Ghana In 60 Seconds
Words: Anisa Wilson-Jabbar
There are holiday hot spots like Spain, Australia, Thailand, New York and many more that have a lot of things to offer. But would you choose to volunteer in Ghana? How much do you think Ghana has to offer?
Ghana was in fact the first black country in Africa to be granted autonomy (in 1957) and celebrated its 52nd Independence Day on 6th March with a big celebration at Independence Square, in Accra with Red, Yellow and Green everywhere you looked. This is a celebration which many Ghanaians cherish and is one heck of an experience, even for foreigners.
English is the main language in Ghana, but there are local languages such as Ga, Ewe, Twi and a few others. I have found that Twi is spoken more in the cities than any of the other languages. I have also learnt that "akwaba" means "welcome" and "medase" means "thank you".
Ghana is very big on Christianity, with many churches to choose from in each suburb and each has its own lively, welcoming atmosphere. There are also many signs and symbols that you will see around the city, which relate to God and wellbeing. These are called Adinkra Symbols. There are over 60 symbols, each having its own individual meaning. The most popular of these is the Gye Nyame, which means “except for God”. Also the traditional cloth that is made in Ghana is called Kente Cloth and the design happens to have every Adinkra Symbol within it.
Ghana is a coastal country bordering the Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Togo and is steeped in history. Elmina Castle, which from the outside seems like a normal, white building, but in reality, it holds horrific stories about the slave route. Tours are available around the Castle to learn more of how the slaves were treated and includes the infamous Door of No Return, through which slaves walked out of to be sent to America.
There are some spectacular beaches just a few hours outside of Accra. One of my favourite beaches in Ghana so far, is Bojo Beach. It’s the most unique beach I have ever been to. You need to get into a gondola to get to the actual beach, which is just a strip of the softest white sand my toes have been in. Other fabulous beaches include White Sands, La Badi and many more.
After four years of travelling back and forth to Ghana, I still recommend it as a place to visit. For those who like history, you’ll find plenty of it. For those who simply like to travel, there are a lot of gorgeous places to visit, ranging from Cape Coast with canopy walks to the Aburi Botanical Gardens.
1 Comment – Postiwch sylw
betsy313
Rhoddwyd sylw 33 mis yn ôl - 31st August 2009 - 13:02pm
great story!!! i wanted 2 go 2 ghana before, and now i really want 2 go! :)