Ghana

 

Quick Facts

• Continental region –western Africa
• Currency symbol of Ghana –Ghanaian cedi, ₵ as symbol of Ghanaian cedi.
• Capital City –Accra
• Official languages –English 
• Population –31,243,580 (2020)
• Country dialling code  –  (+233 )
• Official website – Ghana
• Top 3 biggest industries  –Mining, Energy, Tourism
• Google Maps link –Ghana
• Where is it? –Ghana is a country located on the continent of Africa. Situated in West Africa, Ghana rests along the coast of two separate bodies of water. The Atlantic Ocean is directly below the southern border of Ghana, whereas the Gulf of Guinea is located along the southeastern edge of Ghana.

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Ghana In Pictures

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Ghana History

• How did the country get its first name? – Ghana (meaning Warrior King) was the title given to the kings of the medieval Ghana Empire of West Africa. 
• How did the country get its current name? -The Republic of Ghana is named after the West African Ghana Empire. The empire became known in Europe and Arabia as the Ghana Empire after the title of its Emperor, the Ghana.
• When and by whom the country was first discovered? – The area has been occupied by various kingdoms including the Bonoman and Akwamu empires. The first Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in 1471. 
• Who were the first Inhabitants? –The origins of Ghana have been dominated by disputes between ethnohistoric accounts and archaeological interpretations. The earliest discussions of its origins are found in the Sudanese chronicles of Mahmud Kati and Abd al-Rahman as-Sadi.
• When it was first recognized as a country?–  6 March 1957 Ghana became the first black African nation to gain its independence from colonial rule. 
• Who was the first leader of the country? –Kwame Nkrumah PC (21 September 1909 – 27 April 1972) was a Ghanaian politician and revolutionary. He was the first Prime Minister and President of Ghana, having led the Gold Coast to independence from Britain in 1957.

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Five Significant Events 

1. Arrival of Portuguese: The Portuguese arrives on the coast of Guinea as the first Europeans. (http://elminacastle.info/portuguese-arrival-at-the-gold-coast.html)
2. 1957 Independence of Ghana: Independence for the state now called Ghana, the first country in black sub-Saharan Africa to shake off colonial rule, inspiring liberation struggles around the continent. (https://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/ghana-demands-independence-britain)
3. 1960 Republic of Ghana: Ghana proclaimed a republic; Nkrumah elected president. (https://www.myjoyonline.com/opinion/60-years-on-ghanas-republic-africas-independence-and-the-declining-power-of-pan-afrikanism/)
4. 1969 New constitution of Ghana: New constitution facilitates transfer of power to civilian government led by Kofi Busia. (https://www.legonconnect.com/ghana60-ghanas-political-history-nkrumah-nana-addo-need-know/)
5. 2001 Accra Sports Stadium Disaster: 129 Ghanaian football fans die in a stampede caused by the firing of teargas by police following a decision by the referee in a crucial match between arch-rivals Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko. (https://www.onthisday.com/date/2001/may/9)

Five Places to Visit in Ghana

1. Accra: In this placeat every turn you’ll find markets, incredible food, wonderful music, and lots of traffic! Top it all off with a trip to one of the many coffin shops in Teshie. (https://visitghana.com/)
2. Artists Alliance Gallery: This gallery will blow you away with its contemporary and fine art collections. You can see almost every prominent Ghanaian artist represented and most of the pieces are for sale. (https://www.artistsalliancegallery.com/)
3. Labadi Beach: The beach itself is maintained by the surrounding hotels so be forewarned that there is a small entrance fee for those not staying there. (https://theculturetrip.com/africa/ghana/articles/a-guide-to-accras-labadi-beach/)
4. Jamestown: There’s a ton of history to discover as both the British and the Portuguese left behind a cultural and architectural legacy. (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/ghana/accra/attractions/jamestown/a/poi-sig/1350588/355309)
5. Cape Coast: Cape Coast is a former European colonial capital and one of the most culturally significant spots in all of Africa. (https://visitghana.com/attractions/cape-coast-castle/)

References: 

• https://www.britannica.com/place/Ghana
• https://www.mataf.net/en/currency/converter-GHS
• https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/ghana-population/
• https://www.countrycallingcodes.com/country.php?country=ghana
• https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-are-the-biggest-industries-in-ghana.html
• https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-are-the-biggest-industries-in-ghana.html
• https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-locations/where-is-ghana
• https://www.onthisday.com/countries/ghana