festivites
Here are some of the major festivities and holidays in Ghana, along with a brief explanation of their cultural significance and how they are celebrated:
1. Independence Day - celebrated on March 6th each year to commemorate Ghana's independence from British colonial rule in 1957. It is celebrated with parades, speeches, cultural performances, and patriotic displays.
2. Homowo Festival - celebrated by the Ga people of Accra in August or September each year to mark the end of the planting season and the beginning of the harvest. The festival involves a procession of chiefs, drumming, dancing, and the sprinkling of traditional kpoikpoi dish for good luck.
3. Damba Festival - celebrated by the Dagomba people of northern Ghana to mark the birth of the Muslim prophet Mohammed. The festival is held in November or December each year and includes horse racing, drumming, and dancing.
4. Aboakyir Festival - celebrated by the people of Winneba in May each year to commemorate their migration to their current location. The festival involves a competition between two groups who race to capture a live antelope without using weapons.
5. Kundum Festival - celebrated by the Ahanta people of western Ghana in August or September each year to give thanks for the bounty of the sea. The festival involves drumming, dancing, and the pouring of libations to the gods.
6. Adae Festival - celebrated by the Asante people of central Ghana every six weeks to honor their ancestors and deities. The festival involves offerings of food and drink to the spirits, as well as drumming, dancing, and the wearing of traditional clothing.
These are just a few examples of the many festivals and holidays celebrated in Ghana, each with their own unique cultural traditions and customs.
seasons
In Ghana, there are two main tourist seasons:
1. High Season: This runs from November to March, which is the dry season and the best time to visit Ghana. The weather is warm and dry with little or no rain, making it ideal for outdoor activities such as sightseeing, hiking, and beach activities. However, this period is usually crowded with tourists, and prices of accommodations and tour packages may be higher.
2. Low Season: This runs from April to October, which is the rainy season in Ghana. The weather can be unpredictable, with heavy rains and occasional flooding. However, this period is less crowded, and prices of accommodations and tour packages may be lower.
Overall, it is recommended to visit Ghana during the high season for the best weather and tourist experience. However, if you don't mind the rain and want to save some money, the low season could be a good option.
visa
Some special visa rules for visiting Ghana include:
1. Visa required for most visitors, except for citizens of ECOWAS countries and a few other exempted countries.
2. Visa can be obtained on arrival at Kotoka International Airport or in advance at a Ghanaian embassy or consulate.
3. The cost of a tourist visa ranges from $50 to $250 depending on the nationality of the applicant and the processing time.
Note that visa requirements and costs are subject to change, so it's important to check with the Ghanaian embassy or consulate in your country for the most up-to-date information.
souvenirs
1. Kente cloth - A brightly colored, hand-woven fabric made of silk and cotton. Average price ranges from around 100 to 500 Ghanaian cedis (GHS). It can be bought at the Arts Center in Accra, as well as various markets throughout the country.
2. Wooden carvings - Intricately carved figurines, masks, and other wooden crafts. Prices vary depending on size and complexity, but typically range from 20 GHS to 200 GHS. They can be found at most craft markets and shops throughout Ghana.
3. Beaded jewelry - Handmade necklaces, bracelets, and earrings made from colorful beads. Prices range from 10 GHS to 50 GHS. You can buy them at the Arts Center in Accra, as well as various markets throughout the country.
4. Shea butter products - Natural skincare products made from shea butter, a natural ingredient sourced from the nuts of the shea tree. Prices vary depending on the product and brand, but typically range from 15 GHS to 50 GHS. They are sold at most beauty stores and markets in Ghana.
5. Cocoa products - Chocolate bars, cocoa powder, and other products made from Ghanaian cocoa beans. Prices vary depending on the product and brand, but typically range from 10 GHS to 50 GHS. They can be purchased at supermarkets and specialty food stores throughout the country.
If you have 1 week
Fantastic! Ghana is a wonderful country with a rich cultural heritage and beautiful natural landscapes. Here's a suggested itinerary for your one-week stay:
Day 1: Start your trip in Accra, the bustling capital city of Ghana. You can visit the Independence Square, which is an important landmark that commemorates Ghana's independence from British colonial rule. Afterwards, head over to the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, which honors Ghana's first president.
Day 2: Visit the Cape Coast Castle, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that serves as a reminder of Ghana's painful history of slavery. The castle was once used by European slave traders to hold captive Africans before shipping them off to the Americas. It's a somber experience, but an important one to learn about Ghana's past.
Day 3: Experience the beauty of nature at Kakum National Park, located just outside of Cape Coast. This park is home to a dense rainforest canopy walkway, which offers incredible views of the forest and its wildlife. You can also take a guided tour through the park to learn about the different plant and animal species that call it home.
