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Republic of
2014
Ghana
Ghana was the first African colony to gain independence from Britain.
Lake Volta is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world. Its waters provide electricity for most Ghanaians.
The word Ghana dates back to the ancient Ghana Empire and means "warrior king."
There are over 650 butterfly species in the Kakum National Park, including giant swallowtails, which are almost 8
inches (20 cm) across.
The Asante king has no legal authority in Ghana, but he is accepted as the leader of the Asante people. His
throne is called the Golden Stool, but no one (not even the king) may actually sit on it because it is so sacred.
Children may not look an adult in the eye; it is an act of defiance.
Children refer to adults as auntie, uncle, grandmother, or grandfather (depending on age), even if they're not
related.
The Black Stars, Ghana’s national soccer team, is one of the best teams in Africa.
Flag
The black star represents Ghana and African freedom. The colors symbolize the blood
spilled fighting for freedom (red), minerals (gold), and forests (green).
National Image
Ghanaian kenté cloth, decorated with bright, symbolic colors and patterns, is
considered one of Africa’s most beautiful textiles. Made of interwoven strips of silk and
cotton cloth, it is native to the Akan people. On special occasions, Ghanaians wear
robes made of kenté cloth.
Land and Climate
Area (sq. mi.): 92,098
Area (sq. km.): 238,533
Just smaller than the United Kingdom or the state of Georgia, Ghana sits on the shores
of the Gulf of Guinea and shares borders with neighboring Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast,
and Togo. Forests once covered one-third of Ghana. Today, only a tiny percentage of
forested area remains. The trees were cleared to build settlements, to mine for gold, to
use as firewood, and to produce timber to sell to other countries. Most of Ghana is
covered by low, flat plains. The dry, grassy savanna region covers the northern third of
the country. Very few trees grow there. Mountains stretch across the eastern border.
The Volta Basin covers central Ghana, stretching to the mouth of the Volta River in the
south.
Located just a few degrees north of the equator, Ghana has three climate zones: the
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southern rain forests (warm and humid), the coast (warm and dry), and the northern
grasslands (hot and dry). Temperatures average between 78°F (26°C) and 84°F
(29°C). Monsoon (heavy rain) winds from the south bring heavy rain from April to
October, and harmattan (dry and dusty) winds blow across the north from November to
January.
Population
Population: 25,199,609
Ghana’s population is divided into more than one hundred ethnic groups. Each group has its own language, culture,
and traditions. The largest group is the Akan, who live in central and eastern Ghana. The Akan total 47 percent of the
population but are actually made up of several smaller ethnic groups, such as the Asante. All Akan groups speak the
traditional Akan language and trace their ancestry back through the mother’s line. Other ethnic groups in Ghana
include the Ewe, Ga-Dangme, Fante, Dagomba, Dagaaba, and Gonja. In most tribes, the chief is chosen by the people and has many responsibilities, including settling arguments and
making sure festivals are organized and celebrated properly. In Ghanaian households, the father is the head of the
family, while the mother manages the money. Accra and Kumasi are the two largest cities in Ghana, and just over half
the population lives in cities.
Language
English is Ghana’s official language because Ghana was formerly a colony of Great Britain. It is used in schools,
government, and business, but not everyone speaks or understands it. At home, Ghanaians speak the language of
their own ethnic group. Akan is the most commonly used native language. Many people speak an Akan dialect (way of
speaking or pronouncing), like Asante Twi. Between different groups, English or a regional language might be used.
Most Ghanaians speak multiple languages.
Can You Say It in Asante Twi?
Hello
Akwaaba
(ah-KWAH-bah)
Good-bye
Me ho wo ekyene
(MAY hoo wo ay-CHEER-ay)
Please
Mepatswea
(meh-PAW-tchweh)
Thank you
Meda wo ase
(may-dah WA say)
Yes
Aáne
(EYE-nay)
No
Deebí
(deh-BEE)
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Religion
About 71 percent of all Ghanaians belong to one of several Christian churches, another 17 percent are Muslim, and
some Ghanaians practice native African beliefs exclusively. However, many of Ghana’s Christians and Muslims
combine their faith with traditional African beliefs and practices. This includes a belief in ancestor spirits, a reverence for
all living things, and elements of magic called juju.
