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Akwaaba is Akan (the collective name for Central Region ans Ashanti languages) for "welcome".When you first arrive people will greet you with "Awaaba". BUT, say go go out for the day and return, your host will still say AKwaaba. Why? because it Literally means "you've gone and come back"!So we use it in both situations! And it's always meant warmly.
Typical Ghanaians Shake hands a lot. When they first meet people, to congratulate or sometimes, just to say "thank you" for a present of a gesture.Always offer your right hand; and if you enter a room full of people, (whether you've met them all or not) start from the right and work your way left, shaking hands with everyone.This is how it's done in Ghana!
Description: Ghanaians do everything with their rights hand: eating, touching food, giving, receiving, shaking hands, even haling a cab. Anything you can think of - right hand!The left hand is traditionally used for "dirty things" and it is considered very bad for to use the left hand. (Ghanaians would beat their children for this, for example). If you can't use your right hand for some reason, just say "sorry for using the left"Ghanaians do make allowance for visitors who don't know the customs, but making the effort will be really appreciated.If in doubt, use, the right!
You cannot find many doctors and hospitals with European or American standards. It means that if you have something serious, you better go to back directly to your country. A friend of mine had a accident, a deep cut in the leg. The doctor wanted to cut the leg. We went to another hospital where they agreed to stich the cut. The day after, he had to go to France because the cut was not disinfected and it was gangrened.There some more serious hospitals, NYAHO in Airport residential in Accra, and Korle Bu, 37 Military hospital in not bad and has good doctors.The problem is that Ghanaians have to study in UK or USA, it is very expensive and it takes them 20 years or more to become a doctor. So, when they come back, they are more eager to get a return on investment as fast as possible than to save life.
As a former British colony, Ghana kept the tradition of uniform in schools.The Government schools oblige to wear an orange and brown uniform.Richer people can send their kids to private schools with better professors.As sometimes Government is late to pay teachers, they racket children: if they want to attend classes, they have to pay.All schools charge school fees, school in mandatory up to 15 yo, but they also have to pay the school fees, and it is sometimes difficult
Nana is a kind of nobiliar title you give to the chief of a village.Ghana has still a traditional organisation in the villages: there is no ellected mayor and elected municipal advisors. There is just a chief, guardian of the traditions and administrating wisely the destiny of the village.The chief is chosen by the Queen mother. Nowadays, it is someone who is well educated. In big villages, you have several chiefs for the different activities. When you enter a village, whatever you want to do, you have to go and greet the chief. If you just want to visit the village, ask him for permission and for permission of taking pictures.If you want something more, bring him a present. The best is a bottle of alcohol that he will open in front of you. He will pour some alcohol on the soil as a present to the Ancients and to the Spirits of the village.When this ritual is done, you can go. Don't...
DIET AND EATINGThe diet consists mainly of yams, cassava, maize, plantains, and rice. Ghanaians enjoy hot and spicy food, and most of their meals are accompanied by a pepper sauce made with fish, chicken, or other meats. Popular dishes include fufu (a dough-like combination of plantains and cassava or yams); ampesi (boiled unripe plantains); and palm, coconut, or groundnut oil sauces and soups. Ghana also produces a variety of tropical fruits and vegetables.Most larger restaurants serve Western food as well as native Ghanaian food.
Many Ghanaian businesses have names which are surprising to visitors. First off, shops are often called 'enterprises', which sounds quite quaint, while a bar is often called a 'spot'.What's more surprising, however, is the detail of the names, which is often overtly religious, in a country where evangelical Christianity is popular (and growing ever more popular). So, for example, you might have 'Blood of Jesus Enterprise' or 'Great is Jehovah Spot', or 'The Lord is My Shepherd Hair Salon' and 'Thank U Jesus Fashion House', all places I saw during my trip. My favourite was the surreal God's Power of Woodwork Power Saw Construction. Some of the businesses are not, of course, quite as religious, but the names are equally arresting - Love Me Drinking Bar or Why Worry Beauty Salon, for example.
About half of Ghanaians are Akan, an ethnic group which includes both the Ashanti and the Fanti, and they speak variants of Twi, which is the most widely-spoken language in Ghana. Akan children are given several names when born, and one of these corresponds to the day they were born, as well as their gender. So, for example, a boy born on a Friday is a Kofi (like Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General, who hails from Ghana), while a girl born on the same day is Efua. Many people use their 'day name', so there is a profusion of Kofis in the country, which can be confusing at times. I met one woman who had twins, both called Kofi, as you might expect!If you can figure out what day you were born, you can tell Ghanaians what your Akan day name is, and this always gets a huge laugh. People loved calling me Kofi (since I'm another Friday child). There are equivalents in some of the other...
Depending on your own culture, shaking hands regularly may not be a big feature of life. However, in Ghana you shake hands all of the time, even more so if you are a foreign visitor, and liable to attract some attention. You might shake hands with people every time you meet them, though rarely more than once a day, and people often shake hands as a farewell also. You should also make sure to enquire after people's health and so forth, too: take an interest in people, and they will very much appreciate it, and share some of their stories with you. If you get to know people a little better, they will often finish a handshake by clicking your fingers: it feels odd at first, but you'll quickly get used to it, and want to start practicing the clicking yourself!
Labadi Beach Hotel Accra
4 Reviews and 86 Opinions Labadi Beach hotel on the eastern side of Labadi beach is the most expensive hotel in Accra. Walk-in...
Elmina Beach Resort Cape Coast
25 Opinions
Desertrose lodge Western Region
0 Opinions
Reviews and photos of Ghana attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Ghana sightseeing.
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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...
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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