Ghana, situated on the west coast of Africa, is a populous and ethnically diverse country with a rich history and vibrant culture. It covers a total area of 238,540 square kilometers and is bordered by Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Togo. To the south lies the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean. Ghana’s population reflects a colorful history and the amalgamation of peoples who have populated the region from ancient times to the present.
The six main ethnic categories used in Ghana mask a complex diversity of more than 90 ethnic groups and sub-groups. While Ghana’s ethnic communities have traditional homelands, internal migration has rendered these regions somewhat less relevant over time as ethnic communities have become intermingled throughout the country.
Map of Ghana showing its regions.
Main Ethnic Groups, Languages, and Religions
Ghanaian society is hierarchical. People are respected because of their age, experience, wealth and/or position. Older people are viewed as wise and are granted respect. In a group one can always see preferential treatment for the eldest member present. With respect comes responsibility and people expect the most senior person to make decisions that are in the best interest of the group. Here's a snapshot of the major ethnic groups, languages, and religions in Ghana:
- Main languages: English (official), Akan, Ga, Ewe, Dagbani, Hausa, and other indigenous languages.
- Main religions: Christianity (71.2 per cent), Islam (17.6 per cent), traditional beliefs (5.2 per cent) (2010 Census). The place has the highest number of Christians in West Africa.
- Main ethnic groups: Akan (47.5 per cent), Mole Dagbani (16.6 per cent), Ewe (13.9 per cent), Ga-Dangme (7.4 per cent), Gurma (5.7 per cent), Guan (3.7 per cent), Grusi (2.5 per cent), Mande (1.1 per cent) and others (1.4 per cent) (2010 Census).
The Akan group includes (Asante) Ashanti, Fanti, Brono, Akyem, Akwapim, Kwahu, Denkyira, Wassa, Nzima, and Sefwi, among others.
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Here is a table summarizing the key demographic information:
| Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Akan | 47.5% |
| Mole Dagbani | 16.6% |
| Ewe | 13.9% |
| Ga-Dangme | 7.4% |
| Gurma | 5.7% |
| Guan | 3.7% |
| Grusi | 2.5% |
| Mande | 1.1% |
| Christianity | 71.2% |
| Islam | 17.6% |
| Traditional Beliefs | 5.2% |
Historical Context
According to oral traditions, the ancestors of the Akan people entered the country from the north and spread southwards between CE 1200 and 1600. The various Akan tribes lived in well-organized feudal city-states and had a highly developed system of trade in gold, kola nuts, salt, and slaves. By the 1700s, the Ashanti kings had waged war to gain control of territory and the lucrative slave trade. Between 1500 and 1870, an estimated 10 million slaves left Africa, about 19 per cent of them from the Gold Coast.
Growing pressure from the population of the Gold Coast for self-determination throughout the first half of the twentieth century forced the British to gradually relinquish control. Ghana became independent within the Commonwealth in 1957 with Nkrumah as Prime Minister. Ghana became a republic in 1960, with Nkrumah as President.
Challenges Faced by Minority Groups
For Ghana’s minority groups and those outside the recognized chieftancy system, access to land and political power is an ongoing concern. Ghana’s more arid northern regions have been seen as marginalized, less developed, and more conflict-prone than southern regions of Ghana. These ethnic tensions have been exacerbated through changing population dynamics, land pressures, and government policies that vested land rights in certain groups.
The northern region of Ghana is populated by multiple ethnicities that can be roughly divided into chiefly and acephalous social groups: the former, including Nanumba, Dagomba, and Gonjas, are structured according to hereditary hierarchies with multiple levels of power while the latter, such as Konkomba and Basares, instead vest authority in traditional religious leaders and local clan elders. Historical inequality in control over land along with recognition of political power in the chiefs sporadically erupted into conflict throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
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Fulani pastoralists have been a part of Ghanaian life for more than a century. They are not one of the recognized ethnicities in Ghana and generally are seen as non-Ghanaian by other ethnic communities in the country. They have been subject to negative stereotyping, exclusionary government policies, denial of citizenship and even expulsion. As climate change has accelerated, pastoralists’ search for viable grazing lands has only intensified, leading to increasing potential for conflict.
Refugees in Ghana
Ghana has hosted tens of thousands of refugees over the past two decades as violent conflict engulfed its West African neighbors. Tens of thousands of Liberians fled to Ghana in the 1990s to escape devastating civil war in their home country. Refugees from Sierra Leone and Togo also found their way to Ghana, leaving behind persecution and violence in their home countries. The Buduburam refugee camp on the outskirts of Accra became home for thousands of West African refugees, many of whom lived in the camp for more than a decade.
Integration of the former refugees into Ghana has been fraught with challenges. While legally able to work in Ghana as ECOWAS citizens, the former refugees often are excluded through language requirements in job listings that make clear positions are for Ghanaians only. Moreover, former refugees have found it difficult to find land and housing outside of the refugee camp.
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE COMING TO GHANA | CULTURAL DO’S AND DON’TS | CULTURAL ETIQUETTE
Ghanaian Culture and Traditions
Ghana Cultural emphasis is given to individual conduct and behavior which has a direct impact on the society and family. The major decisions regarding any custom and other tribal matters are taken by leaders and chiefs. Ghanaians are very cheerful people and love to celebrate all the major festivals and events round the year. Family is a very strong bond in Ghana and is the primary source of identity, loyalty and responsibility.
Ghanaians are more indirect communicators and always want to protect their own and others’ face as well as maintain harmonious relationships. As a result they tend to use proverbs, wise sayings, analogies readily. Hierarchy is respected so the most senior person is greeted first.
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A Ghanaian durbar, a traditional gathering of chiefs and community members.
Traditional medicine is closely linked to the culture of the Ghanaian and as the case may be among most African societies. There are believed to be spirits of mystical powers e.g. agents of ―witchcraft, magic and sorcery with powers to aid or harm man. There are also the charms, amulets and talismans (suman) used for protection or for offensive purposes.
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