Gap Year Destinations

Where to go

Africa: Ghana

Sometimes said to be the centre of the world, Ghana has beautiful beaches, fantastic festivals and snails on the menu!

Environment

Only a few degrees north of the equator, with the Greenwich Meridian line running through it, Ghana is sometimes said to be the centre of the world. It is bordered by Cote D’Ivoire to the west, Togo to the east, Burkina Faso to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic to the south. The coast is sandy, with scrub and plains inland, through which run streams and rivers. Above this is a band of hilly tropical forest, north of which are more plains and savannah. Ghana is home to Lake Volta, the world’s largest artificial lake, created by Akosombo Dam. This lake provides power for most of the country.

Climate

Due to Ghana lying so near to the equator, the weather is hot, and the climate tropical. In the north it is largely hot and dry, the south-west is humid and the coast is mostly drier and warm.

Demographics and Language

Ghana is home to roughly 23 million people, almost half of which are the Akan ethnic group, while the rest of the population is comprised of small numbers of other ethnicities. Due to this diversity, more than 50 languages are spoken in Ghana. English is the official language, however, and is used in commerce and in schools.

Cuisine

A meal in Ghana is usually comprised of a starchy main dish, such as rice with beans, cassava, plantain, corn or yam accompanied by a stew. Stews are often tomato based, with vegetables, mushrooms, fish, meats or even snails! Another popular dish is Redred – mashed bean stew with fried plantain, named after the red spices which flavour it. Indeed, Ghanaian cuisine makes use of a variety of herbs and spices, such as thyme, bay, ginger and garlic, and meat and fish are often smoked to add more subtle flavours.

Religion

Christianity is the religion with the most adherents in Ghana, with roughly 62% of the population Christians. Traditional faiths are the next largest group, at 21%, with Islam following at 15%. The remaining 2% of the population do not follow a religion. Due to this mix, Ghana is famed for its religious tolerance, with festivals of all religions, such as Easter and Ramadan, being celebrated in different areas of the country equally. Locally, the north of Ghana is considered to be more Islamic, while the south more Christian.

Economy and money

Ghana’s economy is largely based on agriculture. As well as growing the crops commonly eaten, cash crops are farmed, including cocoa, palm oil, coffee, pineapples, peppers and cashew nuts and trees are grown for timber. Gold and diamonds are mined in Ghana, and there are several offshore oil reserves. Despite this, however, just under 30% of the population still live in poverty. The currency is the Ghana cedi.

Culture and politics

Ghanaian culture is centred on the family unit and its place in the nation, with celebrations held for births and rites of passage. Country-wide festivals include Panafest, which celebrates Ghanaian nationality and Homowo, a feasting time when Ghanaians ridicule hunger. A rich body of literature, both in English and indigenous languages exists, and arts and crafts and wood carving are common skills. Music in Ghana is usually either choral/religious, ethnic/traditional, or a mixture with modern, Western influences.

The democratic Ghanaian government sits at Osu Castle in Accra, the capital. Modern Ghana was formed when it gained independence from British rule in 1951, with Kwame Nkrumah, its first president, stressing principles of freedom, justice, equity and free education for all irrespective of ethnic background, religion or creed. These ideas were part of Pan-Africanism, a movement which seeks to unite Africa and African diasporas.