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Ghana is a country rich in tradition, history and
has some of the friendliest people on earth. The country is considered
by logistics professionals as the gateway to the ECOWAS Sub region, and
both country and people provide a varied and compact experience
appropriately considered as a rich and encompassing taste of Africa.
Flora & Fauna
The southern part of Ghana is all lush jungle, banana plantations and
bone-white beaches dotted with a string of 500-year old forts and
castles built by European traders with the initial idea of trading
natural goods with the natives. Down the line, these structures would be
used as housing and transport posts for slaves. Today they remain as
powerful historical symbols of an unfortunate past. The capital city of
Accra lies on the coast with tree-lined streets and an intimate feeling
that comes with the word town. Accra is a great place to meet the locals
and buy native Ghanaian art and craftwork. At the Accra Arts Centre,
visitors here can find practically anything from sculptures, game-skin
drums and exotic beads to straw craft and superb examples of the
colorfully expressive Kente cloth.
The middle belt of the country with its tropical vegetation offers some
of the best sights and sounds which attract tourists to Africa: tropical
rain forests and savannah, wildlife parks, and the culture of ancient
black kingdoms like Ashanti. Here you will also find traditional village
scapes, goldmines, cocoa farms, tropical fruits and herbal plants.
The largely Muslim northern region of Ghana features the game-rich Mole
National Park a setting that evokes more East African safari than a West
African game park. This region has the architecture and creative
expression one would expect in Northern Africa.
Culture
There are between 50 to 75 ethnic groups in Ghana with the Akans
comprising 45%, Mole-Dagbani 16%, Ewe 16% and Ga-Adangbe 9%. The
traditional order of greeting by handshake is from right to left,
anti-clockwise. A Ghanaian traditional state, or "oman", consists of a
confederation of sub-groups of people pivoted around the supernational
stool or skin of a paramount chief. There are 200 paramount chiefs
throughout the country. On formal occasions one speaks to the chief
through a linguist. The linguist, the chief's ambassador, also delivers
the chief's proclamations to the people in eloquent language. The symbol
of office for a linguist is a long royal staff, decorated with gold and
proverbial symbols.
Music & Dance
Music and dance are an integral part of Ghanaian culture and expression.
The different kinds of music have their special dances associated with
them. There are dances for worship, play, war, funerals etc. Some of the
more popular dances are adowa and bomaa of the Akans, agbadza and
agbekor of the Ewes, kpanlogo of the Gas, kundun of the Nzemas and the
takai of the Dagombas.
The most popular musical instrument is the African drum, with over 20
distinct local types all over the country. Other native instruments
include xylophones, rattles, the gong-gong, reed pipes, animal horns,
violins and elephant tusk horns. Highlife music, West Africa's
contemporary dance band music, originated in Ghana in the 1920s. It
derives its name due to its initial patronage by the elite.
Beaches
Beach lovers are assured of a relaxing time on the country's beaches
along the length of its Atlantic coast. Miles and miles of palm fringed
beaches and twelve hours of sunshine everyday (especially from January -
June and October - December) and a surf that varies from absolute calm
to sizable waves offer an excellent escape for a vacation.
Wildlife & Vegetation
Ghana boasts of various species of plants and animals. Over 220
different species of mammals and another 300 species of birds can be
found in the country's national parks. The lush vegetation in these
parks contains many distinct tropical plants many of which have
medicinal value.
The Kankum National Park in southern Ghana, one of the 19 international
biosphere "hot-spots", is the habitat for rare wildlife including
leopards, bongos, Diana monkeys and forest elephants. This park also
boasts of the worlds longest tree-top canopy walkway (over 1000ft long
and 150ft above the ground). In northern Ghana the Mole National Park is
an exquisite wildlife sanctuary whose safari exploration brings visitors
up close to animals such as antelopes, leopards, lions and elephants.
Festivals
Ghana's numerous cultural festivals are exciting and colourful events
held to mark a new harvest, the purification of the traditional state,
or to commemorate important historical episodes such as wars or
migrations. The following are a few popular festivals:
The Homowo Festival
is a harvest festival celebrated by the Gas. It originated from a period
of great famine followed by a bumper harvest in grain and fish. The word
homowo literally means "hooting at hunger". This month long festival in
August/September involves a lot of merry making and feasting. Visitors
are especially invited to join in the feasting.
Asafotufiam is an
annual warrior's festival celebrated by the people of Ada from the last
Thursday of July to the first weekend in August. It commemorates the
victories of the warriors in battle and those who fell on the battle
field. To re-enact these historic events the "warriors" dress in
traditional battle regalia and stage a mock battle.
The Aboakyer or
"game hunting" festival is a popular festival celebrated on the first
Saturday of May by the chiefs and people of Winneba. The festival begins
with a competitive hunt between two warrior groups, each trying to
capture a live antelope. The winner presents the captured animal to the
paramount chief who sits in state with his sub-chiefs and subjects. The
antelope is sacrificed as an invocation of good harvest and a bountiful
fishing season.
This unforgettable event is characterized by brass
bands, dancing, performance of folklore and feasting.
The Hogbetsotso
festival is celebrated by the Anlo Ewes in early November. This event
commemorates their migration from Notsie in Togo, after escaping the
tyrannical ruler of Notsie, Ago-Koli. To celebrate their exodus and the
bravery of their traditional leaders who lead them on the journey, the
people created the "festival of the Exodus". The ceremonies associated
with the celebration include a peace-making period where all outstanding
disputes and disagreements are supposed to be resolved. The festival
also features a durbar of chiefs with singing, drumming and dancing.
Fetu Afahye is
celebrated by the people of Cape Coast Traditional Area (Fetu) on the
first Saturday of September. Afahye literally translates to "adorning
new cloths". It is a popular festival for the colorful durbar of chiefs,
a procession of the seven Asafo Companies (traditional warrior groups),
whose unique costumes depicts a fusion of Fante and European cultures
which has been sustained over the centuries, and various social
organizations. Customary rites include the slaughter of a cow to the 77
deities in the area to obtain their blessings.
Other Attractions
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Centre for Natural Culture (Arts Centre)
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Osu Castle (official seat of government)
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The W.E.B Du Bois grave and memorial
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Makola Market
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Volta Lake
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Aburi Botanical Gardens
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Butterfly Sanctuary
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Boti Falls
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Old Slave Market at Abonse
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Kwahu Scarp and Afram Plains
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Cape Coast & Elmina Castles
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Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum - Nkroful
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Village on Stilts at Nzulezo
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Akatekyi Crocodile Pond
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Manhyia Palace (residence of Ashanti king)
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Okomfo Anokye Sword Site
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Bonwire (home to Kente weaving)
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Ntonso (home to Adinkra cloth production)
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Lake Bosomtwe
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Obuasi (town of the world's single richest
goldmine)
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Paga Crocodile Pond
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