Ghana

Area:	238,540 sq.km
Population:	20,2441,165
Capital:	Accara
Language:	English
Religion:	Christian(69%), Islam(15,6%), Indigenous (8,5%), Other (6,9%)
Currency:	Cedi
YFU Ghana´s vebsite:	www.yfu.org/gh

Introduction

Ghana, the first African country south of the Sahara to receive itsindependence, has adopted the motto of “one people, one nation, one destiny.” Nevertheless, its history has been one of change and itspopulation is very diverse. There is evidence that Ghana was already inhabited over 200 centuries ago.

Area: Ghana is located on the west coast of Africa, around 750 km north of the equator on the Gulf of Guinea. The capital, Accra, is on the Greenwich Meridian (0 line of longitude). Ghana’s coastal areaconsists of plains and numerous lagoons near the estuaries of rivers. The land is relatively flat and the altitude is generally below 500 meters, with more than half the country below 200 m. The Volta River basin dominates the country’s river system. Lake Volta, the largest artificial lake in the world at 8,482 square km., is also the site of the Akosombo hydroelectric dam. In the north, the predominant vegetation is savannah and shrub, while the south has extensive rain forest.

Climate: Because Ghana is only a few degrees north of the equator, the only seasonal changes are distinct wet and dry seasons. Day temperatures in the dry season (December - February are 27-36 °C(80-90 °F). Another dry season occurs in July and August, but withconsiderably hotter temperatures. April- June is the wet season. There are also regional temperature variations. The eastern coastal belt is warm and comparatively dry, the southwest corner has the highest humidity and rainfall, while the north is hottest and most dry. Humidity is highest in the morning and decreases during the day.

Population: The population of Ghana is 19.9 million, with 45% under 15 years of age. Most of the population is concentrated in the country’s southern part, with the highest densities occurring in urban areas and cocoa-producing sections. The most densely populated regions are: Ashanti (around 2 million), Eastern Ghana (about 1.7 million), and greater Accra (around 1.5 million).

Language: The official language in Ghana is English. There are also some other languages which are government sponsored: Akan, Dagaare/Waale, Dangbe, Dagbane, Ewe, Ga, Gonja, Kasem and Nzema.

Religion: The population of Ghana comprises Christians (69%), Islam (15.6%), Indigenous (8.5%) and others (6.9%). Christianity is more prevalent in southern Ghana, while Islam dominates the rural north. Ghana exercises freedom of religion.

Government: Ghana became independent in 1957, but the movement to obtain political freedom actually began soon after World War II among educated Ghanaians and veterans. In the early 20th century, Ghana had a Central Administration made up of the Governor, Executive Council, and Legislative Council (which was only advisory). In 1946, a constitution was announced by Sir Alan Burns, but the Legislative Council remained in an advisory capacity only. After a period of unrest in the late 1940s, the first general election was held in 1951. A new constitution was drafted three years later. In 1956, another election was held. The Convention People’s Party (CPP) won 72 of the 104 seats, while the Northern People’s Party (NPP) won the remaining seats and became the parliamentary opposition. The former British Mandated Togoland also voted to join Ghana. Nevertheless, in the 1960s and 1970s, three Ghanaian republics were overthrown by military uprising. In 1992 and 1996, respectively, Ghana ushered in the first two terms of its 4th Republic, which have enjoyed more stability. In 1992, after 11 years of military rule, the Provisional National Defense Council handed administration of the country over to an elected government with constitutional rule and a multi-party parliamentary system. The Ghanaian constitution provides for an Executive President elected by universal adult suffrage for a term of four years and able to be re-elected only once. It also has a unicameral Parliament with 200 seats. Members are elected by direct popular votes. Ghana is divided into ten administrative regions.