Day 4: Head north to Tamale, which is the largest city in northern Ghana. Here, you can visit the Larabanga Mosque, which is one of the oldest mosques in West Africa. The mosque is renowned for its unique Sudanese-style architecture and intricate decorations.
Day 5: Take a day trip to Mole National Park, which is located about 2.5 hours from Tamale. This park is home to elephants, antelopes, baboons, and a variety of bird species. You can take a guided safari tour to see these animals up close and personal.
Day 6: Return to Accra and visit the Labadi Beach, which is one of the most popular beaches in Ghana. You can relax on the beach, swim in the ocean, and enjoy some delicious seafood at one of the local restaurants.
Day 7: End your trip with a visit to the Aburi Botanical Gardens, which is located about an hour outside of Accra. These beautiful gardens are home to a variety of plant species, including exotic tropical flowers and trees. You can take a guided tour through the gardens to learn about the different plants and their uses.
Overall, this itinerary allows you to experience the best that Ghana has to offer. From its rich cultural history to its stunning natural beauty, there's something for everyone to enjoy!
If you have 2 weeks
Great to hear you're in Ghana! Here's a two-week itinerary that will take you on an exciting adventure, exploring all the best sights and experiences your beautiful country has to offer.
Week 1:
Day 1-2: Start your trip in Accra, Ghana's bustling capital. Visit Independence Square, explore the vibrant markets, and try some delicious street food.
Day 3-4: Head to Cape Coast and visit historic sites such as the Cape Coast Castle and Kakum National Park.
Day 5-6: Travel to Kumasi, known for its traditional craft markets and cultural landmarks such as the Manhyia Palace Museum and Kejetia Market.
Day 7: Take a scenic drive along the Volta River to the beautiful Wli Waterfalls, the highest waterfall in West Africa.
Week 2:
Day 8-9: Make your way to Mole National Park for a wildlife safari experience, where you can spot elephants, baboons, antelopes, warthogs and other animals.
Day 10: Relax and unwind by visiting one of the many beautiful beaches Ghana has to offer, such as Busua Beach or Labadi Beach, both located close to Accra.
Day 11-12: Explore the Ashanti region, including the famous Ashanti Craft Villages, where you'll discover skilled artisans working with traditional techniques to create beautiful handicrafts.
Day 13-14: End your trip with a visit to the stunning Lake Bosumtwi, a crater lake formed from a meteorite strike millions of years ago. Take a boat tour or hike around the lake and enjoy the breathtaking views.
This itinerary will give you a taste of Ghana's rich history, culture, nature, and wildlife while also allowing you to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Don't forget to try traditional dishes like Jollof rice, Waakye, and Banku during your trip!
Culture
Ghanaian cuisine includes an assortment of soups and stews with seafoods; soups are prepared with vegetables, meat, poultry or fish. Fishes are tilapia, roasted and fried whitebait, smoked fish and crayfish. Banku (akple) is a starchy food made from ground corn (maize), and cornmeal based staples kɔmi (kenkey) and banku (akple) are accompanied by some form of fried fish (chinam) or grilled tilapia and a condiment made from raw red and green chillies, onions and tomatoes (pepper sauce). Banku and tilapia is a combo served in restaurants. Fufu is an exported dish. Rice is an established staple meal across the country, with rice based dishes serving as breakfast, lunch and dinner, the variants are waakye, plain rice and stew (eight kontomire or tomato gravy), fried rice and jollof rice.
During the 13th century, Ghanaians developed their art of adinkra printing. Hand-printed and hand-embroidered adinkra clothes were made and used exclusively by royalty for devotional ceremonies. Each of the motifs that make up the corpus of adinkra symbolism has a name and meaning derived from a proverb, a historical event, human attitude, ethology, plant life-form, or shapes of inanimate and man-made objects. The meanings of the motifs may be categorised into aesthetics, ethics, human relations, and concepts. The Adinkra symbols have a decorative function as tattoos and represent objects that encapsulate evocative messages that convey traditional wisdom, aspects of life, or the environment. There are symbols with meanings, linked with proverbs. In the words of Anthony Appiah, they were 1 of the means in a pre-literate society for "supporting the transmission of a complex and nuanced body of practice and belief". Along with the adinkra cloth, Ghanaians use cloth fabrics for their traditional attire. The different ethnic groups have their own individual cloth. Kente cloth is a national costume and clothing, and these clothes are used to make Kente attire. Different symbols and different colours mean different things. Kente is a ceremonial cloth hand-woven on a horizontal treadle loom and strips measuring about 4 inches wide are sewn together into larger pieces of cloths. Cloths come in colours, sizes and designs and are worn during social and religious occasions. In a cultural context, kente is a visual representation of history and a form of written language through weaving. The term kente has its roots in the Akan word kɛntɛn which means a basket and the first kente weavers used raffia fibres to weave cloths that looked like kenten (a basket); and thus were referred to as kenten ntoma; meaning basket cloth. The original Akan name of the cloth was nsaduaso or nwontoma, meaning "a cloth hand-woven on a loom". Kente is woven by the Ewe people (Ewe Kente) in the Volta Region. The weaving centers are Agortime area and Agbozume. Agbozume has a kente market attracting patrons from all over west Africa and the diaspora.
