Akwaaba! Welcome to the “Gateway to Africa”—Ghana, the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence from colonial rule. There are around 35 million people living here, and the capital is Accra, a vibrant coastal city where modern skyscrapers stand alongside historic neighborhoods. The official language is English, but there are dozens of local languages, with Twi being the most widely spoken.
Ghana covers about 238,533 square kilometers (92,098 square miles). I’s roughly the same size as the state of Oregon in the U.S., or about the same size as Romania in Europe. It is located right on the Gulf of Guinea, just a few degrees north of the equator.
The most popular sport is Football, and the national team, the “Black Stars,” is one of the most respected in Africa. Their national animal is the Lion, but you will more commonly see the Black Star as the primary symbol of the nation and its people.
The flag consists of three horizontal stripes of red, gold, and green with a black star in the center, where the red symbolizes the blood of those who died in the struggle for independence, the gold represents the mineral wealth of the country, the green stands for the rich agriculture and forests, and the black star represents African freedom.
The food is famous for being spicy and incredibly flavorful. You must try Jollof Rice, a tomato-based rice dish that is the subject of a friendly rivalry with neighboring countries over who makes it best. Another staple is Fufu, a dough-like side dish made from cassava and plantains, which is usually served in a rich, spicy light soup or groundnut (peanut) soup.
Ghana is home to Lake Volta, which is the largest artificial lake in the world by surface area. The country is also the second-largest producer of Cocoa in the world—there is a good chance the chocolate you eat at home started as a bean in a Ghanaian forest! If you visit the Ashanti region, you can learn about the Golden Stool, a sacred symbol of the Ashanti Empire that is said to have descended from the sky. For a mix of nature and history, you can walk the canopy bridges of Kakum National Park or visit the Cape Coast Castle, a somber but important UNESCO site that tells the history of the transatlantic slave trade. Ghana is also the birthplace of Kente cloth, the colorful, hand-woven fabric with meaningful patterns that is now an icon of African heritage worldwide.
From the golden beaches of the coast to the bustling Kejetia Market in Kumasi, Ghana is a land of rhythmic highlife music and incredible hospitality. Medaase! That means “Thank you!”