There is so much to
talk about, when it comes to facts about Ghana. For the purpose of this site, I
would discuss the most common ones that would be useful to anyone trying to
know Ghana in a flash.
The Ghana Empire was built on trade in salt and gold, which is why British merchants later called it the Gold Coast.
The Ghana Empire was built on trade in salt and gold, which is why British merchants later called it the Gold Coast.
2.
The only country that produces more cocoa
beans than Ghana is the Ivory Coast
3.
The name Ghana means warrior king and harks
back to the days of the Ghana Empire between the 9th and 13th centuries.
4.
It capital city is Accra
5.
Population 25 million
6.
Capital and Largest City- Accra 4 million
7.
President – John Mahama.
8.
Vice President: Paa Kwesi Amissah
Arthur.
9.
Government:
Constitutional Democracy.
10.
Ghanaians are made
up of many ethnic groups. Some of these groups include the Akans, Mole- Dagbon,
Ewes, and the Ga- Adangbes just to name a few, with the Akans being the
majority.
11. Official
Language – English
12.
There is freedom to
choose any kind of worship or believes depending on your tribe, ethnicity, culture
etc. The Christians consist of about 63%, which is the largest, 16% of Muslims
and 21% for other. Unlike many other countries, there is essentially no
conflict between Christians, Muslims and any other minority religions.
13.
Popular Local Languages – Akan, Ewe, Ga
14.
Ghana is located in
West Africa. It is sandwiched between Ivory Coast to the West and Togo to the
East, Burkina Fasso to the North and the sandy shores of the Gulf of Guinea to
the south.
15.
The Greenwich meridian goes through Ghana; the
equator misses Ghana by about 380 miles.
16. Ghana
was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence
post-colonialism. It gained its independence on March 6, 1957.
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| Back View of Elmina castle |
17.
A fascinating
feature in Ghana is the Elmina Castle, one of the oldest European buildings in
the sub-Saharan Africa. Elmina Castle was built in 1482 by the Portuguese, and
is located on the Atlantic shores. Elmina means gold mines, which comes from
the fact that there is plenty of deposits and supply of gold along the Ghana
coasts. However, the castle was historically used as the heart of the
Trans-Atlantic slave trade, used to store slaves to be ferried to the
Americans.
18.
The country is home
to Lake Volta, the world’s largest artificial lake by surface area of 3, 275 sq.
miles
19.
Ghana is a tropical
country, experiencing hot and dry seasons with a range of rainy season between
April and October. The harmattan dry desert wind blows between December and
March. The winds lower the humidity and create hot days and cool nights.
DEMOGRAPHIC REGIONS
1.
Ashanti Region
2.
Brong Ahafo Region
3.
Central Region
4.
Eastern Region
5.
Greater Accra
6.
Northern Region
7.
Upper East Region
8.
Upper West Region
9.
Volta Region
10.
Western Region
20. The
only country that produces more cocoa beans than Ghana is the Ivory Coast.
21. Ghana
was the first sub Saharan country to come into contact with the Europeans
22. The
Anglo-Ashanti War was the World’s second largest War. 1823-1900 lasting for 77
years.
23. The
currency unit in Ghana is called the cedi. There are 100 pesewas in a cedi. The
word ‘cedi’ comes from a local word meaning a cowry chell. Cowry shells (from
sea snails) were once used as money in Ghana.
24. In
1991, Ferdi Ato Aboboe of Ghana set a world record by running 100 metres
backwards in 13.6 seconds. 2. Lake Volta is
the world’s largest artificial lake.
25. That
record was equalled by Roland Wegner (Germany) in 2007 but Aboboe still holds
the sole record of 12.7 seconds for 100 yards backwards.
26. Ghana
has never won an Olympic gold medal but has three silvers and a bronze.
27. Worlds
oldest Monarchies
28. World’s
largest gold producers
29. Ghana
is Africa’s second largest producer of Gold. The Ghanaians started a lucrative
trade with Ghanaian gold bars and other Ghanaian natural minerals to the
Portuguese in 1471 and then the Ghanaians became the wealthiest ethnic group
and nation state on the African continent from the 17th century onwards
following successful further expansion of lucrative Ghanaian gold bars trading
to the Dutch ,
30. Prussian
and Scandinavians from the 16th century through to the 20th century
31. Ghana
was ranked as Africa’s most peaceful country by the Global Peace Index
32. Third
Lowest rate of gun ownership in the world.
33. World’s
most religious country 70% Christian Rest Muslim and other, Hindu and Buddhists
99% of the population believe in God.
34. The
Friendliest Country in Africa, and one of the friendliest countries in the
World.
35. Accra
is the capital and largest city in Ghana, the name Accra means place of Ants
36. Ghana
has the largest market in West Africa
37. Many
Ghanaians are named by the day of the week they are born.
38. Many
of the best African soccer players are from Ghana
39. In
1991, Ferdie Ato Adoboe of Ghana set a world record by running 100 meters
backwards in 13.6 seconds.
40. The first Ghanaian Olympic skier is the Snow Leopard
aka. Kwame Nkrumah Acheampong, he participated in the 2010 Winter Olympics in
Vancouver, Canada
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| Front View Of Elmina Castle |
41.
Elmina Castle is
the oldest “oldest” European buildings in sub-Saharan Africa built in 1482.
42.
Ghana is actually
not the first country to gain independence in Africa, but the first black
African nation to gain independence.
43.
Ghana has been
mining gold for over 1,000s of years.
44.
Ghana had full
Internet connectivity in August 1995.
45.
Dr. Nii Quaynor,
CEO of NCS is nicknamed the “Father of Africa’s Internet”. He was inducted into
the Internet Hall of Fame in 2013.
46. There
are over 1 million Ghanaians living abroad and remit about $ 4 billion dollars
annually.
47. London
is home to more Ghanaians than any other city outside of Ghana, New York City
is second, Toronto is Third
48. Ghana
has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Africa at 2.9 percent
49. Lake
Volta is the world’s largest artificial lake by surface area
50. About
20% of Ghana’s land is arable
51. Of
the 120 doctors turned out yearly from Ghana’s medical schools, 70% leave the
country within two years.
52. Cadbury
— one of Britain’s largest chocolate-makers, imports 90% of its cocoa from
Ghana
53. Ghanaians
spend about 51 per cent of their income on food.
54. Apart
from Muslim nations, Ghana has the lowest per capita consumption of beer in
Africa, yet its brewery industry is one of the most competitive
55. 29
per cent of children aged 7-14 years are engaged in economic activity
56. Flight-Lieutenant
Rawlings was Africa’s first military ruler to hand power to an elected
PRESIDENT (NOTE: Obasanjo handed over on: September 30, 1979; Rawlings handed
on 24th September 1979)
57. Ghana
is slated to be one of the worlds few cars producing countries with its local
brand Kantanka
58. Togo
imports as much as 75 percent of its electricity from Ghana
59. Ghana’s
exports average around $16 billion sand the Top exports are Gold, Oil, and
Cocoa.
60. Ghana has one of the largest open air market in West
Africa. Located in Kumasi, Kejetia Market stocks everything under the country’s
sun. The market provides good treats on Ghanaian local crafts, traditional
clothings, beads and sandals, and second hand clothes such as jeans. The market
has delicious meat corners and fresh vegetables and fruits.
By Nana Kweku Kakraba.