Ghana is a sub-Saharan country and one of the West African countries located on the Gulf of Guinea’s coast.Despite its tiny size and population, Ghana (meaning warrior king) is one of Africa’s most powerful countries, partially due to its vast nature reserves and partly because it was the first black African country south of the Sahara to gain independence from colonial rule. Ghana is famous for its rich history reaching back to 10,000 BCE and as a remarkable storehouse of cultural legacy, in addition to its lush forests, diversified animal life, and sandy beaches along a lovely coast.On March 6, 1957, Ghana became the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to attain independence. This year marks the 64th anniversary of Ghana’s struggle for independence from British rule to handle its own affairs. The ancient ethnic Ghanaian origins and ethnogenesis may be traced back to nomadic migration from Nubia via the Sahara desert and south Ghana to the Gold Coast, with Ghanaian ethnogenesis taking place on the Ghanaian Gold Coast area between the 10th and 16th centuries AD.Ghana is known as the Gold Coast in West Africa because it was formerly a major gold producer. The Soninke people (Ghana means warrior king in Soninke language) built the Ghana empire, which is also known as Awkar. Ghana’s Presbyterian Church is a mainstream Protestant denomination. It was founded by Basel missionaries on December 18, 1828, and is Ghana’s oldest, continuously operating, and established Christian Church. The country was named after a powerful medieval commerce empire that existed until the 13th century and was located northwest of modern Ghana. The area’s residents, many of whom actively dealt with the Portuguese, Dutch, the British empire, and other Europeans, benefited greatly from direct maritime trade with Europe, which began in the 15th century.The official language of Ghanaian people is English. Ghana’s most popular religion is Christianity. The Akan tribes are Ghana’s biggest ethnic group, accounting for 47.3% of the country’s population. The majority of Akan people dwell in Ghana, where they arrived in waves between the 11th and 18th centuries. The Black Star of Africa is a five-pointed star that represents Africa as a whole and Ghana in particular. The black star became a symbol of anti-colonialism and Pan-Africanism. The black star dubbed the ‘Lodestar of African Freedom’ was incorporated in the design of the Ghanaian flag by Theodosia Okoh in 1957.Cape Coast Castle is a castle erected by the Europeans on Ghana’s central coast. Mole National Park is one of Ghana’s largest national parks and offers the finest animal viewing opportunities. The majority of Kakum National Park is made up of pristine virgin rainforest. The navigable Lake Volta connects Ghana’s northern savanna with the west coast at a low cost. Lake Volta is also a popular fishing spot and a source of irrigation water for nearby farms. Volta river flows into this lake.If you like this Ghana facts article, you may find it interesting to read these fun facts articles on Jamaican history facts and Russian history for kids.Cultural Heritage And ArchitectureGhana, under Ghana’s president Kwame Nkrumah, became the first self-governing republic on the African continent in 1957. Their new Ghanaian flag included the Pan-African colors of red, yellow, green, and black, which signify an idea of political unification among all Africans. Several other African countries followed suit.From 1701 until 1957, the Ashanti Empire was an Akan empire and kingdom in what is now Ghana. When Ghana’s name was changed, Kwame Nkrumah was the first prime minister. Kofi Annan, the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations, is Ghanaian. Jerry Rawlings was a Ghanaian President, military commander, and politician who served from 1981 until 2001, as well as briefly in 1979. He commanded a military rule junta until 1992, after which he was democratically elected President of Ghana for two years.Ghanaian culture varies depending on the ethnic group you belong to. Ghanaian individual conduct and behavior, which has a direct influence on society and family, are accorded cultural importance. As a result, at public meetings and in other aspects of life, everyone strives to be welcoming, polite, and respectful. Historic fights of conquest along Ghana’s coastal areas have resulted in a list of forts, castles, and other structures that commemorate early interactions with Europeans, highlighting Ghana’s heritage on the international scene.The Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB), which is in charge of the nation’s cultural heritage protection and projection (GMMB, 2015), has added assets of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) to the UNESCO World Heritage List (WHL). Ten shrines at Abirim, Asawasi, Asenemaso, Adako Jachie, Bodwease, Ejisu Besease, Kentinkrono, and Saaman are among the Asante Traditional Buildings on the WHL (GMMB, 2015). These places on the UNESCO World Heritage List in Ghana are poorly managed, and immediate action is required to prevent their destruction (Nyarko, 2018).Universal Health Care And Life ExpectancyGhanaians have a 62-year life expectancy at birth, with a healthy life expectancy of 54 years. Furthermore, in many low and middle-income countries, the population aged 50 and older is under-represented in surveys, with health studies often focussing on persons aged 18-49.At the age of 70, everyone is excused from paying the premium (although the registration fee still needs to be paid). Individuals under the age of 70 are still required to pay the fee. The