Ghana is a West African country that borders Ivory Coast to the west, Togo to the east, Burkina Faso to the north and the Gulf of Guinea to the south. Ghana is famous for wrestler Kofi Kingston, and other celebrities. And today we decided to acquaint you in more detail with this interesting state. We have collected for you the most interesting facts about Ghana, which should appeal not only to children and schoolchildren, but also to an older audience.
No. 1
Ghana became the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence.
Africa faced brutal European colonialism, so independence was the main aspiration of the African peoples.
Ghana gained its independence in March 1957 under the leadership of Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana’s first president). Under the leadership of Kwame Nkrumah, the nation organized a global movement that helped liberate the country from European colonialism. Nkruma was overthrown by the military in 1966.
No. 2
Ghana has been named the most peaceful country in Africa by the Global Peace Index. After gaining independence, this state faced difficult times when military coups became commonplace. However, the country still managed to survive difficult times and became one of the most peaceful states in Africa.
No. 3
The main language in Ghana is English. This is the legacy of British colonialism. About 1/3 of the population speaks English. In addition to English, languages of African origin are used in the country, such as: Ashanti – speaks about 14.8% of the country’s population, Ewe – speaks about 12.7% of citizens, Fanthe – speaks about 9.9% of the population.
No. 4
This country is home to the world’s largest artificial channel storage. The name of the reservoir is Volta. It is located behind the Akosombo Dam on the Volta River. The reservoir area is 8502 km2.
No. 5
Ghana is a very beautiful country. Especially worth noting are the beautiful waterfalls, beaches, caves, rivers, mountains. As for the waterfalls, this country has such exotic waterfalls as Quintampo and Tagbo. Most of the waterfalls on the territory of this state are hidden in dense forests, access to which is open only through small forest paths.
No. 6
The country has rich deposits of gold and diamonds. Ghana ranks second after South Africa in the amount of gold produced in Africa (7th in the world). In 2016, the government exported $ 2.39 billion worth of gold.
No. 7
Ghana is the second largest cocoa producer. In 2016, it exported $ 2.27 billion in cocoa beans, $ 382 million in cocoa butter, and $ 252 million in chocolate spread.
No. 8
Kumasi Central Market, also known as Keetiya Market, is the largest market in Africa and one of the largest in the world. There are many products to be found in this market, from diamond and gold jewelry to spices and cereals.
No. 9
Ghana is renowned for its ethnic diversity. More than 70 ethnic groups live in the country, among which the Akan people are the largest. They account for up to 48% of the population. Akanas also represent the majority in neighboring Ivory Coast. Also, such peoples as Mosi, Ewe, Ha, Gourma, Guan, etc. live in the country .
No. 10
Ghana is essentially a tropical state. The capital city of Accra is located in the dry equatorial zones, while the city of Kumasi is located in the western savannah. The rainy seasons in the northern part of the state begin in April and end in October. The rest of the year is dry and hot. In the southern part of the country, the rainy season starts in April and ends in June.
No. 11
One of the top tourist attractions in Ghana is the São Jorge da Mina Fortress. It is the oldest European structure in sub-Saharan Africa. The fortress was built by the Portuguese in 1482 and is located in the central part of the Atlantic coast. The Portuguese named the fortress “Elmina”, which means “golden pricks”. The fortress received this name because of the large reserves of gold on the territory of this country.
No. 12
There is no official religion in Ghana. The constitution guarantees freedom of religion for every citizen. According to the latest census, taken in 2010, about 71.2% of the country’s population is Christian. Pentecostal charismatics account for 28.3% of all Christians. Catholics – 11.5%, Protestants – 18.4%.
No. 13
The first Europeans to arrive in Ghana were the Portuguese. They arrived in Ghana in 1470. After 12 years, they built the famous Elmina fortress. The main reason why the Portuguese stayed in this country was a large amount of gold, elephants (they mined ivory) and slaves (the local population), whom they sent to work in other colonies.
No. 14
The national flag of the country was adopted in 1957 and marked the country’s independence. The flag of Ghana is a tricolor that consists of the Pan-African colors (red, yellow and green). All these colors are arranged horizontally in the sequence described. In the center of the yellow stripe (central) is a black star. All of these colors have a special meaning for the people of Ghana. Red is the blood of patriots shed for gaining independence. Yellow is the mineral wealth of the country. Green is nature. The black star on the flag is the guiding star of African freedom.
No. 15
Ghana has a relatively rich fauna. Previously, it was more diverse, but has declined due to hunting and expansion of settlements. Large mammals such as lions, leopards, hyenas, antelopes, elephants, buffaloes, wild pigs, chimpanzees, etc. can be found in this country .
Among the snakes there are pythons, cobras, mambas. In Ghana, you can also find animals such as hippos, crocodiles, turtles, lizards, etc.
There are also a large number of birds such as parrots, hornbills, eagles, herons, cuckoos, vultures, etc.