Ghana
Beyond the modified histories written mainly by non-Africans, only little is known about Ghana, its vast and diverse rich cultures, its role in decolonisation and African unity, and how it maintains its pivotal role as a leader in continental renaissance and socio-cultural reintegration of the African diaspora, from the experiences and oral sources of Ghanaians themselves. Ghana is a country in West Africa situated on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. With a human population of around 30 million (2021 Population and Housing Census) spanning several different ethnic groups. It is rich in a diversity of people and ethnic cultures, minerals, forests and diverse wildlife.
The country is the first African country south of the so-called Sahara that gained independence, after Liberia, Sudan, and Egypt. Widely known as one of the most peaceful countries in the world, Ghana boasts of a warm and vibrant social life, unique hospitality, and respect for visitors. Socially, Ghana is one of the most peaceful countries in Africa (Institute for Economics & Peace, 2021). Drawing on quite a high sense of collectiveness, the people of Ghana maintain a communal social function that encourages tolerance, peace, and cohesion among people.
Although the country is ethnically diverse, the social bonds between people extend to non-Ghanaians and visitors to the country. Whether Ghanaian or foreigner, everyone in Ghana finds incentives to live freely and peacefully with each other. While allegiance to ethnic and religious groupings is very high among the majority of people, Ghanaians have rather cultivated ethnic and religious differences as valuable resources for peaceful coexistence in rich diversity (Anquandah, 2013). Over the centuries, religion, social and cultural relations, and traditional leadership (chieftaincy), to mention a few, have been important unifying factors for people of different ethnicities in Ghana. This makes Ghana unique in Africa, a continent where religious, political, social, cultural, civil, and environmental differences maintain tensions and conflicts that obliterate lives, hopes, and entire societies on a daily basis. The rich traditional history of the various ethnic societies in Ghana offers new insights into the cultures of Ghana and Africa.
One of the many features of Ghana is its diverse socio-cultural events called festivals. They are meant for cleansing rituals, celebrating past victories, the importance of planting and conservating, reaffirmating the bond between the living and the departed, among other goals. Each region is characterised by different culture and memory expressed through festivals. For example, some of the popular festivals in Ghana are the Odwira of the Akropong, Denkyira and Asante, the Hogbetsotso of the Angloga the Homowo of the Ga, the Nyayem of the Krobo, the Kwefie of Dormaa and the Wenchi of Gonja, the Buɣim Chuɣu (Fire Festival) of the Dagomba, the Ndaakoya Festival of the Frafra, the Akwambo of the Agona, the Bakatue of the Edina, the Fetu Afahye of the Fante, the Aboakyer of the Efutu, and the Kundun of the Nzema, among many others. Festivals are spaces for the society and its diaspora to celebrate their shared cultures and histories in durbars, music, and dancing.
A worldwide wellknown festival is the Pan African History Festival (PANAFEST). Africans on the continent and in the diaspora use it as a platform to address the most traumatic interruption in the natural evolution of African societies, which among other traumas profoundly undermined the self-confidence and freedom of self-determination. Inspired by the late great Pan-Africanist Efua Sutherland in 1992, the Panafest has become a landmark festival in Ghana. The 10-day festival is usually held in July-August.
Recommended resources for further reading on the culture, society, and history of Ghana:
- Adu Boahen (2000). Ghana: Evolution and Change in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries.
- Ama Ata Aidoo (1987). The Dilemma of a Ghost and Anowa.
- Ayi Kwei Armah (1988). The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born.
- A. O. Atiemo (2010). “Is there a common Ghanaian Culture? Exploring the historical processes of cultural fusion.”
- R. Gocking (2005). The History of Ghana.
- Manu Herbstein (2013). The Boy Who Spat in Sargrenti’s Eye.
- I. Odotei & A. K. Awedoba (Eds). (2006). Chieftaincy in Ghana: Culture, Governance and Development.
- Peter Sarpong (1977) Girls’ Nubility Rites in Ashanti.
- T. N. O. Quarcoopome (1987) West African Traditional Religion.
GSS 2022: Population and Housing Census 2021. Ghana Statistical Service
Anquandah, J. (2013). The people of Ghana: Their origins and cultures. Transactions of the Historical Society of Ghana, 2013, New Series, No. 15; Obtained from Historical Society of Ghana’s seminars and conferences 2007-2012 (2013), pp. 1-25.
