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Spotlight on...Ghana

Spotlight on...Ghana

kakum

The Republic of Ghana is a country in West Africa, situated in the Gulf of Guinea. The country has over 23 million inhabitants, with almost 4 million of these residing in Accra, the nation’s capital. The second biggest city in Ghana is Kumasi, which has a population of 2.6 million people.

Like the rest of the region, the country’s history over the last few hundred years has been very unstable, with a succession of European colonisations. The Portuguese were the first to arrive in the 15th century, followed by the Dutch, Danish, Swedish and the British. During the time of British rule, the country was known as the ‘Gold Coast’. Ghana finally gained its independence in March 1957. Since then, the country has remained relatively peaceful in comparison to some of its neighbours.

The landscape of Ghana is hugely diverse: the northern part of the country is dominated by huge plains, forests are found to the south, the Akmapim-Togo hills are found to the east, and the country’s shorelines feature long stretches of sandy beaches. The river Volta runs through the south-eastern part of the country, including Lake Volta, the largest man-made lake in the world. The reservoir is used for fishing, irrigation and also provides hydro-electricity.

volta

The official and most widely spoken language in Ghana is English, however many people also speak a local language. The biggest ethnic group in Ghana today is the Akan, while other large groups include the Mole-Dagban and the Ewe.

One of the most globally recognisable Ghanaians today is Kofi Annan, who was the Secretary General of the United Nations from January 1997 to December 2006. Since leaving the post, Annan has continued to be involved in African politics, participating in talks to try and end the ongoing violence in Kenya, as well as being appointed Chancellor of the University of Ghana.

Football is by far the most popular sport in Ghana, which has been helped by the country’s recent success at various levels of competition. In 2009, the Under-20 team, known as the Black Satellites, won the U-20 World Cup, beating Brazil 4-3 in the final. Following on from this, the full national team, known as the Black Stars, were the only African team to progress from the group stage of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, reaching the quarter finals before unfortunately being knocked out on penalties by Uruguay. Some of the best known Ghanaian footballers today are Michael Essien, who plays for Chelsea in England, Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng, who play for Inter and AC Milan in Italy.

ghanateam

For visitors to Ghana, the country’s stunning landscapes are the main attraction. Many tourists go on safari, either walking or in a car, with one of the most popular destinations being Mole National Park. Visitors can even spend a night camping in the savannah.

Another popular attraction for tourists is Kakum National Park. Visitors can walk along a huge canopy walkway suspended above the rainforest, providing spectacular views in all directions.

There are several NCC Accredited Partner Centres located around Ghana: IPMC centres can be found in Accra, Kumasi, Labone, Takoradi and Tema.

 

Facts:

• Ghana is closer than any other country to the ‘centre’ of the earth. The location with the coordinates 0°0° is located in the Atlantic Ocean, 382 miles south of Accra.

• Ghana produces 17% of the world’s cocoa.

• Ghana was the first sub-Saharan country to gain independence, in 1957.

 

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