Time Line
AD 300
AD 300s
The Soninke Kingdom grows to become the Ghana Empire
1100
1100
The Ghana Empire loses its importance as a trading power
1471
Portuguese traders arrive in what is now Ghana
1482
The Portuguese build a fort at Elmina Castle as headquarters for the
gold trade
1500s
Many small kingdoms flourish, including Akan in the south and
Dagomba in the north; the slave trade expands as Dutch, British,
Danish, and Swedish traders arrive to take part
1600
1600s
The Asante begin to expand their territory, eventually uniting a large
empire under their Asantehene (king), Osei Tutu
1637
The Dutch capture the Portuguese forts at Elmina and Shama
1665
The British capture several Dutch forts
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Ghana
The Asante capital at Kumasi is founded
1800
1807
The Asante invade the coast; the Danish and the Dutch abandon their
trading centers; the British parliament outlaws slavery
1820s
The Asante Empire expands south, near the European forts of the Gold
Coast
1874
The British formally establish the boundaries of the Gold Coast colony
1877
The seat of colonial government moves from Cape Coast to Accra
1896
Britain takes control of the Asante Kingdom
1900
1940s
Many Ghanaians serve in the British army during World War II
1948
Ghanaians riot for independence and a better life
1952
Kwame Nkrumah is elected the first African prime minister of the Gold
Coast colony
1957
The Gold Coast becomes the first sub-Saharan African colony to gain
independence; the newly independent country is called Ghana
1960
Ghanaians elect Kwame Nkrumah as their first president
1964
Nkrumah suspends the constitution, declares Ghana a one-party state,
and proclaims himself president for life
1966
Nkrumah is overthrown by the military in a nonviolent coup
(government takeover)
1969
Elections restore democratic (government by the people) rule, but the
military takes over again in 1972
1979
Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings overthrows the government and
restores civilian rule, handing over power to an elected president
1981
Rawlings stages a military takeover, seizing power again; all political
parties are outlawed
1992
Elections are held under a new constitution, and Rawlings is elected
president
1994
One thousand people are killed and another 150,000 displaced by
ethnic violence in the north over land ownership
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1996
Rawlings is reelected to his final legal term in office
1998
Drought causes low water levels, resulting in a national energy crisis
2000
2000
John Kufuor is elected president
2001
Kufuor takes office, and Rawlings steps down peacefully
2003
The cocoa sector enjoys the second highest production rate in Ghana's
history
2004
Kufuor wins a second term as president
2007
Ghana celebrates 50 years of independence; a major oil reserve is
discovered off the coast of Ghana
2008
John Atta Mills is elected president
2010
Offshore oil production begins
2012
President Mills dies
PRESENT
Ghana Empire
Ghana takes its name from an ancient empire that spread across much of West Africa
during the 4th to the 11th centuries AD. This empire was rich in ivory and gold and
other metals, but its wealth and power mostly came from trading with North African and
Arabian camel caravans. The empire was located north of present-day Ghana and
included the land that is now Senegal, southwest Mali, and southern Mauritania, but
many of its people migrated south toward the coast in the 11th century, when the
empire was weakened by enemies.
The Akan people (including the Asante) came to the region in the 12th and 13th
centuries, setting up forest communities. They passed down their histories by word of
mouth. The Akan were a powerful and strong people. They attacked other neighboring
groups for control and were organized under the leadership of a king.
Slave Trade
For many centuries, various African kingdoms and tribes prospered in Ghana. At about the time Europeans arrived, the
Asante were conquering neighboring kingdoms. Warring tribes began selling their prisoners to European slave traders
after 1500, and several thousand Africans were shipped each year from Ghana’s coast to the Americas to be slaves.
Many did not survive the trip. Some slaves were traded for goods such as cloth, but many were traded in exchange for
guns. The guns allowed the tribes to defend themselves against other ethnic groups. This practice continued until the
international slave trade came to an end in the 1860s.
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Gold Coast
As European nations discovered Ghana’s wealth of gold, ivory, spices, and potential
slaves, they set up competing forts along what they called the Gold Coast, which got its
name from the deposits of gold found there. The Portuguese built the first fort on the
Gold Coast in 1482. Originally named Sao Jorge, it became known as Elmina Castle.
The Portuguese had a complete monopoly on gold mining and slave trading in the
region until the early 1600s, when the Dutch and other European nations began
challenging the Portuguese. The European powers often battled each other for territory,
and many forts and castles traded hands several times. In the end, Britain won control of the coast and inland areas. The British established
Accra as the capital city in 1876. The Asante resisted British rule for many years,
battling fiercely. However, British firepower was too powerful, and by 1901 the Asante
were defeated.
End of British Rule
By the end of World War II, many Ghanaians, including former soldiers, had learned about democracy (government by
the people) and wanted it for their people in Ghana. New political parties began forming all over the colony. Under the
leadership of Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana was able to form an elected legislature (lawmaking body) in 1951. Within a
decade, the nation had become the first sub-Saharan African colony to achieve full independence from Britain. Three
years later, Nkrumah was elected president.
New Republic
Nkrumah was popular and powerful, but his economic policies caused hardship for
Ghanaians. The military overthrew him in 1966, and for many years Ghana lacked a
stable government. Then, in 1979, a young lieutenant named Jerry Rawlings seized
power. He hoped to put a democratic government (government by the people) in place.
But when the new government didn’t do what he thought it should, Rawlings again took
control of the government in 1981. Over time, he became very popular for stabilizing
the political situation, which helped improve Ghana’s economy. He held elections in
1992 and won the office of president. Rawlings served two terms. In 2000, a new
president was elected to take his place in the first nonviolent transfer of power since
independence.
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Games and Sports
Ghanaian kids and adults are crazy about soccer. But kids don’t always have soccer
balls, so they sometimes create their own by wadding up plastic bags and tying them
together with rope. It is a dream of many young Ghanaians to grow up and play for the
Black Stars, the national team. The Black Stars has been successful against teams
from other nations. Other sports such as field hockey, boxing, and track and field are
also popular.
