About Ghana
GHANA FACTS AND FIGURES
Official name Republic of Ghana
Population 23,382,848
Surface area 239,460 km²
Capital city Accra
Languages English (official language), Asante, Ewe, Fante, Boron, Dagomba, Dangme, Dagarte, Akyem, Ga, Akuapem
Religion Pentecostal/Charismatic 24.1%, Protestant 18.6%, Catholic 15.1%, other Christian 11%, Muslim 15.9%, traditional 8.5%, other 0.7%, none 6.1%
Currency Ghana Cedi
Major exports Gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminium, manganese ore, diamonds, horticulture
Time difference GMT +0
Under five mortality 120 per 1,000
Urbanised population 49%
Life expectancy 59.5 years
Population below the poverty line 28.5%
Literacy rate 57.9%
GDP per capita £805
President John Agyekum Kufuor
GENERAL OVERVIEW OF GHANA
History and Gvernment
Ghana was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa where Europeans conducted trade, when the Portuguese came in search of first gold and later slaves. It was also the first African nation to gain independence when in 1957 the British colony of the Gold Coast and Togoland Trust Territory merged to form modern Ghana. In 1966 the first president, Kwame Nkrumah, was deposed in a coup, heralding years of political instability. After a long series of coups, Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings took power in 1981 and banned political parties. In April 1992 he introduced a constitution allowing for a multi-party system, which ushered in a period of democracy. Rawlings was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000 and was succeeded by John Kufuor, who was re-elected as president in 2004. A well-administered country by regional standards, Ghana is often seen as a model for political and economic reform in Africa, with high-profile peacekeeping roles in the Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Economy
Ghana has substantial natural resources and its per capita output is almost double that of some of its poorest neighbours. Cocoa exports are an essential part of the economy and Ghana is the world's second-largest producer. Gold is also a key source of foreign exchange and in June 2007 the discovery of major offshore oil reserves was announced. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance and the domestic economy continues to revolve around agriculture, which accounts for about 35 per cent of the gross domestic product and employs about 55 per cent of the work force, mainly small landholders.
Geography
Ghana is predominantly flat and low-lying. Almost half the country lies below 150m above sea level. The southern part of Ghana is dominated by a sandy, scrub-covered coastal plain which runs inland from the Atlantic Ocean, except around the capital city of Accra, where the Akwapim Mountains rise up. Ghana also boasts the world’s largest artificial body of water, Lake Volta which covers 8,500km²of the low-lying Volta Basin. The basin is flanked by mountains, including the country’s highest peak, Mount Afedjato. The highlands to the east and west of the Volta Basin are characterised by a large number of waterfalls, including the Wli Falls, which are reputedly the highest falls in West Africa. The Greenwich Meridian passes through Ghana, specifically through the industrial city of Ghana-Tema; so it can be said that Ghana is geographically closer to the ‘centre’ of the world than any other country.
People and population
The people of modern Ghana are generally divided into four main regional groups. The Mole-Dagbon, who make up about 15 per cent of the population, are generally located in the northern territories of Ghana. This area has been strongly influenced by Islamic traditions over the centuries. The area east of Lake Volta is inhabited by the Ewe people, who migrated from Nigeria in the 15th century and make up roughly 11 per cent of Ghana’s population. The group is divided into over 130 small, autonomous chieftaincies.
The most significant population group, at 45 per cent, is the Akan, which encompasses several smaller tribes, including the Ashanti and the Fante. The Akan people dominated gold mining and trade from the 15th to the 19th century and their culture and art is still the most apparent in present-day Ghana.
The Ga and Dangme combine to form the last of the four groups and make up about 7 per cent of the population. Most live in the south eastern coastal area around Accra, which the Ga founded in the 16th century as a trading port.
Language
English is the official language of Ghana and widely spoken due to links with Britain and a high standard of education from colonial times to the present day. There are also at least 75 African languages and dialects, generally divided into the Akan, Mole-Dagbani, Ewe and Ga language groups. Twi is the main Akan language and mother tongue to about half the population.
