Ghana is located on the west coast of Africa,
and it was the first country on the continent to gain
independence from the European colonial powers. Since the
British left, the country has taken several steps to forge its
own identity. Many of the symbols and customs of Ghana's
colonial times have since been replaced with those from the
country's own indigenous past. Ghana is a very proud nation; it
is the world's second largest cocoa producer, and it has
enormous oil and mineral deposits which are set to provide the
country with rising standards of living over the next decade. It
is likely that many people from around the world will arrive in
Ghana over the next few years, but there are a few customs and
social etiquettes that should be observed when visiting.
A very distinct version of English is spoken in Ghana which
involves a high percentage of regional dialect. English is a
second language, but visitors can expect to encounter up to
sixty local languages throughout the whole country. Many locals
are multilingual, and they switch between English and one of the
indigenous languages. Ghana is surrounded by French speaking
nations, so visitors may benefit from learning a few basic
French phrases.
Ghana is a nation that gives great prominence and respect to
their national symbols; these symbols should be given due
respect. The most important symbol is believed to be a black
star. It is the black star that signifies the nation's pride and
pan-African solidarity; such ideals were important during
Ghana's fight for independence from the British. There are
several other symbols in Ghana which relate to the country's
pride, history and culture. A ceremonial sword, a chief's stool
and a talking drum should be shown respect from visitors, as
they are very important symbols to proud Ghanaians.
There are several ethnic groups in Ghana, so visitors should try
to learn the subtle differences that exist between them. The
biggest social differences relate to the north and the south of
the country. The north of Ghana suffers from far more poverty
and social exclusion. The immigrants in the north are often
forced to take more menial jobs, and there are several cases of
segregation and discrimination against minorities. Visitors
should be wary of these local differences if they are visiting
the north of the country.
A great deal of emphasis is given to the giving of food in the
homes of Ghanaians. Many households rear their own goats and
chickens which are slaughtered for occasions such as weddings
and birthdays. Ghanians are very proud householders, and they
will often cook feasts for guests. A significant local
celebration is that of Odwira; it involves the presentation of
specially-grown yams to the tribal chief. Many of the Akan
people will require this day off, so visitors should be aware of
the significance of the occasion. Members of the Ga tribe will
probably observe a festival called Homowo; a harvest festival
which is celebrated by eating a local dish called kpekpele.
There are also a number of local whisky variants which are
offered to auspicious guests; refusal of the offer is likely to
cause mild offence.
Ghanaians are extremely polite and quite formal. They put a
great deal of emphasis on hospitality, and local families will
often come together for meals and social gatherings. Colleagues,
friends and acquaintances will always shake hands during an
initial meeting, and polite enquiries about the health of loved
ones will be made. There will always be an offer of some food
and drink, and this offer will be made regardless of the time of
day. If a visitor is arriving during a meal, an offer to join
the meal will usually be made. It is deemed as impolite to
refuse such a request. The social etiquette of Ghanaians is not
too different to that found in the developed countries of Europe
and North America. However, massive emphasis is put on offering
hospitality, and it can cause offence if visitors refuse such
offers.