters are looked at and disputes settled.


                   FESTIVALS IN GHANA
                             
 Great Accra capital is Accra.
Festival
Celebrating Tribe/community
Date/month
Homowo Festival
People of the Ga Traditional area
August
Ngmayem festival
People of Dodowa
October
Asafotu-fiam Festival
People of Ada
July
Kpledjoo Festival
People of Tema
April or march
Ashanti Region with its capital being Kumasi
Akwasiade festival
Asantis in kwamasi
December
Kente
People of Bonwire
January
Papa festival
People of Kumawu
March,
Yaa Asantewaa festival
People of Ejisu
August
Awukudae festival
People of Kumasi
September
Mmoa Ni Nko festival
People of    Offinso
October
Nkyidwo festival
People of Essumeja
November
Volta Region and its capital being Ho
Akpafu            Rice Festival
People of Akpafu
            January
Fetish festival
People of Tafi-Atome
February
Nyigbla festival
 People of Dabala, in Agave district
February
Fievie Kpor Legbaza festival
People of         Fievie - Dugame
March
Asikloe festival
People of Anfoega
March
Godigbeza festival
People of Aflao
April

People of Afife, near Akatsi
May
Afadzato Togbo Tsikeke festivals
People of Liati-Wote
August
Agbeliza festival 
 People of  Akatsi, Avenorpedo and Avenorpeme
August
Agbamevoza festival
People of Agotime Traditional Area
August
Afernorto festival
People of  Mepe
August
Asogli & Zendo festival
People of  Ho
September
Wli falls festival
People of Agoviefe, Afegame and Todzi
September
Yam festivals
People of   Ho,Sokode, Abutia Klefe and Akrofu
September
Sasadu festival
People of Rotates between Saviefe, Akrofu, Sovie, Alavanyo
October
Velukusi festival
People of Ve-deme
 October
Hogbetsotso festival
  People of   Anloga
November
Keta Sometutuza festival
People of    Agbozume
November
Ayimagonu festival
People of Dofor Adidome
November
Dodoleglime festival
People of Ve traditional area
November
Kpalikpakpa festival
  People of  Wegbe Kpalime
November
Amu festival
 People of Vane
December
Gbidukor festival
Rotates between People of Hohoe and Peki
December
Zendo Glimetotoza festival
 People of   Kpeve, Tsohor and Klikor
November
Yam festivals
   People of  Anfoaga
December
Gbidukor festival
   People of  Hohoe and Peki
December



Northern Region and its capital is Tamale
Begum festival
People of Tamale, Walewale, throughout the region
January
Jintigi Fire festival
People of Larabanga, Domango, in Gonja

April
Beng festival
  People of     Gonyo Kipo, near Bole
May
Somo Damba, Naa Danba and Belkusi Damba festivals
People of Tamale,Dagbon, Mamprugu,Gonja, Yendi, Mamprugui and Nanumba
July or August
Central Region and the capital is Cape coast.
Masquerading festival
People of  Winneba
January
Edina Bronya festival
People of    Elmina
 January
Aboakyir festival
People of        Winneba
 May
Apiba festival
People of Senya Beraku
June
Edina Bakatue festival
People of Elmina
July.
 Ahobaa Kese festival
People of  Abura
August
Panafest festival
People of   Cape Coast & Elmina
August
Odambea festival
People of  Saltpond
August
Akwambo festival
People of  Otum
September
Fetu Afahye festival
People of   Cape Coast
September
Odwira festival
People of    Jukwa

