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Here is Ghanaian man in traditional clothing. Most likely at a ceremonial event. The long cloth that is wrapped around his body is specific to men in the southern region of Ghana.

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Here is Ghanaian woman wearing a Kente cloth head wrap. Head wraps are commonly worn by woman. Kente is a bold colored cloth that originates from Asante culture.

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The Ghanaian diet consists mainly of yams, cassava, milet, maize, beans, and rice. In the south a typical dish is fufu which is combination of plantain and cassava mashed together to form a dough-like meal. It is usually served with soup and some form of meat. Most Ghanaian meals are served with some sort of sauce or soup containing peppers. Below is photo of fufu served in pepper soup, okra and goat meat.

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Courtesy is very important. Gesturing, eating, or passing objects with the left hand is consisted impolite. Knocking hands together, palms up, with hands close to the body can mean “please".

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In traditional Ghanaian culture arranged marriages are widely practiced. a young man may ask the father of young woman for her hand in marriage. The young man and his father often bring gifts which include alcoholic beverages or expensive fabrics. In the past the father of the young woman would accept or deny the man without any say of the daughter. This practice has dwindled in recent years. The daughters generally do have a say in the matter. During the actual wedding ceremony the men of both families debate over a proper "bride price" this can include money, food goods, clothing etc. Once agreed upon the wedding proceeds.

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Here is an article that further describes Ghanaian culture. It focuses on the festivals, ceremonies, and traditions of the Ghanaian people.

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Culture in Ghana, Africa (Photo: )

In 1957, Ghana became the first country in colonial sub-Saharan Africa to win independence. The nationalist pride fomented by this, along with a rich cultural heritage, has helped unify Ghana's diverse groups of people. Although many facets of Ghanaian culture vary between ethnic groups, the overall unification of the culture is perhaps one of the reasons why Ghana has enjoyed a stable and peaceful political climate in the post-colonial era.

People

The 20 million or so Ghanaians are ethnically diverse, with three major ethnic groups and numerous minority groups. The largest ethnic group in Ghana is the Akan, which makes up 45.3 percent of the population. The second largest are the Mole-Dagbon, with 15.2 percent, followed by the Ewe people with 11.7 percent of the population. There are also minority populations of Gonja, Dagomba and Mamprussi tribes, mainly in the north.

Languages

The official language of Ghana is English, just one of the lasting remnants of the colonial era on the local culture. The English spoken in Ghana, however, is a distinctive West African dialect. The use of English, given that Ghana is surrounded by Francophone countries, has helped establish the Ghanaian national identity as distinct from that of its neighbors. Other languages spoken in Ghana include Akan, which is spoken by the Akan majority, and Ewe, spoken by 12.7 percent of Ghanaians. These are the most widely spoken of over 60 indigenous languages. Akan is widely spoken as a second language by non-native speakers to facilitate inter-group communication. Many Ghanaians speak two or three tribal languages in addition to English.

Religion

According to the World Factbook, Ghana's population is 68.8 percent Christian and 15.9 percent Muslim, with 8.5 percent practicing traditional religions. Traditional beliefs vary from group to group. Akan religion emphasizes the ancestors, along with a number of gods, goddesses and other spirits. Christianization has influenced some Ghanaian traditions, including the abandonment of polygamy in favor of monogamy among the Christian population.

Traditions

Traditionally, Ghanaian society was split into three castes: royals, commoners and slaves. Traditional regal status is still recognized, but slavery no longer plays a part in Ghanaian society. Polygamy is legal but generally only practiced by wealthy and powerful men. A widow is expected to marry the brother of her late husband, and the brother is expected to assume responsibility for any children. Enduring characteristics of Ghanaian interpersonal culture include an emphasis on hospitality, formality and good manners.

