Ghana: Exploring Ghana Culture and Customs

Ghana Culture and Customs

Ghana is an ideal place to explore fresh fruit and vegetable markets, taste delicious fried plantains seasoned with chili pepper and ginger, and stroll busy streets in a country where the sun almost always shines. Women wrapped in colorful West African fabrics and people playing draughts (a game similar to checkers) in courtyards or cafés provide just a slice of the diversity of Ghanaians. There are fifty-two ethnic groups in the ten regions of this country making up Ghana’s culture—making it easy to find a variety of traditional festivals and ceremonies to attend.

Study abroad in Ghana Host a Ghanaian student in the U.S.

Family Dynamic

Host families in Ghana are typically large, with several generations living in the same home or compound. By nature, Ghanaians are warm, friendly and hospitable. Although Ghanaians tend to be laid-back, families may be quite strict and protective of their children. Most Ghanaian families do not allow their children to sleep over at friends’ homes. In most Ghanaian families, household chores are normally gender specific, except homes where all the children are of one gender, thus girls are expected to help with cooking and sweeping outside the house and boys sweep the living room and wash the family car (if there is any).

In Ghana’s culture, it is common to find a strong sense of community and great respect for the elderly. Young people refer to adults as “auntie” and “uncle” (or “grandma” and “grandpa” for older people). Outdoor dining is popular, with families cooking meals and socializing in the courtyard. In most families, it is considered rude to spend a lot of time in one’s bedroom alone. Family members usually spend time together by watching TV during the evenings or attend church, funerals or weddings during the weekends. Drinking of alcohol and smoking is totally forbidden in Ghanaian homes.

Teenage Life in Ghana

Teenagers in Ghana are influenced both by Ghanaian traditions, which are very much alive, and by Western culture, which comes through TV, movies, or the internet. They spend a lot of time outdoors, playing games such as basketball, hockey, and soccer. Ghanaian teens enjoy playing games such as oware (similar to a board game) or draft. They like dancing, listening to music, and playing musical instruments.

After school and on weekends, teenagers are expected to help at home with siblings, cook, clean, wash the clothes, and participate in family life. They are also expected to use some of their time to learn from their books.

Holidays in Ghana

Official Language

The various Ghanaian Ethnic Groups speak over ninety languages and dialects. Some of the languages are Akan, Moshi-Dagomba Ewe and Ga. English is the official language of Ghana.

Communication Style

Ghanaians have an indirect communication style and do not typically state what they really think, especially when they are talking to somebody in a higher position of power.

In Ghana’s culture, greetings are important. Whenever one passes a group of people, especially the elderly, it is expected to always greet them. To fail to greet is considered an insult, and not easily over-looked. When walking up to a group of people, it is polite to always greet and shake hands if possible. Time is always made for greeting and it is not seen as interference or waste of time.

It is considered respectful to use formal titles when addressing someone. Anyone older than oneself must be addressed as “brother” or “sister” at the very least. Elderly people should be addressed with titles of respect like “father, mother, grandfather, sir, or madam.”

Showing affection in public between men and women is not acceptable, even husband and wives. Men may hold hands (no sexual implications) or even hug, but male/female relationships are strictly controlled. Hugging is not commonly done except by very dear friends, especially between men and women. Loud, boisterous behavior is also considered poor taste, especially for women. In public, it is best to display a quiet, careful, and friendly attitude.

Banku in Ghana – fermented corn / cassava dough, cooked in hot water into a smooth whitish paste

The Ghanaian Diet

Food in Ghana tends to be hot and spicy, with ingredients like yams, cassava, maize, beans, plantains, and rice. Tropical fruits and vegetables supplement the diet. The mainstays of Ghanaian cuisine are sauces, usually eaten with rice. Popular Ghanaian dishes include fufu, (a loved staple for most of West Africa) which is mashed ball made of cassava, yam or plantain that has been cooked and pounded into a semi-plastic state, Ghanaian red-red--beans, shrimp or prawns, red palm oil, and tomatoes, and custard melkkos–custard with cinnamon.

Other types of dishes usually served in Ghana are kenkey–traditionally prepared by boiling balls of mixed portions of fermented cooked maize meal and raw maize dough wrapped in dried cornhusk, banku – fermented corn / cassava dough, cooked in hot water into a smooth whitish paste, and gari – made from fresh cassava which is grated and squeezed of excess liquid. The remaining grated cassava is then fried over an open fire on a broad metal pan. The resulting product is crispy and crunchy to taste and is stored easily and can be eaten with stew or soup and fish.

Street shops and markets are often filled with fresh foods with local taste. A popular dessert is fried plantain seasoned with chili pepper and ginger called kelewele.