Interesting Ghana

Ghana was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence post-colonialism. It gained its independence on March 6, 1957. Ghana was ranked as Africa’s most peaceful country by the Global Peace Index. Lake Volta, in the Volta region of the country, is the world’s largest man-made lake. It’s 250 miles long and covers 3,283 square miles, or 3.6 percent of Ghana’s area. The currency unit in Ghana is called the cedi. The word “cedi” comes from a local word meaning a cowry shell. Cowry shells (from sea snails) were once used as money in Ghana. Ghana has a population of 25.5 million Ghanas total area is 238,533 sq km (92,098 sq miles) Major languages in Ghana are English, African languages including Akan, Ewe Life expectancy in Ghana is 64 years (men), 66 years (women) There are six national parks and many smaller nature reserves, which were set up to help protect Ghana’s wildlife. There are over 650 butterfly species in the Kakum National Park, including the giant swallowtails, which are nearly 8 inches (20 centimeters) across. Children in Ghana begin two years of kindergarten at age four. Then all children ages 6-12 attend six years of elementary education. If families can afford it, children go on to secondary education. Ghana’s school system is more advanced than many of its African neighbors. Ghanaians love soccer and built a large soccer stadium in the capital of Accra. Soccer is the national sport. The traditional cloth of the Ghanaian people is the bright and colorful kente cloth. In the north, the men wear loose flowing clothes made of darker cloth. Kofi Annan is one of the most well-known Ghanaians. He served as secretary-general of the United Nations from 1997- 2006. Poisonous snakes such as the cobra and puff adder are native to Ghana as are pythons, which don’t bite, but can squeeze their victims to death. In Ghana there is a system of tribal government in addition to the national government. People from Portugal, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, and Britain came to the Gold Coast to search for gold. The British took control of the country in the 20th century and declared the Gold Coast a colony of the British Empire. In 2007, oil was found off the coast of Ghana. A daily production of 200,000 barrels, which could be achieved in about five years after commencement of production, could give Ghana a total revenue of approximately US$1.6 billion yearly. The name Ghana means warrior king and harks back to the days of the Ghana Empire between the ninth and 13th centuries. Ghana has the largest market in West Africa. It’s called Kejetia market and it’s located in Kumasi, the Ashanti region’s capital. There you can find everything under the hot Ghanaian sun, from local crafts — beads, cloth and sandals — to second-hand jeans and clothing, and meats, fruit and vegetables. Ghana produces the second most cocoa beans in the world. Ivory Coast is No. 1. In 1991, Ferdie Ato Adoboe of Ghana set a world record by running 100 meters backwards in 13.6 seconds. The Ghana Empire was built on trade in salt and gold, which is why British merchants later called it the Gold Coast. The black star in Ghana’s flag was adopted from legendary Pan African leader Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League, which had the Black Star Line Steamship company. Ghanaians speak over 40 languages throughout its 10 regions. English is the official language, but most people speak several languages as well. A West African country bordering on the Gulf of Guinea, Ghana is bounded by Côte d’Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It compares in size to Oregon, and its largest river is the Volta.