Ghana Local Customs

  Cemetery in Big Ada
by SanBa
 
  • Cemetery in Big Ada
      Cemetery in Big Ada
    by SanBa
  •   Local Customs
    by grets
  •   Local Customs
    by grets
  •   Local Customs
    by grets
  •   Local Customs
    by grets
 
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Shaking hands

by Pieter11

Ghanaian people are physical people: they like to meet people and touch them. Therefore, people will always shake hands with you when they meet you. In Ghana, you will find two ways of shaking hands:1) The most popular way, thay you see all over the country, is a handshake that really needs some practice to get it. A person shakes hands normally, and at the moment you normally would let go of eachothers hands, you make a "click" with eachothers middlefingers. It goes just the same way as the normal "click" with your own thumb and middlefinger, but this time you do it together with the other person. Difficult to explain, difficult to do, but nice to learn! And everybody does it: from teenagers to old men, and all over the country.2) The second way it the "muslim way" which you only see in the north of the country. A person steps up to you, shakes hand and afterwards, brings his hand...

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Smoking

by Pieter11

In Ghana, it is very, very cheap to smoke. For a package of 20 of the cheapest cigarettes you only pay about $ 0,30! These cheap ones are Tusker cigarettes. There are several other brands for sale, but don't expect to find any Marlboro or Camel.But: it is important to know that smoking is not socially excepted in Ghana. You hardly see people smoke here, except for some youngsters in the bigger cities. For the rest, only some men smoke when they are offered a cigarette. For women however, it is not done to smoke in public. I once was told about women who smoke in Ghana: "They are either Westerners or whores".So: pay attention to where you smoke. In places like restaurants (outside) or bars it is no problem, just like spacious places. But don't smoke at markets or other crowded places. The people will clearly show you they don't like it!

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Signs of the tribes

by Pieter11

Especially in the north of Ghana, there are a lot of different tribes. When children are born in these tribes, wounds are made on their cheeks to indicate the group they belong to. Traditional medicines are rubbed in, which leaves a clear scar. Sometimes these symbols are one vertical line on both cheeks, sometimes more of these lines, but I've also seen a man with a face completely covered with circles.

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Children's names

by grets

The Akan people of Ghana, frequently name their children after the day of the week on which they were born. This includes the Ashanti people, and during our visit to the Cultural Centre in Kumasi, we were told of the various names and given the opportunity to purchase a cloth badge with our Akan name. I knew which day I was born on (Friday), but the guide worked it out for David (Sunday). The names are as follows:Monday Male = Kwadwo, Female = AdjwoaTuesday Male = Kwabena, Female = AbenaaWednesday Male = Kwaku, Female = AkuaThursday Male = Yaw, female = YaaFriday Male = Kofi, female = AfuaSaturday Male = Kwame, female = AmmaSunday Male = Akwasi, Female = Akosua

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Coffins

by grets

It is an old custom in Ghana that when a rich merchant dies and was buried, his coffin would be shaped to represent the life he led when he was alive. Hence coffins would be made in the shape of cars, birds, fruits and vegetables, shoes and a host more interesting shapes. It beats being buried in any old plain wooden box I suppose. I wonder what shape I would like my coffin to be in. A bank note (from my days in the bank), or maybe a globe, to represent my interest in travelling.We visited a coffin maker in Tema, to the east of Accra. There were coffins everywhere, and they were beautifully finished, with the interior being padded and completed with shiny silk. I was very impressed.

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Courtesy, a way of life

by IoannaE

I was impressed by Ghanaian courtesy. Drivers stop for you to cross the street, people queue up, everyone says 'hello, how are you' to shop assistants and waiters. At the Ghalebon hotel, the first rule was 'Any breach of good manners is a breach of hotel regulations'. I hope to take this lesson home where everyone is much more brusque!

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Coiffure

by grets

I love the different hairstyles available to fashion-conscious young black girls. If you think African girls are limited to tight curly hair, think again! Hair dressing salons would advertise the different designs on large posters outside their stalls. These are just a selection of the numerous different styles we saw throughout our travels there.

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Sacrifice

by grets

The word sacrifice comes from an old English expression “to make sacred”, and sacrifice is part of everyday life in rural Ghana. Sacrifice is basically making an offering in the form of food, drink or an animal to appease the gods and is used in traditional religions all over the world. We saw evidence of chickens being sacrificed, as well as skulls of goats. In the past, it has been reported that human sacrifice took place, although any current involvement in this outlawed activity is vehemently denied.

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Female Circumsicion

by grets

Female circumcision, more popularly known as genital mutilation, involves the removal of part of the female genitalia. Sometimes all the genitalia is also removed. In Ghana, the most common form this takes is a procedure known as excision which include removal of the external female genitals to create an open wound. This is then stitched together form a cover over the vagina when they heal. A small hole is left to allow urine and menstrual blood to escape. Although this process is discouraged, it is believed that some 75% of rural girls are circumcised at puberty.Please note that the pictures have NOTHING to do with female circumcision! They are purely photos of young girls in and around Ghana!

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Greeting the village chief

by grets

It is customary everywhere in rural Ghana to greet the chief and gain permission before entering the village. You cannot speak directly to the chief, so in order to speak to the chief, we would ask Noah to ask his translator who would ask the chief’s assistant who would ask the chief! Confused? You soon will be. In one of the villages we did not follow this protocol, and were chased out of the village by a young man with a gun!

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Local traditions and culture in Ghana

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Local Customs: Cities in Ghana
  1. Accra Local Customs
  2. Kumasi Local Customs
  3. Cape Coast Local Customs
  4. Mole National Park Local Customs
  5. Tamale Local Customs
  6. Elmina Local Customs
  7. Lake Bosumtwi Local Customs
  8. Senya Beraku Local Customs
  9. Obuasi Local Customs
  10. Ada Local Customs
  11. Gnani Local Customs
  12. Damongo Local Customs

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Popular Regions in Ghana

Greater Accra Region Local Customs  Central Region Local Customs  Ashanti Region Local Customs  Northern Region Local Customs  Western Region Local Customs  Upper East Region Local Customs  Eastern Region Local Customs  Volta Region Local Customs 

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  I'm planning my trip for Ghana for next year and I'm want to bring some food items such as can foods. Is it ok, and if so is there... 

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A: Why do you want to carry can goods? You can go to a number of grocery stores in Accra. Although I have carried some specialty items, the Accra airport does not usually... 

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