Institute for Economics & Peace (2021). Global Peace Index 2021: Measuring Peace in a Complex World; Institute for Economics & Peace, Sydney, June 2021. Available from: http://visionofhumanity.org/reports (accessed 25 April 2023).
Good to know
Climate
Ghana is warm all year round, with average temperatures between 26 and 32 degrees Celsius, rising to 40 degrees in the northern half of the country. Average humidity is around 80 – 90% between April and November in the southern zone, decreasing towards the northern half.
Sanitation
A high degree of environmental stratification follows social class. While high-end residential areas may resemble of averagely managed sanitation conditions, other urban areas suffer from littering, mainly of plastic waste.
Meals
Ghanaians have a deep culinary culture, with varied, and elaborate dishes. Most dishes are originally spicy, but you can request for them to be prepared less spicy. Besides restaurants, there is a wide variety of street food stands throughout the country.
Market
In general, Ghana does not have a supermarket culture. Most people buy household food and other goods at open markets. These markets have a buzzling atmosphere, with cars and human traffic crisscrossing a large area of all kinds of food and household goods.
Transport
Although online-booked taxi services such as Bolt, Uber, and Yango are increasing their presence in the main urban centres, minibuses are the common means of transport for most Ghanaians. They carry more than one person, often between 6 and 10 people. Fares are paid in cash or mobile money on the bus to the conductor, whom Ghanaians call the ‘Mate’. Larger buses are available for longer intercity jorneys and are more comfortable to travel in, even at night.
Street hawking and begging
Closely linked to transport is a vibrant street hawking culture. One can buy almost anything on major roads, including fast food, raw food, dog chains, car tyres, pets, and wood products. Hawkers could easily pass for 100 meter sprinters, as they manoeuvre quickly between vehicles to sell to passengers in moving cars.
Funerals
Funerals should not be mistaken for events of merry-making. The mourning of the departed is always a memorable event with all kinds of displays. You will see mourners dressed in black or red in moving cars, singing and beating drums on the streets from the morgue to the funeral grounds (if the distance is less than a kilometre), amidst horns and cyclists. Children are not allowed at the funeral grounds, unless accompanied by an adult.
Church and mosque services
In general, it is a said that there is a church of some kind every three blocks. Small, medium, and large churches and mosques are situated in high density residential areas. It is rather surprising to find a quiet church service. On all days of the week, especially on Sundays, loud noises from church premises are a normalised nuisance in Ghana that almost everyone has come to accept as part of social functioning. The haphazard location of churches and mosques is a consequence of poor enforcement of land use plans. This, in turn, is the result of the existence of parallel land governance authorities, held by chiefs as primary landowners on the one hand, and by the state as the regulator of land use and spatial planning, on the other.
Meet the Guides
Lydia Adzaby is a travel enthusiast, and the leader of Lyns Travels in Ghana, who takes delight in exploring the beautiful scenery of Ghana as well as learning and teaching about the history and diverse cultures of Ghana. Lydia has toured in 11 out of the 16 regions in Ghana.
She is a paralegal by profession and has been working with Farafina Institute’s projects as an assistant for a number of years now.
“Nothing gives me greater joy than showing off my beautiful country and its rich culture to the world.”
Ivy Pearl is a vibrant, fun and educative guide whose main interest is to make every tour memorable and fun as it should be. She’s travelled in about 10 regions in Ghana. She currently partners with a number of travel tour groups within Ghana. Ivy Pearls is a Medical assistant by profession.
“It is such a pleasure for me to be of assistance in showing, enlightening and providing guidance to a group of tourists.”
Isabella is a daring young travel enthusiast who has been on a number of tours both in Ghana and Togo. She leads both, solo and group tours for fun and educative purposes.
“Being it uncovering hidden gems or highlighting well known landmarks, my exceptional skills as a tour guide make her the ideal choice for those seeking an unforgettable journey through the captivating landscapes and culture of Ghana.”
Emily’s warm and friendly demeanor creates an inviting and encouraging atmosphere for visitors. She is a an environmentalist by profession working with the Environmenetal Protection Agency in Ghana.
