Along the Gulf of Guinea lies the beautiful West African country of Ghana. Its culture and traditions are rich and vibrant. The people of Ghana are warm and friendly. They are polite, open and trusting — even with strangers. In Ghanaian society, it is traditional to take life at a relaxed pace and view time as a series of events rather than a matter of hours or minutes. The six larger groups are the Akan (Ashanti and Fanti), the Ewe, the Ga-Adangbe, the Mole-Dagbani, the Guan and the Gruma. Like most other African nations, Ghana has rich, traditional cultures that differ from one ethnic group to another.
Along with different ethnic groups and cultures, 52 separate languages and hundreds of dialects are spoken in Ghana. The official language is English — a residual of British colonial rule, from which modern Ghana gained independence in 1957.
Ghanaians place high value on dignity and proper social conduct. Individual conduct is seen as having impact on an entire family, social group and community. Therefore, each person is expected to be respectful, dignified, and observant in almost every aspect of life. It is custom for most communities, clans, and tribes to have annual celebrations. There are three main types of music in Ghana. Ethnic, or traditional music, is usually played during festivals and funerals. Highlife music is a blend of traditional and imported music. Choral music is performed in concert halls, churches, schools and colleges.
As the land of countless tribes and an abundance of languages and customs, Ghana is ripe with the idiosyncrasies that make this West-African country truly unique and special.