The cloth known as African print fabric was created out of Dutch wax textiles. It is believed that in the 19th century, Dutch ships on their way to Asia stocked with machine-made textiles that mimicked Indonesian batik stopped at West African ports on the way. In West Africa—including Ghana where there was an already established market for cloths and textiles—the client base grew and it was changed to include local and traditional designs, colours and patterns to cater to the taste of consumers.
Music incorporates types of musical instruments such as the talking drum ensembles, Akan Drum, goje fiddle and koloko lute, court music, including the Akan Seperewa, the Akan atumpan, the Ga kpanlogo styles, and log xylophones used in asonko music. African jazz was created by Kofi Ghanaba. A form of secular music is highlife. Highlife originated in the 19th and 20th centuries and spread throughout West Africa.
In the 1990s, a genre of music was created incorporating the influences of highlife, Afro-reggae, dancehall and hip hop. This hybrid was called hiplife.
There are dances for occasions. Dances for celebrations include the Adowa, Kpanlogo, Azonto, Klama, Agbadza, Borborbor and Bamaya. The Nana Otafrija Pallbearing Services, also known as the Dancing Pallbearers, come from the coastal town of Prampram. The group was featured in a BBC feature story in 2017, and footage from the story became part of an Internet meme in the wake of the COVID-19 world pandemic.
Chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana guarantees freedom of the press and independence of the media, while Chapter 2 prohibits censorship. Post-independence, private outlets closed during the military governments, and media laws prevented criticism of government. Press freedoms were restored in 1992, and after the election in 2000 of Kufuor, the tensions between the private media and government decreased. Kufuor supported press freedom and repealed a libel law, and maintained that the media had to act responsibly. The media have been described as "one of the most unfettered" in Africa.
In 1948, the Gold Coast Film Unit was set up in the Information Services Department.
There are 2 types of construction: the series of adjacent buildings in an enclosure around a common, and the round huts with grass roof. The round huts with grass roof architecture are situated in the northern regions, while the series of adjacent buildings are in the southern regions. Postmodern architecture and high-tech architecture buildings are in the southern regions, while heritage sites are evident in the more than 30 forts and castles in the country, such as Fort William and Fort Amsterdam. Ghana has museums that are situated inside castles, and 2 are situated inside a fort. The Military Museum and the National Museum organise temporary exhibitions.
Ghana has museums that show an in-depth look at specific regions. There are a number of museums that provide insight into the traditions and history of the geographical areas. The Cape Coast Castle Museum and St. Georges Castle (Elmina Castle) Museum offer guided tours. The Museum of Science and Technology provides its visitors with a look into the domain of scientific development, through exhibits of objects of scientific and technological interest.
Association football is the top spectator sport in Ghana. Ghana has won the Africa Cup of Nations four times, the FIFA U-20 World Cup once, and has participated in three consecutive FIFA World Cups in 2006, 2010, and 2014. The International Federation of Football History and Statistics crowned Asante Kotoko SC as the African club of the 20th century. Ghana competes in the Commonwealth Games, sending athletes in every edition since 1954 (except for the 1986 games). Ghana has won 57 medals at the Commonwealth Games, including 15 gold, with all but one of their medals coming in athletics and boxing. The country has also produced a number of boxers, including Azumah Nelson a three-time world champion, Nana Yaw Konadu also a three-time world champion, Ike Quartey, and Joshua Clottey.
Religion
In 2010, the population was 72.2% Christian (24.3% Pentecostal, 18.4% Protestant, 13.1% Catholic and 11.4% other). Approximately 18.6% of the population are Muslim, (51% Sunni, 16% Ahmadiyya, and 8% Shia). The Bahá’í religious community, established in Ghana in 1951, includes more than 100 communities and over 50 local Bahá’í administrative councils, called Local Spiritual Assemblies.
Demographics
As of 2019, Ghana has a population of 30,083,000. Around 29% of the population is under the age of 15, while persons aged 15–64 make up 57.8% of the population. The 2010 census reported that the largest ethnic groups are the Akan (47.3%), the Mole-Dagbani (16.6%), the Ewe (13.9%), the Ga-Dangme (7.4%), the Gurma (5.7%) and the Guan (3.7%).
