Ghana is a country located in West Africa. Its official name is the Republic of Ghana. It is located along the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Guinea.
It has a total population of 27,410,000. The country has a unitary presidential constitutional democracy type of government. The official language of the country is English. Its capital city is Accra, which boasts a population of 2,270,000. Accra is also the largest city in the country.
Ghana has the 45th highest population in the world. Its currency is the Ghana cedi. The flag of Ghana features stripes of red, gold, and green, with a black star featured in the center.
The red represents bloodshed, the gold stands for the industrial minerals of the country, the green represents the grasslands, and the black star is a symbol of the people.
Ghana Facts
1
The GDP of Ghana is $37.86 billion.
2
The nominal GDP per capital is $4,400 according to 2016 estimates
3
Services make up 56.4% of Ghana’s GDP.
4
Agriculture composes 19.5% of the country’s GDP.
5
Ghana was first spotted by Portugese traders in 1470.
6
Ghana gained its independence from colonialism in 1957 and was the first country in sub-Sahara Africa to do so.
7
Oil was discovered off the coast of Ghana in 2007.
8
The world largest manmade lake is found in Ghana. Lake Volta covers 3.6% of the country’s total area.
9
Children in Ghana attend kindergarten for two years, beginning at the age of four.
10
After kindergarten, children attend school for a period of six years. Those who can afford it send their children for secondary education.
11
The discovery of gold in Ghana led to the nickname, the Gold Coast.
12
Gold, oil, and cocoa led to an economic boom in the country.
13
The country produced 90 metric tons of gold in 2016, which means it ranked 11th in the world.
14
Ghana is the second largest producer of cocoa beans in the world.
15
Bright and colorful kente cloth is traditionally worn by Ghanaians. Men in the north wear darker colors and looser fitting clothes.
16
Kejetia is the largest market in West Africa and is located in Kumasi, Ghana. Many things can be found here, from clothing to live animals.
17
Over 40 languages are spoken throughout the country. Many Ghanaians speak multiple languages.
18
English is the country’s official language.
19
Kakum National Rainforest is one of the must-see landmarks in the country. In addition to seeing mammals and birds, a highlight is the Canopy Walkway, which is 30 meters high and over 1,000 feet long.
20
Over 650 butterfly species are found in Kakum National Rainforest.
21
Over 250 species of birds can be spotted at Ghana’s Mole National Park.
22
After visiting Mole National Park, visitors can stop in to view Larabanga Mosque, the oldest mosque in the country.
23
Elmina Castle is another historic site. It is the oldest European building in sub-Sahara Africa.
24
Northern and southern Ghana each have different seasons. In the north, the rainy season runs from April to October. In the south, the rainy season lasts from April to June and then again in September to October.
25
The constitution and a multi-party democratic government was introduced in Ghana in 1992.
26
Freedom of worship is protected by the constitution of Ghana, and religious tolerance is even taught in the country’s schools.
27
The major religions of the country are Christianity, indigenous beliefs, and Islam.
28
Traditional Ghanaian cuisine includes Waakye, which is a dish made with beans, rice, fish, eggs, spaghetti, and fried chicken, and Jollof rice, which is rice mixed with tomato sauce and other ingredients.
29
Plantains are also used in many traditional Ghanaian dishes.
30
Football (or soccer, as it is known in the US) is the country’s most popular sport.
31
Ghana’s Black Star football team is known around the world for its achievements.
32
Poisonous snakes including the cobra and puff adder are native to Ghana.
33
Ghana is also home to other snakes, including the python. While the python doesn’t bite, it can squeeze its prey to death.
34
The Cape Coast Castle is now a public landmark that was built by the Dutch for slave trade in 1637.
35
The Global Peace Index ranks Ghana as one of the most peaceful countries in Africa.
36
The name Ghana translates to “Warrior King.”
37
Wli Waterfalls is the highest waterfall in Ghana. In fact, it’s also the highest waterfall in West Africa.
38
The capital city “Accra” translates to mean “ants.” It was named as such because of the anthills that once surrounded the city.
39
Lake Bosumtwi is considered to be a sacred place. This lake does not have outlets or inlets and is only fed by rain.
40
Former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan was born in Ghana.
41
Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong was the first man to represent Ghana in Olympic skiing. He learned how to ski by hitting artificial slopes in the United Kingdom.
42
Enrollment in secondary-education institutions surpassed 100,000 for the first time in 2004.
43
Folklore and pop music are popular aspects of Ghanaian culture. Drums, trumpets, flutes, and percussion instruments are frequently used to create music.
44
Children participate in this tradition by going door-to-door on Christmas and singing songs based on traditional folklore.
45
A deer hunting festival is held annually in the southern part of the country. The first to bring back a deer is considered a winner, and then the entire community sits down for a feast.
46
The design of the Ghanaian flag has deep meaning. The red represents the blood of Africans that have struggled, the gold stripe represents the wealth of the earth, the green stripe represents vegetation, and the black star is representative of the people.
47
Ferdi Ato Aboboe set a world record in 1991 by running backwards for 100 meters in 13.6 seconds. The record was tied in 2007.
48
The country is home to six national parks.
49
In some parts of Ghana, citizens honor the deceased with elaborate coffins. These coffins may be found in various shapes, such as coffee beans, to represent what the deceased loved.
50
A widow wears black adrinka cloth for a period of one year after the passing of her husband.
Ghana is a country that has a rich culture, a diverse ecosystem, and beautiful landscapes. Viewing the unique animals and various species of butterflies, insects, and plants is enough to draw any visitor in. Add to that a long list of historical landmarks, and it's easy to see why Ghana is one of the most unique countries on the planet.