Eastern Region with its capital in Koforidua
Akuapem Odwira festival
People of Aburi, Akropong-Akwapim, Larteh, Amanorkrom, Ahwerase.
September and October,
Ngmayem festival
People of  Krobo towns of Manya and Yilo,Odumase
March and April        
Dipo festival
People of   Krobo Odumase and Somanya
April
Easter
People of       Kwahu
April
OhumKan festival
People of     Akyem, Kyebi and other villages
June or July.
Ahukan festival
People of  Kibi
June
Gyenpren festival
People of     Kwahu Tafo
June
Yam festivals
People of      Aburi
August
OhumKyire  festival
People of   Akyem, Abiriw (Akropong)
September or October.
Akwantukese festival
People of    New Juabeng
November
Kloyo Sikplemi festival
People of  Somanya, Yilo Krobo
November
Western Region with the capital in Sekondi- Takoradi
Inkronu festival
People of   Supomu, Shama
January
Apomasu festival
People of     Ntotoroso, Asutufi
January
fahye Edie festival
People of     Wassa Akropong
January
Eddie festival
People of      Wassa Amenfie
January
Asafua festival
People of     Sekondi
June
Kundum  festival
People of   Sekondi and many nearby villages
Between August and November
Alluole festival
People of     Sefwi, Wiawso Dadieso, Busua
July August
Odwira festival
People of     Mpohor, Benso
August
Apatwa festival
People of    Dixcove, near Busua
August
Edim Kese  festival
      People of    Sekondi
August
Upper West Region with the capital in Wa
Kpini Kylu festival
 People of      Wa
January
Paragbeile festival
People of    Tumu
January to February
Kyiu Sung festival
 Regionwide
March
Zumbenti festival
People of   Kaleo
April
Wilaa festival
People of    Takpo
April
Kalibi festival
People of  Sankanka,
April
Don festival
People of  Wa, Bawku and Bolgatanga
May
Dzimbi festival
Regionwide
 June
Damba  festival
People of Wa
August
Kobina festival
People of  Lawra
between September and November
Kakube festival
People of  Nandom
November through the first week in December
Upper East Region which has its capital in Bolgatanga
Tingana festival
People of  Balungu, Wiakongo and Pwalugu in the Tongo area
January
Fao festival
People of  Paga, Navrongo, Chiana and Kayoro areas
November and February
Adaakoya festival
People of  Bolgatanga and Zuarungu
Between January and February
Begum festival
People of   Bolgatanga
January,
Kuure festival
People of   Zaare
January or February
Kusebko Larere        
People of  Sumbrugu
January
Gologo,  festival
People of Tenzug,
March, early April
Damba festival
People of Dagbon or Walewale, Bawku
March
Kyiu Sung festival
Rgionwide
March
Don festival
People of  Wa, Bawku and Bolgatanga
May
Dzimbi festival
Regionwide
June   
Boaram festival
People of  Bongo, Teng-zug,
Between October and November
Daa festival
People of   Boari Tongo
November
Samanpiid festival
People of   Bawku
November and December
Feok 
People of    Sandema,
December
Brong Ahafo Region with its capital in Suyani
Nkompo festival
People of  Acherensua - Asutifi
January
Addae Tuntum
 People of     Kukuon - Asunafo
January
Addae Kesee festival
 People of  Ayomso - Asunafo
January
Apomasu festival
  People of  Ntotoroso - Asutufi
January
Donkyi festival
  People of   Mamase
May
Apoo festival
 People of   Techiman, Nkoranza and Wenchi
March or April
Sungweh festival
  People of  Sampa - Jaman
July
Kwatie festival
  People of   Techiman and  Wenchi
July through September
Fordjour festival
 People of   Badu, in Wenchi
August and September
Bayidie festival
 People of     Mo - Wenchi
August
Nkyifie festival
 People of    Prang
September
Adikanfo festival
 People of      Hwidiem
September
Foyawoo festival
 People of      Atebubu
October
Munufie festival
 People of     Nkoranza
October
Fofie festival
People of   Nchiraa, near Wenchi
October
Sasabobirim festival
People of Awuah Domase, near Sunyani
November
Kwafie festival
People of Dormaa, Berekum and Nsoatre
November and December
                          


Religious Beliefs in Ghana
Before the arrival of western culture, Ghana then Gold Coast was purely a  traditionalist state. Before the Bible and Quran had taken predominance many human and animals lives had been lost due to superstitious beliefs and rituals. When our luting salve masters came to the Gold Coast they came along with the Gospel of Christ teaching and baptizing many unto repentance and salvation. The Muslims came in through the north, forceful initiating the people. As time elapsed the good old traditional religion gradually became infamous and non-appetizing.
 Ghana is a very high Religious tolerant country with everyone having the freedom to exercise their beliefs.
Today in Ghana Christianity is the main religion, about 72% of the citizenry being members of the various Christian denominations in the country. About 17.6% of the population being members of the Islamic religion. Majority of the Muslims are in the north with a few in the Zongos of Kumasi and Accra making it the second-largest religious group in the country. Islamic religion entered into Ghana in the 15th century through commercial activities in the northern part of the country. The culture and religious practices of Muslims in Ghana are similar to those of other Muslims around the world. They believe in the Qur'an and the five pillars of Islam and also observe Islamic festivals.

A number are still holding on to the traditional beliefs, believing in spirits and smaller gods who inhabit the natural world like gods who live in streams, rivers, mountains, and forests. These places are considered sacred. They also believe in ancestral spirits and a host of other spirts. Ancestors are the most significant spiritual force and they are called upon and prayed too. Ancestors are considered the immediate link between the living world and the spiritual world.

In Ghana Presbyterians and Methodist missionaries were the ones who laid the foundation for Christianity in the 19th century.
Christianity has grown rapidly in the country with Pentecostal Protestants forming majority and they dominant the religion in Ghana with   28.3% and non-Pentecostal Anglicans, Presbyterians and Protestant Methodists make up 18.4%.Catholic Christians make up 13.1%. While  11.4% of the population belong to the Latter-day Saints, Seventh-day Adventists, Baptists and Lutherans


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