With legal immigration of skilled workers who possess Ghana Cards, there is a population of Chinese, Malaysian, Indian, Middle Eastern and European nationals. In 2010, the Ghana Immigration Service reported economic migrants and Illegal immigrants inhabiting Ghana: 14.6% (or 3.1 million) of Ghana's 2010 population (predominantly Nigerians, Burkinabe citizens, Togolese citizens, and Malian citizens). In 1969, under the "Ghana Aliens Compliance Order" enacted by the Prime Minister Kofi Abrefa Busia; The Border Guard Unit deported over 3,000,000 aliens and illegal immigrants in 3 months as they made up 20% of the population at the time. In 2013, there was a mass deportation of illegal miners, more than 4,000 of them Chinese nationals.
English is the official language. There are 11 languages that have the status of government-sponsored languages:
* Akan languages (Asante Twi, Akuapem Twi, Fante which have a high degree of mutual intelligibility, and Nzema, which is less intelligible with the above)
* Dangme
* Ewe
* Ga
* Guan
* Kasem
* Mole-Dagbani languages (Dagaare and Dagbanli)
French is taught in schools and used for commercial and international economic exchanges. Since 2006, Ghana has been an associate member of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, the global organisation that unites French-speaking countries (84 nations on 6 continents). In 2005, more than 350,000 Ghanaian children studied French in schools. Since then, its status has been progressively updated to a mandatory language in every junior high school, and it is in the process of becoming an official language.
Ghanaian Pidgin English, also known as Kru English (or in Akan, kroo brofo), is a variety of West African Pidgin English spoken in Accra and in the southern towns. It can be divided into 2 varieties, referred to as "uneducated" or "non-institutionalized" pidgin and "educated" or "institutionalized" pidgin, the former associated with uneducated or illiterate people and the latter acquired and used in institutions such as universities.
In 2010, the population was 72.2% Christian (24.3% Pentecostal, 18.4% Protestant, 13.1% Catholic and 11.4% other). Approximately 18.6% of the population are Muslim, (51% Sunni, 16% Ahmadiyya, and 8% Shia). The Bahá’í religious community, established in Ghana in 1951, includes more than 100 communities and over 50 local Bahá’í administrative councils, called Local Spiritual Assemblies.
A universal health care system, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), is designated for Ghanaian nationals. Health care is variable and in 2012, over 12 million Ghanaian nationals were covered by NHIS. Urban centres contain most of the hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. There are over 200 hospitals, and Ghana is a destination for medical tourism. In 2010, there were 0.1 physicians per 1,000 people and, 0.9 hospital beds per 1,000 people. 5.2% of Ghana's GDP was spent on health in 2010. In 2020, WHO announced Ghana became the second country in the WHO African Region to attain regulatory system "maturity level 3", the second-highest in the 4-tiered WHO classification of National medicines regulatory systems.
Life expectancy at birth in 2020 was 71 for a female and 65 for a male. In 2013, infant mortality was to 39 per 1,000 live births. Sources vary on life expectancy at birth; the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated 62 years for men and 64 years for women born in 2016. The fertility rate declined from 3.99 (2000) to 3.28 (2010) with 2.78 in urban region and 3.94 in rural region. The United Nations reports a fertility decline from 6.95 (1970) to 4.82 (2000) to 3.93 live births per woman in 2017.
, the HIV/AIDS prevalence was estimated at 1.40% among adults aged 15–49.
A education system is divided into 3 parts: basic education, secondary cycle, and tertiary education. "Basic education" lasts 11 years (ages 4‒15). It is divided into kindergarten (2 years), primary school (2 modules of 3 years) and junior high (3 years). Junior high school ends with the Basic Education Certificate Examination. Once certified, the pupil can proceed to the secondary cycle. Hence, the pupil has the choice between general education (offered by the senior high school) and vocational education (offered by the technical senior high school or the technical and vocational institutes). Senior high school lasts 3 years and leads to the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, which is a prerequisite for enrollment in a university bachelor's degree programme. Polytechnics are open to vocational students.
A bachelor's degree requires 4 years of study. It can be followed by a 1- or 2-year master's degree programme, which can be followed by a PhD programme of at least 3 years. A polytechnic programme lasts 2 or 3 years. Ghana possesses colleges of education. Some of the universities are the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and University of Cape Coast.
There are over 95% of children in school. The female and male ages 15–24 years literacy rate was 81% in 2010, with males at 82%, and females at 80%. A education system annually attracts foreign students particularly in the university sector.
Ghana has a free education 6-year primary school education system beginning at age 6. The government largely funds basic education comprising public primary schools and public junior high schools. Senior high schools were subsidised by the government until September 2017/2018 academic year that senior high education became free. At the higher education level, the government funds more than 80% of resources provided to public universities, polytechnics and teacher training colleges. As part of the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education, Fcube, the government supplies all basic education schools with all their textbooks and other educational supplies, like exercise books. Senior high schools are provided with all their textbook requirements by the government. Private schools acquire their educational material from private suppliers.
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