analysis in this research looked at older persons aged 50–69 and 70 and above separately to account for these changes by age. The presence of a healthcare clinic or hospital in the community was added to account for geographical variables.Health insurance uptake is predicted to rise only when healthcare services are both available and accessible. Previous studies in Ghana have shown that significant distances between healthcare institutions, as well as increased travel time, diminish healthcare utilization and NHIS enrollment. Older persons are at a disadvantage when it comes to healthcare since they are more likely to reside in rural locations where healthcare facilities are scarce. Large distances between healthcare institutions and less mobile older persons might be a barrier to accessing treatments.Music And DanceMusic and dance are a part of everyday life in Ghana, and they can be heard and seen everywhere. Contemporary music, traditional music, gospel music, and imported music are the four primary forms of music heard in Ghana today.Ghanaian contemporary music is dominated by the musical styles of ‘Highlife’ and ‘Hiplife,’ as well as Afropop and Afro-jazz. Highlife music originally appeared on the scene in the ’30s and peaked in popularity in the ’50s and ’70s. Traditional music is a ritualized event that takes place during funerals, rites, festivals, weddings, and other public and private events. It consists of singing, clapping, drumming, and dancing.Ghana is a deeply religious country, and this is reflected in its music. In Ghana’s major towns and cities, American pop, hip-hop, and, unexpectedly, country music are among the most popular modern music imports. The dance and rituals that accompany traditional music are used to greet Gods and spirits, approve or communicate a story or mythology, or just as a social hobby.Adzogbo dance originated as a battle dance in Ghana, but it has now been transformed into a social and leisure dance. Borborbor is a traditional Ewe tribal dance from the Volta Region and southern Togo. During the Homowo celebration in late August and early September, priestesses perform the kple dance, a religious dance from Greater Accra, at shrines. The Dagbamba tribe of northern Ghana performs the Bamaya dance.Food And DrinkThe distribution of food crops is typical of traditional Ghanaian cuisine and because tropical foods like corn, legumes, millet, plantains, and cassava are widely available, most ethnic groups employ them to make wonderful cuisines. The densely packed Kejetia Market is one of the major markets in West Africa.Chichinga is a famous Ghanaian street food consisting of skewered and grilled beef rubbed with suya, a spice blend. Jollof is a Senegalese pot meal of rice cooked with tomato sauce and served with meat or fish that has sparked a lot of discussions online. Waakye is another example of Ghanaians’ innovative usage of rice. The cuisine, which consists of a combination of beans and rice, was originally a Northern dish, but it can now be found practically anywhere on Accra’s streets.Tilapia is a delicacy in Ghana where the delicious freshwater fish is spiced and grilled. Red-red is a substantial traditional meal made from boiling cowpea beans and served with palm oil and soft, fried plantains. Pito in the Northern Region and palm wine in the Southern Region are two traditional alcoholic beverages. The liqueur Akpteshie is also well-known. Most Ghanaians prefer Star and Club beers, both of which are made in Ghana, or Gulder beer. Maize beer, also known as ‘asana,’ coconut juice, and ice kenkey, are non-alcoholic beverages.Kindergarten And Education StructureKindergarten is a two-year program for children aged four to six. Language and Literacy (Language Development), Creative Pursuits (Drawing and Writing), Arithmetic (Number Work), Environmental Science, Movement and Drama (Music and Dance), and Physical Development are the six basic components of the program.Kindergarten, primary school, and junior high school (JHS) are the three levels of education that culminate in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). Ghana’s constitutional commitment to Free and Compulsory Universal Basic Education included two years of pre-primary education (Kindergarten) in 2008 (FCUBE).Basic education lasts 12 years (from the ages of 4-15). The curriculum is free and mandatory, and it is described as ’the minimal time of education necessary to guarantee that students learn fundamental reading, numeracy, and problem-solving abilities, as well as creative and healthy living skills.‘Primary education (ages 6–11) lasts six years. English, Ghanaian languages and culture, ICT, mathematics, environmental studies, social studies, Mandarin and French (as Ghana is an OIF associated-member), integrated or general science, pre-vocational skills and pre-technical skills, religious and moral education, and physical activities such as Ghanaian music and dance, are among the courses taught at the primary or basic school level.Students enroll in senior high school for academic purposes (SHS). The SHS curriculum is made up of basic topics that are supplemented by electives (chosen by the students). Students then select three or four optional disciplines from a list of five options: agriculture, arts or science, business, vocational, and technical programs. This program is three years long.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Ghana history facts, then why not take a look at Haiti history facts or Honduras history facts.
Ghana is a sub-Saharan country and one of the West African countries located on the Gulf of Guinea’s coast.
