Facts about Ghana
Northern Ghanaians are known for their traditional long flowing robes and musical styles that are distinct from those of the southern and central regions.
The dominant tribe in this part of Ghana are the Dagomba.
Ghana is a Republic with a unicameral Parliament dominated by two main parties—the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress.
Many Ghanaians are adept drummers, and it is not unusual to hear traditional drum ensembles play at social events or performances.
Upon achieving independence from the United Kingdom in 1957, the name Ghana was chosen for the new nation to reflect the ancient Empire of Ghana that once extended throughout much of western Africa.
Most Ghanaians have relatively easy access to primary education, but lack of facilities limits the number who can advance.
Ghana is Africa's second biggest exporter of gold, after South Africa.
The climate of Ghana is largely the outcome of huge dry continental air masses of the Sahara (the "Harmattan") meeting warm humid maritime air masses from the south.
Ghana gained its independence from British colonial rule under the leadership of Kwame Nkrumah, the anti-colonial leader who served as the first president.
Ghana is mainly comprised of black Africans which includes almost all Ghanians at 99.8 percent of the population.
Ghana is divided into ten regions, which are then subdivided into a total of 138 districts.
A movement that started in the mid 1990s, hiplife is a Ghanaian version of hip-hop rap music, with raps basically in the local dialects.
Lake Volta, the world's largest artificial lake, extends through large portions of eastern Ghana and is the result of the massive hydroelectric dam completed in 1965 on the Volta River.
Each symbol woven into the cloth has a special meaning within Ghanaian culture.
Tuo Zaafi, made from pounded rice, is a specialty from this region that has become a staple across Ghana.
Ghana is divided into two distinct climatic zones by the Kwahu plateau.
Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa.
Ghana is a Republic consisting of a unicameral Parliament and dominated by two main parties—the New Patriotic Party and National Democratic Congress.
Once the United Kingdom granted independence, the name Ghana was chosen for the new nation, a reference to an empire of earlier centuries.
Ghana borders the Ivory Coast to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south.
The 2000 election marked the first peaceful transfer of power in Ghana's history.
Hiplife, another genre of music in Ghana, is now in stiff competition with the more established highlife for airplay on local radio stations and at nightclubs.
At the time of independence, Ghana had only one university and a handful of secondary and primary schools.
The capital of Ghana is Accra, with a population of 1.9 million people.
The earliest recorded site of probable human habitation within modern Ghana was about 10,000 B.C.E.
Ghana is considered a transit hub for heroin and cocaine in the illegal drugs trade.
After independence, the Ghanaian music scene flourished, particularly the up-tempo, danceable style known as highlife, which is still played consistently at the local clubs and bars, often called spots.
Like other Ghanaian chiefs, he wears brightly colored Kente, gold bracelets, rings, and amulets, and is always accompanied by numerous attendants carrying ornate umbrellas (which are also a symbol of the chieftain).
Starting in the late thirteenth century, Ghana was inhabited by a number of ancient kingdoms, including an inland kingdom within the Ashanti Confederacy and various Fante states along the coast.
Perhaps the most visible (and most marketable) cultural contribution from modern Ghana is Kente cloth, which is widely recognized and valued for its colors and symbolism.
Ghana has 12,630 primary schools, 5,450 junior secondary schools, 503 senior secondary schools, 21 training colleges, 18 technical institutions, two diploma-awarding institutions, and five universities.
Kromanti Language of the Jamaican Maroons Similar To Akan. I have always understood that Jamaicans are descendants of enslaved Africans from West Africa & Ghana in particular, but I never realized just how similar our roots run hundreds of years after slavery.Aug 9, 2010
Ghana is historically famous for its gold - It was previously called the Gold Coast. Now, Chocolate has probably taken over, with it being one of the key suppliers of Cocoa to the likes of Cadbury's. They also have diamonds, Oil and are large producers of many types of Woods.
In 1957, when the leaders of the former British colony of the Gold Coast sought an appropriate name for their newly independent state—the first black African nation to gain its independence from colonial rule—they named their new country after ancient Ghana.
The six larger groups are the Akan (Ashanti and Fanti), the Ewe, the Ga-Adangbe, the Mole-Dagbani, the Guan and the Gruma. Like most other African nations, Ghana has rich, traditional cultures that differ from one ethnic group to another.Oct 18, 2016
Ghana is currently a very safe, stable country with relatively low crime levels compared to other West African countries. Take sensible precautions but be assured it is quite safe. Bywel's bar in Osu is a frequent hangout of expats on Thursday nights meaning that it is target for muggings.
The etymology of the word Ghana means "warrior king" and was the title accorded to the kings of the medieval Ghana Empire in West Africa, but the empire was further north than the modern country of Ghana in the region of Guinea.
A virtual guide to Ghana, formerly known as the Gold Coast, a country in western Africa just north of the Equator. Situated between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo, and bordered by Burkina Faso in north and by the Gulf of Guinea (Atlantic Ocean) in south.
The Ghanaian people are a nationality originating in the Ghanaian Gold Coast. Ghanaians predominantly inhabit the republic of Ghana, and are the predominant cultural group and residents of Ghana, numbering 20 million people as of 2013. Ethnic Ghanaians make up 85.4% of the total population.
More than 250 languages and dialects are spoken in Ghana. English is the country's official language and predominates government and business affairs. It is also the standard language used for educational instruction.