Ghana Basics

It seems that since I was told about my placement in Ghana I have caught the Ghana bug. However, not only do I seem to have caught it, but my family and many friends have too.  I have been reading many interesting and wonderful things about Ghana and more specifically Accra, the capital city (where I will be living and working).  In order to spread the Ghana bug around even more I am going to share with you some of the interesting things I have learned.

Ghana is one of the most densely populated countries in West Africa with a total population of 23 million.  The capital city of Ghana is Accra.  This city has a population of 1.5 million with approximately 2 million people living in the surrounding metropolitan area.  

The official language of Ghana is English, but there are at least 75 local languages and dialects.  The most widely spoken language is Twi.  When you leave the major cities it is not uncommon to speak one language in a village and then travel 20 minutes down the road and find that the next village speaks an entirely different language.  

Ghana is a relatively stable and prosperous country compared to the countries which surround it and has earned the nickname "Africa for beginners".  I am not all to sure about how prosperous the country truly is though.  In one of my classes that I am taking this term we are learning about structural adjustment programs and the truly devastating effect that they have had on many African countries and specifically in Ghana.  These programs have not only caused wide spread poverty, they have also caused a rise in domestic violence against women.  I do not know as much about these adjustment programs as I would like to and in the near future I will be looking into the topic in more detail.  

Ghana has a diverse mix of people and cultures.  This diverse combination of people mix together to create a cohesive whole.  There is an interesting mix of traditional and modern culture - it is not uncommon to see people in traditional clothing texting on cell phones or see men dressed in business suits who are taking offerings to tribal chiefs. 

Ghana has hundreds of kilometers of coast land that has beautiful beaches, ruined European forts and small fishing villages.  The old European forts provide a haunting reminder of the countries importance as a holding station for African slaves.  

Within Gahna, as in all other countries, certain cities and regions are renowned for different things.  Accra is the commercial and cultural motor of the country.  Kumasi is famous for its crafts.  The Volta region (to the east) has a lot of forests crawling up mountains along the Togo border.  The the North of the country people are able to see many unique animals up close and personal.  

Ghana has a climate that reflects its location near the equator.  It is hot all year round with seasonal rains.  The rainy seasons are from Aril - June and September - October.  The dry seasons are November - March and July - August.  The maximum temperature is around 30 degrees.  This temperature only fluctuates a few degrees throughout the year.  There is always high humidity - about 80% humidity throughout the majority of the year.  The tourist season is from June - August because this coincides with the North American summer holidays.  

Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in the country.  Boxing is a close second for the favorite sport.  Cricket, golf and basketball are also popular.  

Just like there is a diversity in the culture found within Ghana, there is also a diversity in the religious composition of the country.  Churches of every denomination can be found in Ghana.  Christianity was first introduced by European missionaries who were also the first educators in the country.  This created a link between religion and education that lasts to this day.  70% of Ghana is Christian (concentrated in the South of the country), 15% are Muslim (majority to the North), and the rest of the people practice traditional beliefs.  Despite the fact that a lot of people choose to follow Islam or Christianity, most people will retain their traditional beliefs alongside their other beliefs.  This gives rise to an interesting mix of beliefs.  

Food and drinks are very important in Ghana.  A typical meal consists of a starch staple (rice, fufu - mashed plantain or yam, kenkey or banku - fermented maize meal) and it is eaten with a sauce or a stew.  Other menu regulars include fried rice with chicken or vegetables, jollof rice, bean stew with meat of fish, and fried plantains.  Meat is usually chicken, goat or beef.  Grass cutter (a large rodent) is another popular type of meat.  Fish (usually dried or smoked) is a common component to meals - especially in the South because of Ghana's wonderful coast line.  Breakfast is usually iced kenkey - a type of liquid porridge made from fermented maize - served with a hunk of bread.  Another common breakfast is bread and an omelet.  the bread in Ghana is usually soft and white.  Different varieties include sugar bread (very soft and sickly sweet), tea bread (less sweet), milk bread (rich), and cinnamon bread. 

Cheapest food is usually sold in stalls on the street.  You can get a variety of cuisines in restaurants.  Most restaurants have a variety of Ghanian and western foods.  Service is generally very slow wherever you go to eat.  

Cold water in Ghana is sold almost anywhere in plastic sachets or plastic bags.  The water in the plastic sachets is called pure water and has been filtered.  The water in the plastic bags is simply called ice water and is just ordinary water that has not been filtered.  It is a good idea to ensure that you drink pure water when you are in Ghana in order to lower the risk of becoming sick.  

In terms of dangers and annoyances, Accra does not have much crime and is generally a safe place.  It is good to always beware of pickpockets like you should in any other major city in the world.  In Accra one of the most dangerous things you can do is cross the street.  Cars, taxis and tro-tros tend to drive as if they are in race cars.  It is also important to beware of potholes in the road when you step off of a curb.  If you are not careful you can easily twist your ankle! 

This summer I will be in Ghana for two holidays - Africa Day (May 25th) and Republic Day (July 1st).  

Women are generally ok to travel by themselves in Ghana.  There are so many female volunteers, workers, and students in the country that it is not uncommon to see foreign women traveling alone or in groups.  Women in Ghana are less likely to receive aggressive cat calls, but are more likely to be chatted up by young men who have friendly intentions but who are slow to respond to the subtle signs that their attention is unwanted.  

I hope that these little fun facts about Ghana have caught your interest as they did mine!  I will keep you posted as I learn more about Ghana and my placement there this summer.