It has a total population of 27,410,000. The country has a unitary presidential constitutional democracy type of government. The official language of the country is English. Its capital city is Accra, which boasts a population of 2,270,000. Accra is also the largest city in the country.
Ghana has the 45th highest population in the world. Its currency is the Ghana cedi. The flag of Ghana features stripes of red, gold, and green, with a black star featured in the center.
The red represents bloodshed, the gold stands for the industrial minerals of the country, the green represents the grasslands, and the black star is a symbol of the people.
Ghana Facts
1
The GDP of Ghana is $37.86 billion.
2
The nominal GDP per capital is $4,400 according to 2016 estimates
3
Services make up 56.4% of Ghana’s GDP.
4
Agriculture composes 19.5% of the country’s GDP.
5
Ghana was first spotted by Portugese traders in 1470.
6
Ghana gained its independence from colonialism in 1957 and was the first country in sub-Sahara Africa to do so.
7
Oil was discovered off the coast of Ghana in 2007.
8
The world largest manmade lake is found in Ghana. Lake Volta covers 3.6% of the country’s total area.
9
Children in Ghana attend kindergarten for two years, beginning at the age of four.
10
After kindergarten, children attend school for a period of six years. Those who can afford it send their children for secondary education.
11
The discovery of gold in Ghana led to the nickname, the Gold Coast.
12
Gold, oil, and cocoa led to an economic boom in the country.
13
The country produced 90 metric tons of gold in 2016, which means it ranked 11th in the world.
14
Ghana is the second largest producer of cocoa beans in the world.
15
Bright and colorful kente cloth is traditionally worn by Ghanaians. Men in the north wear darker colors and looser fitting clothes.
16
Kejetia is the largest market in West Africa and is located in Kumasi, Ghana. Many things can be found here, from clothing to live animals.
17
Over 40 languages are spoken throughout the country. Many Ghanaians speak multiple languages.
18
English is the country’s official language.
19
Kakum National Rainforest is one of the must-see landmarks in the country. In addition to seeing mammals and birds, a highlight is the Canopy Walkway, which is 30 meters high and over 1,000 feet long.
20
Over 650 butterfly species are found in Kakum National Rainforest.
21
Over 250 species of birds can be spotted at Ghana’s Mole National Park.
22
After visiting Mole National Park, visitors can stop in to view Larabanga Mosque, the oldest mosque in the country.
23
Elmina Castle is another historic site. It is the oldest European building in sub-Sahara Africa.
24
Northern and southern Ghana each have different seasons. In the north, the rainy season runs from April to October. In the south, the rainy season lasts from April to June and then again in September to October.
25
The constitution and a multi-party democratic government was introduced in Ghana in 1992.
26
Freedom of worship is protected by the constitution of Ghana, and religious tolerance is even taught in the country’s schools.
27
The major religions of the country are Christianity, indigenous beliefs, and Islam.
28
Traditional Ghanaian cuisine includes Waakye, which is a dish made with beans, rice, fish, eggs, spaghetti, and fried chicken, and Jollof rice, which is rice mixed with tomato sauce and other ingredients.
29
Plantains are also used in many traditional Ghanaian dishes.
30
Football (or soccer, as it is known in the US) is the country’s most popular sport.
31
Ghana’s Black Star football team is known around the world for its achievements.
32
Poisonous snakes including the cobra and puff adder are native to Ghana.
33
Ghana is also home to other snakes, including the python. While the python doesn’t bite, it can squeeze its prey to death.
34
The Cape Coast Castle is now a public landmark that was built by the Dutch for slave trade in 1637.
35
The Global Peace Index ranks Ghana as one of the most peaceful countries in Africa.
36
The name Ghana translates to “Warrior King.”
37
Wli Waterfalls is the highest waterfall in Ghana. In fact, it’s also the highest waterfall in West Africa.
38
The capital city “Accra” translates to mean “ants.” It was named as such because of the anthills that once surrounded the city.
39
Lake Bosumtwi is considered to be a sacred place. This lake does not have outlets or inlets and is only fed by rain.
40
Former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan was born in Ghana.
41
Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong was the first man to represent Ghana in Olympic skiing. He learned how to ski by hitting artificial slopes in the United Kingdom.
42
Enrollment in secondary-education institutions surpassed 100,000 for the first time in 2004.
43
Folklore and pop music are popular aspects of Ghanaian culture. Drums, trumpets, flutes, and percussion instruments are frequently used to create music.
44
Children participate in this tradition by going door-to-door on Christmas and singing songs based on traditional folklore.
45
A deer hunting festival is held annually in the southern part of the country. The first to bring back a deer is considered a winner, and then the entire community sits down for a feast.
46
The design of the Ghanaian flag has deep meaning. The red represents the blood of Africans that have struggled, the gold stripe represents the wealth of the earth, the green stripe represents vegetation, and the black star is representative of the people.
47
Ferdi Ato Aboboe set a world record in 1991 by running backwards for 100 meters in 13.6 seconds. The record was tied in 2007.
48
The country is home to six national parks.
49
In some parts of Ghana, citizens honor the deceased with elaborate coffins. These coffins may be found in various shapes, such as coffee beans, to represent what the deceased loved.
50
A widow wears black adrinka cloth for a period of one year after the passing of her husband.
Ghana is a country that has a rich culture, a diverse ecosystem, and beautiful landscapes. Viewing the unique animals and various species of butterflies, insects, and plants is enough to draw any visitor in. Add to that a long list of historical landmarks, and it's easy to see why Ghana is one of the most unique countries on the planet.