Education
In Ghana, primary and junior secondary school education is free and mandatory. Schooling includes six years of primary education, three years of junior secondary education and three years of senior secondary education. If students successfully complete the senior secondary level they are eligible for admission to training colleges, polytechnics, and universities. However, access to education remains severely limited by a lack of facilities.
Only about 30 per cent of junior school graduates are able to gain admission to senior secondary schools, and only about 35 per cent of senior secondary school graduates are able to go on to universities and polytechnics. Private secondary schools play a small role in Ghana, with only a handful of institutions that graduate less than 200 students a year.
Religion
Freedom of worship is a constitutional right in Ghana and although there are large populations of Christians and Muslims living side by side, the levels of tolerance are high. While Ghana is overtly Christian, traditional beliefs and customs also retain a highly visible presence. Pentecostal and charismatic Christians make up the largest faith group, at about 24 per cent of the population and dominate in the southern and central parts of the country.
The Catholic faith, which makes up about 15 per cent, was introduced by Portuguese traders in the late 15th century. Although Islam is a minority religion at about 15 per cent, it is concentrated in the north, where it is the dominant religion. Islam reached West African as early as the 8th century through trans-Saharan trade routes.
ISSUES AFFECTING GHANIAN CHILDREN
Despite Ghana’s relative prosperity, poverty remains pervasive, especially in the northern region where over half the population lives below the poverty line. Many families in rural areas still lack access to safe drinking water and very few have adequate sanitation, leading to periodic outbreaks of Guinea worm. Children are particularly vulnerable to these parasite epidemics, which are spread through unsafe drinking water.
While the country’s HIV rate seems to be stabilising, it is estimated that only 30 per cent of AIDS cases are reported, partly due to stigma but also because of inadequate access to health services. In addition, less than 500 of the over 6,000 known HIV-positive children under the age of 14 were receiving crucial anti-retroviral therapy.
Child labour is also a problem in Ghana. Unlike in other parts of the world, the majority of child labour in Africa, and especially Ghana, takes place in family agricultural enterprises. It is estimated that around 28 per cent of children between the ages of 7 and 14 years, about 800,000 children, are involved in child labour. The need for manual labourers in family enterprises, as well as little understanding of the importance of education, means that many are taken out of school, either partly or entirely, and put to work.
Weather
Ghana’s climate is typically tropical, with high daytime temperatures, often over 30°C, and cooler temperatures at night. The south west tends to be hot and humid, while it is warm and comparatively dry along south east coast and dry in the north. The main rainfall is between April and September. Hot, dry and dusty Harmattan winds can blow from the north in November and December.
INTERACTING WITH GHANAIANS
General guidelines
- Learn some Twi words and phrases
- Enjoy the enthusiasm of the locals. Ghanaians are proud of their nation and love to share this
- Ghanaians are very friendly and welcoming, so please take the time to chat
- Do not use your left hand to pass anything (such as money) or to shake hands
- If you are eating with your fingers, use your right hand only
Photographing people
- If the Team leaders from the Hope City Accra staff ask us not to take photographs in a particular area, please trust their experience and comply
- Ask for permission before taking someone’s photograph
- If permission is refused, don’t insist or become offended
- You are welcome to take photographs at the Compassion Projects
- Always ask permission during home visits
These guidelines must be strictly adhered to - ignoring them could endanger the whole group.
Greetings
When shaking hands always use your right hand - it will be seen as an insult if you extend your left hand. Greeting procedures tend to be more formal than we are used to. It will be considered rude to begin asking for directions or bargaining without first greeting the person. Please also remember that elderly people should be treated with special respect.
