Ghana in the Soninke language means “Warrior King”.
The West African country is officially called the Republic of Ghana, and it is located along the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean.
Ghana is celebrated for its rich history—its habitation possibly dating from 10,000 BCE—and as a fascinating repository of cultural heritage.
Here are ten things you need to know about the country.
Food
You can tell a lot about a culture by its cuisine. Historically, Ghanaians love to prepare dishes that include a starchy component (fufu or waakye), which typically goes with a soup or stew and protein.
Most soups and stews have a tomato base and come with beef, goat, lamb, chicken, shrimp, fish or crab.
Some popular stapes are jollof, banku, red red, tuo zaafi, boiled yam with kontomire stew and plantain with egg stew. Most dishes are eaten by hand, and a popular dish like fufu is scooped up in pieces with the right hand and then dipped in an accompanying soup (typically goat soap).
Religion
Ghana has a huge religious population. A 2018 analysis reported by The Guardian found that of over 106 countries, Ghana and Georgia were the only two countries where people under 40 were more religious than their older compatriots.
Christianity remains to be the largest religion in Ghana taking up 70% of the entire population. Following Christianity is Islam, which makes up 25%. Of the 70% who make up Christianity, 18% are Protestant, 13% are Roman Catholic and 5% are Traditionalists.
Tribes
There are more than 100 ethnic groups living in Ghana. The Akan tribe is the largest, encompassing approximately 20 million people.
The most spoken language of the Akan language is Twi (which comes in four different variations). Other popular tribes in Ghana include Ewe, Fante, Ashanti and Ga.
Language
Of the more than 90 languages spoken in the country, English is Ghana’s official language with more than 80% of the population speaking it fluently. English was first spoken when England colonized Ghana (then the Gold Coast) in 1867.
Even after the country’s independence in 1957, it continued to use English as its official language to conduct government and business affairs. It is also the standard language used in schools.
Sayings, Gestures & Slang
Don’t be surprised if a stranger hisses or smooches at you while around town. Hissing and smooching is a signal to gain someone’s attention and is not something to take offense to.
Other popular phrases include “Chale” (which means “my friend”), “Saaaa” (meaning “really?”), and “Akwaaba” (meaning “Welcome”). A sucking of teeth means a person is frustrated.
Customs
Ghanaians are very, very communal so don’t be taken aback if you’re greeted with hugs and back pats when you meet someone for the first time. It is also not uncommon to see a group of people eating a dish from the same plate together.
And unlike in many Western countries, Ghanaians like to be in close proximity of each other rather than needing personal space. Also, when you enter a room, it is customary to greet with either a Good Morning, Afternoon, or Evening.
Never give or receive money with your left hand and always invite others to eat with you. (They will almost always say “Thank you” – which means “No, thank you”) then you can continue to eat your meal
Festivals
Festivals have increasingly become a part of the Ghanaian experience, especially during the holidays when many tourists visit. From, Hogbetsotso, Bakatue, Aboakyir, Homowo, Afrochella to CHALE WOTE, there are countless festivals that cater to individual tastes.
In 2018, festivals attracted more than 30,000 people who all experienced the country’s art, music, food, and history
