About Ghana

Ghana is the gateway of West Africa and was the first African country to gain independence in 1957

Once known as the Gold Coast, the Republic of Ghana is a west African country bordering the Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east and the Gulf of Guinea to the south. The capital Accra is situated along the Coast and is the administrative, communications, and economic centre of the country.

Ghana is an extremely safe country for visitors and volunteers. In Accra and a number of larger towns, taxis, mobile phones, internet access and other modern services are available. However even with these advances, Ghana still requires much more development and has great infrastructure needs.

Population & People:

Ghana has a population of approximately 24 million people according to the World Development Indicators, 2009.

The population is made up of over 100 different ethnic groups but has not seen the kind of ethnic conflict that has created civil war in many other African countries.

Ghanaian people are generally very friendly and like to talk to visitors  

Language:

The official language of Ghana is English used for most business and government interactions, however there are in excess of 250 other languages and dialects used in Ghana. Nine languages, including the official language English, are government-sponsored and recognised languages

Climate:

Temperatures in Ghana are usually high, between 25- 35°c. April to September is the rainy season bringing frequent rain and humidity. The dry season from October to March is often dusty and can be cold at night

Money:

The Ghanaian currency is the cedi (GHS).

Politics:

Ghana was created as a parliamentary democracy at independence in 1957, followed by alternating military and civilian governments. In January 1993, military government gave way to the Fourth Republic after presidential and parliamentary elections in late 1992 and elections have been held every four years since.

Ghana has two main parties: the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party.

In 2009, John Atta Mills, leader of the National Democratic Congress took office as President of Ghana.

Religion:

The main religion practiced in Ghana is Christianity, with a substantial Muslim minority. Religion is a central focus of Ghanaian culture and visitors can expect to witness impromptu sermons on buses and plenty of Christianity music and singing

Being a Volunteer and Tourist in Ghana:

Ghana has many things to explore and enjoy; it has lush vegetation, lively markets, colourful festivals, wonderful music, beautiful beaches, a rich history and wildlife.

Ghana is the gateway to West Africa. Come and enjoy the unlimited sunshine, the beautiful palm-fringed beaches, the many panoramic views and meet some of the friendliest people in the world.