FOOD AND DRINK
Food
Some of the most popular staple foods in Ghana, are plantains, cassava and yams, particularly in the form of fufu, gooey balls that are served in a light soup or groundnut sauce. Another common popular dish is jollof rice, served with chicken or meat cooked into it. The good quality, locally manufactured chocolate is worth sampling. All the hotels and restaurants where we will be eating serve western dishes, so don’t worry if you don’t feel adventurous.
Alcohol and Smoking
Please refrain from smoking during this trip. When visiting the Compassion projects it’s worth noting the children are taught Christian principles of caring for their bodies and it is a bad witness for them to see sponsors smoking.
No alcohol is to be consumed Mission Week. Alcoholic beverages may consumed in moderation once we reach the Cape Coast Resort.
OUR DESTINATIONS IN GHANA
Accra
Accra was founded by the Ga people in the late 17th century. The word Accra is derived from the word nkran meaning ‘ants’ in Akan, a reference to the many anthills seen in the surrounding countryside. Today it is the capital of Ghana and functions as the administrative, communications, and economic centre of the country. Over 70 per cent of Ghana's manufacturing capacity is located within its district and it is one of the wealthiest and most modern cities on the continent, with a high quality of living by African standards.
Cape Coast
Cape Coast, also known as Cabo Corso, is situated 165 km west of Accra on the Gulf of Guinea and is the capital of the Central Region. The town was founded in the 15th century by Portuguese settlers and grew around Cape Coast Castle, which is now a World Heritage Site. The town was vital as a link between European sea routes and the African interior and during the 18th century its economy was dominated by slave trade and even today, the town looks Victorian. Cape Coast is also home to the University of Cape Coast, Ghana’s leading research university. The city also boasts some of Ghana’s finest secondary and technical schools.
PROJECT INFORMATION
Project GH -213: Mankrong Methodist Child Development Centre
Llocated in Agona Mankrong, 48km northwest of Accra, Ghana
Mankrong Methodist Child Development Centre is located in the forested community of Agona Mankrong, home to approximately 1,300 residents. Typical houses are constructed of cement floors, brick walls and tin roofs. The primary ethnic group is Fantis and the most commonly spoken language is Fanti. The regional diet consists of maize, beans, chicken, fish, bread, cassava, plantains, rice and goat. Common health problems in this area include malnutrition and malaria. Most adults in Agona Mankrong are unemployed but some work as subsistence farmers and earn the equivalent of £15 per month. This community needs scholastic materials, employment opportunities, vocational training and recreation centres.Sponsorship allows the staff of Mankrong Methodist Child Development Centre to provide the children with Bible teaching, health screening, hygiene education, vaccinations, outdoor and indoor games, social clubs, vocational counselling and tuition. The centre staff will also provide hygiene and nutrition education and HIV/AIDS awareness programmes for the children’s parents and guardians.
Project GH -205: Kwanyako Methodist Child Development Centre
Located in Agona Kwanyako, 47km northwest of Accra, Ghana
Kwanyako Methodist Child Development Centre is located in the hillside community of Agona Kwanyako, home to approximately 10,300 residents. Typical houses are constructed of cement floors, brick walls and tin roofs. The primary ethnic group is Agonas and the most commonly spoken language is Agona. The regional diet consists of maize, beans, bananas, chicken, fish, bread, cassava, beef, plantains, rice and goat. Common health problems in this area include malaria and malnutrition. Most adults are unemployed but some work as subsistence farmers and earn the equivalent of £10 per month. This community needs schools, qualified teachers, employment opportunities and employable skills training. Sponsorship allows the staff of Kwanyako Methodist Child Development Centre to provide your sponsored child with Bible teaching, health screening, hygiene education, vaccinations, deworming, games, social clubs, vocational counselling and tuition. The centre staff will also provide hygiene, nutrition and parenting education for the children’s parents and guardians.
VISITING HOMES
We will be visiting the homes of children in Compassion projects during our time away. This will be as important as visiting the project itself. Compassion works closely not only with the children but also with their families.
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