14 Things To Know About Ghana - Wonders of Wanders

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Proceed with a firm tongue in cheek (sometimes) if you want to find out some of the things to know about Ghana...

Ghana is a kaleidoscope of colours, cultures, sights and sounds. The tapestry of tradition sits beside contemporary happenings. Streets are awash with joints offering tantalising local food delicately infused with spices. Here, everyday can seem like an endless assault on the senses. Will it be the cock’s crow announcing a new dawn? Or an evangelist preaching salvation over loudspeakers? Will you have a peaceful trotro ride? Or will there be a persistent salesman with the elixir for erectile dysfunction? The answer is anybody’s guess. Welcome to a place where you can parachute into magic, moments and mayhem all at once.

Will you be awakened by a cockerel or a person with a loudspeaker?

ART & CULTURE

1. Festival galore

Festivals are great displays of Ghanaian culture. Traditional festivals and contemporary avenues such as the Chale Wote Street Art Festival are vibrant draws for people both home and away. Traditional festivals tell unique stories of harvest, history, migration and more. Ghana has over 50 major ones celebrated by different ethnic groups throughout the year. Chale Wote Street Art Festival in Accra is a week-long melange of culture, creativity and community. The annual festival is a fixture on the cultural scene in the capital every August. Each of these is a display of some of the historical, spiritual and cultural legacies of Ghana. They usually come with a side of art, music, street eats and more.

2. Where the art is

Ghana has a thriving arts scene with creations full of intricate detail and workmanship. From the streets to established galleries, artists display expertise in painting, carving, weaving, pottery and ceramics, to name a few. When in Accra, don’t miss The Artists Alliance Gallery for its expansive floors displaying works by new and established artists. Artists Alliance is located at Omanye House on the La Beach Road.

3. Colourful canoes

Along beaches of Ghana, you may come across colourfully designed canoes used for fishing. Many have illustrations which symbolise some of the beliefs and identities of fisher folks.

Colourfully designed canoes on one of Ghana's beaches — Colourfully designed canoes are a fixture on many of Ghana’s beaches.

4. Names have meanings

The peculiarities of giving children traditional Ghanaian names differ from one ethnic group to the other. From circumstances surrounding conception and gestation, to the day of birth, many things can influence the names given to a baby.

5. There are many languages spoken in the country…

…and not one of them is called “Ghanaian”. So, don’t ask someone to say something to you “in Ghanaian.”

6. Spirited and over-the-top funerals

Under the “right” circumstances, death is a celebration of life. Funerals are often a chance for extended families, loved ones and sympathisers to (re)connect. Therefore, when official mourning is over, a spirited mix of bonhomie-ing and boogieing may form part of funeral proceedings.

FOOD

7. Local food is an institution

Local food options are everywhere. Think unforgettable waakye early in the morning. Luscious “red red” or no-frills roast plantain. The perfect roll of omo tuo (rice balls). And so on. No matter where you are, trust the elements to connect you to something delicious. If you are new to Ghanaian cuisine, The A to Z of Ghanaian Food Favourites is a good place to start. Food is very much at the heart of social bonding, and certainly an important aspect of things to know about Ghana.

Roast plantain is a popular street food option in Ghana — Roast plantain is a popular street food choice in Ghana – and it’s easy on the pocket, too.

NATURE

8. Coastline of beaches and possibilities

From Aflao to Cape Three Points, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to Ghana’s coastline. Labadi Beach is possibly Ghana’s most well-known beach. This is the quintessential party beach with music, cocktails, food and good vibes. For quieter spots, try Sankofa Beach House and Keta in the Volta Region. Ghana is also an emerging destination riding the waves of change. A burgeoning surf scene beckons in Kokrobite, Busua and Cape Three Points.

View of Keta beach, a tranquil spot for relaxation — Keta is a tranquil spot for a relaxing beach day

9. Natural lake

Formed by meteorite impact 1.07 million years ago, Lake Bosomtwe is Ghana’s only natural lake. It is located about 30km south-east of Kumasi, Ghana’s second city. Surrounding communities regard the lake as a sacred place. It is taboo to use regular dug-out canoes, metal or iron upon the waters. Traditional fishermen honour this by using large planks of wood propelled by hands or plates instead.

A fisherman on a plank of wood at Lake Bosomtwe one harmattan afternoon

EVERYDAY LIFE

10. Philosophical journeys

Inscriptions on public transport vehicles sometimes take sobering, philosophical turns. Look out for them when you are on the streets. You might spot ones like, “Conquer the devil within”, “Had I known” and “Fear man”. In short, there’s never a dull moment on the streets of Ghana.

Ghana's Independence Arch at sunset with a taxi in view — Look out for pithy sayings on public transport vehicles when on the streets of Ghana

11. Price is negotiable

It is often customary to bargain where prices are not marked. The first offer is usually not the best offer. Good-natured bargaining is the name of the game when you street trade or buy, especially in the markets.

12. Markets produce terms of endearment

They are hardly the dulcet tones of your lover, mind you. But is it part of the Ghanaian market experience? You bet.

13. Trotros carry a cross-section of society

You will catch Ghana at various moments through the microcosm of society that travels by this common form of public transport. Football, politics and religion can be heated subjects right here.

14. One drug allegedly cures most ailments

That one herbal drug or ointment the salesman is peddling on the trotro cures headaches, body aches and rashes. Wait, that’s not all! It also heals boils, irregular bleeding, abdominal pain, hemorrhoids and erectile dysfunction. You know, just to mention a few. Word of advice? Take those sales with an entire bag of salt – because a pinch never helped. If all else fails, tune out the spiel by diving into a podcast or good reads like Americanah and Kintu.

Akwaaba. Welcome to Ghana!