Republic of Ghana
The Culture of the Republic of Ghana
The People
Ghana's population is about 20.8 million and counting at 1.4 percent annually. The official language of Ghana is English because of their colonial association with Great Britain. Ghana's main religion is Christianity. Their personal appearance is usually conservative dresses and casual attire. Men wear and ntoma, which is a long colored cloth wrapped aroung their body. Women wear wraparound skirts, a seperate top, and a headscarf.
Customs
Ghana's greetings vary in different areas. Handshakes are the most common and respectful greetings. If you ignore a greeting or you fail to greet someone it is a very serious offense to Ghanaians. If you visit somebody's home, the hosts prefer you to remove their shoes when entering a home or certain rooms. When guests are served refreshments, it's impolite not to receive their offers.
Lifestyle
In Ghana, an extended family is always strong and very vital in communities. Families can still arrange marriages, but children have the right to reject arrangements. A Ghanaian's diet usually consists of yams, cassava, millet, maize, plantains, and rice. The sport most Ghanaians are devoted to is soccer, which is their national sport. Their most popular dance music is known as highlife, which was originated from Ghana, and it's genre is widespread in Africa.
Society
Ghana is a multiparty democracy. Their presidents are always chief of state and head of the government. Ghana's currency is called new cedi (GHC). Their transportation is still very underdeveloped. They have a rail system that connects Accra to Kumasi and Takoradi. Schooling in Ghana has been free, but parents have to pay for the cost of their materials.