History: Europeans who came to Ghana called it the Gold Coast. The European pattern of trade there altered the focus of indigenous economic power from the interior to the West African coastline. The Portuguese traded in gold, ivory, and slaves during the late 15th century. The Dutch arrived in 1598 and built forts at Komenda and Kormatsil. The English, Danes, and Swedes had built forts in the Gold Coast by the mid-18th century. Some of the coastal forts served to house newly-captured slaves before they could be sent overseas. In the 19th century, only Dutch and English traders remained. Quarrels occurred among Europeans in the 17th century over access to Ghana’s coastal trade. Depredations of slave traders left whole regions destroyed and depopulated. Nevertheless, by the end of that century, two main African states had emerged in the area that is now modern Ghana. These were the Ashante and the Fante. The Ashantis populated a sophisticated empire that also employed Europeans to serve some of its administrative functions. The Ashantis themselves had prospered from the slave trade in the 18th century, and in the 19th, sought mastery of the coastline. The close relationship of British traders with the Fantes—and the fact that the British by then had won control of the coastal trade from the other European powers—caused the Ashantis to become their enemies. For fifty years, the British worked to defeat the Ashantis. In a final campaign during the 1870s, they seized Kumasi and exacted a huge ransom in gold. The Ashanti king was later exiled to the Elmina Castle, then to Sierra Leone, and later to the Seychelles. Both the Ashante and Fante kingdoms were reduced in size during this period. In 1874, the British formally established the British Colony of the Gold Coast. It became a showpiece of Britain’s colonies from an economic and political standpoint.

Economy: Ghana is one of the most developed countries in tropical Africa. It has twice the per capita output of many other West African states. The main exports are cocoa, timber, and other agricultural products, as well as minerals such as gold, diamond, manganese, bauxite, and iron ore. The country also has rich forest land, a wide variety of agricultural products and fishing resources, and fine tourist attractions, including beaches and wildlife parks. Fifty-four percent of the population is employed in the agricultural or fishing sectors, 18% in industry, 15% in sales and clerical, 7.7% in services, transportation, and communications, and 3% in the professional services. A policy of industrialization has resulted in the establishment of a wide range of manufacturing industries, such as food products, beverages, tobacco, textiles, clothing and footwear, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and metals, including steel.

Education: Ghana restructured its educational system in 1987 in order to increase the number of students receiving primary schooling. Previously, the government had placed greater emphasis on secondary and universitylevel studies. Until 1991, secondary schools in Ghana operated a basic 5-year course leading to a General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level Certificate. Students could then terminate their studies or go into the Sixth Form. An Advanced Level Certificate obtained at Sixth Form enabled entry into university. In 1991, a new system of three years of Senior Secondary School Education was introduced. There are two years of kindergarten, six years of primary and three years of junior secondary school. Schools operate on a trimester system, each term lasting between 12-14 weeks. Beginning in 2001, the school year will be September to June, rather than the previous January to December.

Family life: Families in Ghana have on average from 6 to 8 kids. But aunts, uncles, cousins, grand-parents and great grand-relations are also considered family. All share times of happiness as well as difficulty, and Ghanaians rely on their extended family for financial support and housing. Traditionally, Youth For Understanding International Educational Services Inc. 6400 Goldsboro Road, Suite 100 Bethesda, MD 20817 U.S.A.©2002 Youth for Understanding International Educational Services children are taught to respect their elders. A child who fails to observe these social values is considered untrained and uncultured. Mothers enjoy greater status than in most other cultures.

Foods: Thick soups are the mainstay of Ghanaian cuisine and are usually eaten with potatoes or rice. Another staple meal is Fufu, which consists of cassava, yam, or plantain that has been cooked, pureed, and mashed into a ball. It can be topped with a fiery sauce or served as a bland accompaniment to a main dish. A popular dessert is fried plantains seasoned with chili pepper and ginger. As for drinks, there is a refreshing nonalcoholic one called askankee, made of corn. Ghana’s most famous food is cocoa, which is used to make chocolate.

Recreation: Ghana has many parks and coastal forts waiting to be explored. Mole National Park is an inexpensive destination for wildlife enthusiasts. Lake Volta is also the site of Kujani National Park. The forts at Dixcove, Elmina, Cape Cove and Apam are all open to tourists, and some even offer accommodation and meals. There are also outstanding beaches. Kumasi, the capital of the former Ashanti empire, and its surrounding craft villages of Ahwiaa, Ntonso, Kurofuforum, and Bonwire are excellent places to visit.

YFU Ghana

YFU Ghana was established in 2000 by a small group living in Accra. The program is currently outbound to the US and selected European countries only. However, the Ghanaian organization hopes eventually to begin short term inbound programs.

Exchanges with: France, Germany, Switzerland and the USA.