Ghanaians like to play games like checkers (called draughts, but pronounced “drafts”)
or dominoes. They also play a game called oware. It’s similar to checkers. The object is
to move palm nuts around a wooden board and capture all of the opponent’s palm nuts.
Kids enjoy hopscotch, clapping games, and jump rope as well.
Holidays
As a nation, Ghanaians celebrate Independence Day (6 March) and Republic Day (1
July). On these days, Ghanaians take the day off and go to the beach, play soccer
games, and visit friends and family. Other holidays depend on one’s religion. Christians
look forward to Easter, Christmas, and Boxing Day (the day after Christmas). For
Christmas, families decorate their homes and Christmas trees, which are often cashew,
mango, or guava trees. The traditional Christmas dinner is rice with goat or chicken
stew, and children open gifts of treats, new clothes, and books. Muslims celebrate the
holy month of Ramadan, during which they fast (do not eat or drink) from sunrise to
sunset each day.
Throughout the country, local festivals are very popular. These may be at harvest time
or during other seasons. Some are centered on activities like hunting, fishing, or boat
racing. Almost all holidays and festivals involve traditional music, drumming, and
dancing.
Food
In the countryside, families gather around a large bowl at mealtime, scooping a doughy mixture out of a dish with their
hands. Family members form this dough into balls before they dip it into sauce and eat it. Northerners call the dough,
which is made of corn or millet, tuo zaafi (or “T.Z.” for short). A similar food in southern Ghana is called fufu. It is made
of plantains (bananas) and cassava (similar to tapioca). The sauce is usually made with tomatoes, hot peppers, onions,
and palm oil. Boiled yams and peanut soup add nutrition to these meals. People typically eat only twice a day, and they
usually don’t drink any beverages with their meals. They drink after they have finished eating.
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Schools
Adult Literacy: 71.5%
Since 2005, kids between the ages of six and fourteen go to school for free in Ghana. But their parents have to pay for
books and supplies. This is hard for poorer families. And if the kids go to school, they aren't able to work during the day
to help support the family, which means a loss of income. So some children don't go to school at all.
Despite government spending on education, schools are often crowded and run-down. Classes are often taught in
English. Some kids know a little English by the time they start school, but learning in English is still a challenge for
many students because it isn't the language they use in their daily lives.
Students must wear uniforms. They are usually brown and orange. Children bring money to school to buy lunch or
bring lunch from home. There are very few cafeterias. Women sell food on the road near the school, and kids buy what
they like to eat.
Life as a Kid
Kids in the countryside work on their families’ farms and rarely have access to things
like computer games or television. These children play with their many siblings and
cousins. A father might have more than one wife. Each wife and her children have a
separate sleeping area in the family compound. Girls carry water, clean the house, take
care of babies, and help cook. Boys tend the family animals. Everyone helps raise the
crops. Children in cities are more likely to go to school, have electricity in their homes,
and have more free time to play.
Government
Capital: Accra
Head of State: Pres. John Dramani Mahama
Head of Government: Pres. John Dramani Mahama
Ghana is a multiparty democracy. This means that more than one party can freely
support candidates for public office. The legislature (lawmaking body), called
Parliament, has 275 elected members. The president also is elected. Members of
Parliament and the president each serve four-year terms. Ghana is considered one of
the most stable democracies (government by the people) in Africa. The nation is
divided up into 10 regions. In villages and towns, chiefs have authority over traditional
matters. The voting age is 18.
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Money and Economy
Currency: Ghana cedi
Where does your chocolate come from? A lot of it starts out in Ghana as cacao, or
cocoa beans. Cacao is one of Ghana’s most important agricultural products. Farmers
also produce corn, millet, and peanuts for local markets. Ghana is known for its gold,
bauxite (the mineral aluminum is made from), and diamond mines. But most Ghanaians
do not receive wealth from these mines. About one-third of all people live in poverty.
The discovery of offshore oil led the government to begin developing the oil industry,
and production began in 2010. The money in Ghana is called the Ghana cedi. A cedi is
a seashell found along the coastal areas of West Africa. Seashells were once used as a
kind of money.
Getting Around
In the cities, people often ride tro-tros to get where they need to go. A tro-tro is a
minibus that is usually overcrowded with people and their belongings—but it is
affordable. People also ride buses or walk to their destinations. In the countryside,
Ghanaians walk, use bikes or donkeys, or take tro-tros. Only rich Ghanaians can afford
cars. A train runs in the southern part of the country, and buses connect major cities.
Folklore
Storytelling is a popular pastime in Ghana, and kids love to listen to stories told by their
parents or other adults. They especially like stories told about a character named
Ananse, a clever spider who plays tricks on other animals. Stories usually have songs
in them, and kids often know these songs by heart. These stories are not only
entertaining but also teach lessons about how people should behave.
Learn More
Contact the Embassy of Ghana, 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008; phone (202) 686-4520; web site
www.ghanaembassy.org. Or contact the Ghana Ministry of Tourism, web site www.touringghana.com. 9
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