Ghana Culture

Ghana’s culture is diverse as its 24 million people are composed of a number of ethnicities from the Akans of Akanland to the Dagombas of the Dagbon region, the Ashantis of Kumasi, and many other minorities. The natives speak many distinct languages and dialects, despite English being the country’s only official language. Various museums including Accra’s National Museum of Ghana offer a glimpse into the great ethnography of Ghanaian people, while archaeological galleries feature the collections dug up from ancient sites.

Ghanaians are conservative, religious people which is why tourists are encouraged to dress modestly wherever they go. It is important to ask permission before taking photographs of locals and sacred grounds. Taking off your shoes when entering a place of worship is a common courtesy, as is accepting a welcome drink.

Music is also an important part of the Ghanaian tradition. There are three distinct types of local sounds: ethnic music, which is played during festivals and sometimes at funerals; highlife music, which is a fusion of imported and traditional music; and choral music, which is often performed in churches, concert halls and schools. Dancing is also distinct, with certain moves depicting different acts of celebration, praise, worship, and storytelling.

Ghana Languages

English is the official language used in Ghana. It was passed on to the Ghanaians by their British colonialists. English is predominantly used for government and business affairs. It is used in legal and administrative documents and procedures. Besides, English is also used in Ghanaian politics and media coverage. Examples of newspapers which are written in English include the “Daily Guide Ghana” and the “Ghanaian Chronicle.” Additionally, it is used by Ghana’s education sector as a language of instruction. English is also one of the subjects taken by students in Ghanaian schools. The English spoken by the locals is not as fluent as a native speaker’s English. It is mostly influenced by the indigenous languages’ idioms, phrases, and grammatical rules. It is therefore common to hear the English being referred to as Pidgin English. There are nine other languages which are sponsored by the government. These languages are Akan languages (Twi languages), Dagaare, Dangbe, Dagbane, Ga, Kasem, Ewe, and Nzema. Those languages which are not sponsored by the government include Bimoba, Bassari, Anufo, Adele, and Sisaala among others.