Ghana is a small West African Country with its Capital called Accra. Ghana shares boundary with Togo on the east, Ivory Coast on the west and Burkina Faso at the north, at the south is the Atlantic Ocean. Ghana was the first African country in Sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence from the British colonial rule on the 6th of March 1957. The name Ghana means 'Warrior King'. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah gained independence for the country and became the first President.
The climate in Ghana is tropical. There are two main seasons namely Rainy season which is between April and August and the Dry season which is from December until March. There is quite a good road transportation system which is safe for long and short distance travels. We have about six mobile phone companies operating in the country, which makes communication effective, faster and easier. There are internet cafes and international banks and shops lined along the streets in towns. In Ghana women are respected.
Ghana is a Model Democratic Nation and a Pride of the African Continent. She has a population of about 22 million people and Predominantly a Christian nation. Official language is English; however there are over 30 local languages spoken in Ghana but the most populous and widely spoken language is Twi which is the language of the dominant ethnic group called the Akans. Ghana's major export is cocoa which has earned her the position of the second largest world producer of cocoa after Ivory Coast. Recently the country discovered oil in its western region and will become an oil producing country soon. The passion of the people is football; Black Stars is the name of the Men's National Football Team. The Women's National football team is called The Black Queens. The country is economically growing and very stable.
At the end of the 15th century, Ghana unfortunately became the hub of the unfortunate Atlantic Slave Trade business of the time. This saw the presence of many European nations like the Portuguese, Dutch, and English on the gold coast shipping Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas and the West Indies to work in plantations and in the mines. The evidence of this is the slave forts and castles dotted along the coastline of Ghana namely the Cape Coast castle, Elmina castle, and many more which have been adopted by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. Ghana is also the home country of the First black UN Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, and the first Sub-Saharan country first visited by President Barack Obama of the United States.
DAILY LIFE
The daily life of the Ghanaian is characterised by hard work, enthusiasm and hope. The day starts at 5:00 am for most people in order to swerve the early morning traffic in the big cities. This includes women and men who work either on their own as business men and women or work for the government. Children start school at 7:30 am and closes at 1:00 pm. At the ministries and other government departments and agencies work starts at 8:30am and ends at 5pm.
The roads are mainly used by taxis, trotro, and buses. People visit the market every day, but there are two days set aside in the week as special market days. Beautiful african beads are sold on these market days. Buying and Selling in Ghana is normally based on bargaining. The people are very friendly, and hospitable. At weekends, friends and families attend social gatherings. At around 7 pm people retire into their homes and night life begins.