Contemporary Life

Ghana has a 50 percent urban population, and half of the workforce is employed in the agricultural sector. The unemployment rate is around 11 percent. Life expectancy is 60.5, which is higher than 36 other sub-Saharan African countries. The GDP per capita in 2009 was $1,500, making Ghana the 199th (out of 227) richest country in the world, according to the World Factbook. In 2007, 28.5 percent of the population lived below the poverty line. In rural areas in the south, houses generally consist of connected one-story rooms around a central courtyard. In the south, rural settlements consist of dispersed farmsteads. In urban areas, modified European-style buildings prevail, but only the richest Ghanaians live in western-style houses. Most live in urbanized versions of traditional villages.

Arts and Music

The Ghanaian national dress is the intricately patterned, brightly colored kente cloth, which is handwoven and worn by both men and women. Handwoven mats are also common, and can be made from millet stalks and other natural fibers. Ghana maintains a rich oral tradition of story telling. Traditional arts include wood carving, with detailed stools carved from a single log a particular specialty. Drums, dolls and games are also carved from wood.

Festivals and Ceremonies

The Akan celebrate odwira, a harvest festival. The celebrations include presenting new yams to the chief, along with public feasts. The Ga people also celebrate a harvest festival, called homowo, during which they eat a mashed corn and palm oil dish called kpekpele. Coming of age ceremonies are common for girls, and obligatory before marriage or childbirth. There is no equivalent for boys.

About the Author

A writer of diverse interests, Joanne Thomas has penned pieces about road trips for Hyundai, children's craft projects for Disney and wine cocktails for Robert Mondavi. She has lived on three continents and currently resides in Los Angeles, where she is co-owner and editor of a weekly newspaper. Thomas holds a BSc in politics from the University of Bristol, England.

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In 1957, Ghana became the first country in colonial sub-Saharan Africa to win independence. The nationalist pride fomented by this, along with a rich cultural heritage, has helped unify Ghana's diverse groups of people. Although many facets of Ghanaian culture vary between ethnic groups, the overall unification of the ...

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English is the official language of Ghana which is partly because it was a colony of Great Britain and because there are a multitude of different languages and dialects in Ghana. Twi, which is an Akan dialect is spoken by almost half of the population

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More than 71% of the Ghanaian population is apart of on of the several Christian churches. The Islamic religion is practiced by 17% of the population. Traditional African beliefs are also still practiced. These practices involve ancestor veneration, witches, wizards, demons, and other supernatural phenomenon known as juju.

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The Cape Coast Castle was built by the Portuguese as a fortress to harbor captured slaves during the Atlantic slave trade. It also served to house Captains and their families as well as a defense against enemy ships.

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The Kakum National Forest is located in the southern region of Ghana. It is a popular tourist attraction that makes for a great day hike and features breath taking views. Especially from the wooden walkways that soar about 100 feet in the air.

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Ghanaian textiles such has kente cloth and ntoma are considered the most beautiful in Africa. There are also wood carvers that create very intricate designs. There also many talented painters in Ghana that display their works at local art centers.

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Dance music known as highlife is popular in Ghana as well as other parts of Africa. The music itself is influenced by jazz and other western forms of music. Highlife bands generally use guitars and horns when playing for crowds. In recent years, hiplife has become more prominent with younger generations. It is a mix of highlife beats and Western hip-hop music. A popular hiplife artist is Ebony. Below is one of her more popular hits Hustle.

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Ebony - Hustle ft. Brella (Official Video)

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Extended families of three or even four generations live in the same household. It is not uncommon for several members of an extended family living on one compound with each nuclear family having their own house. Children take on household responsibility at a very young age. Younger children may wash dishes or do laundry while older children fetch water from nearby wells. Older family members are highly respected and hold lots of weight when it comes to making family decisions.

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The act of greeting another person in Ghana is a very important more. To ignore a greeting or to fail to greet someone is a serious offense to most Ghanaian people. Before starting a conversation a general greeting such as "Good morning" or "How are you?" is imperative. The twi word for "How are you?” is Ete sen.