| A Journey
In The Gold Coast |
| In Ghana |
Accra–Ghana
2nd–19th
August 2004
It was breezy
late afternoon as I descended – boarding EK 781 – in the fertile soil of
Ghana, a country in Western Africa. Indeed, it was my first visit to an
entirely Black African nation with hospitable people. The uniqueness of
humidity caught my attention next as we steered through traffic. Accompanied
by my Ghanaian lawyer from the airport going to the place I was to stay.
Ghana has
a typical tropical climate: two rainy seasons in the northern part
from March to June, and September until November; and two dry seasons,
the first starts in July and ends in August; the other begins in December
and ends in February. |
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The coastal
belt of the east is warm and comparatively dry, whilst the southwest is
hot and humid including the rainforest areas.
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Ghana has 18.4
million people (2004 Census), Ghana has an area of 91,843 sq. miles and
is located just north of the equator. Its neighboring countries are the
Côte d’Ivoire to the west, Togo to the east and Upper Volta to the
north and northwest. Half of Ghana is at least 500 ft. above sea level;
it stretches from the Gulf of Guinea to the edge of the Sahara Desert. |
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| The Gold
Coast (Ghana’s colonial name) was a British protectorate. Accra, the
capital, is one of Africa’s popular cities with a population of 2.3 million
people. The name Ghana was chosen for the Gold Coast on the presumption
that at least a few of the Ghanaians were descended from inhabitants of
the ancient Kingdom of Ghana, which had existed in Western Sudan (now Mauritania
and Mali) in the 10th century. Despite its numerous ethnic divisions and
languages that include 56 dialects, English is chosen as the official and
commercial language. Among Ghana’s important linguistic tribal groups are
the Akans,
Fanti,
Ashanti, Guans, Ga
and the Ewe – speaking people. The Ga, Akwapim
and
Nzima (a group of tribes in the south) harmoniously created
a strong tribal union; the British introduced modern education, commerce
and administration in the southern districts of the country. Also, southern
ethnic groups were politcally united with the result that modernization
occured much more quickly in the south than in other regions of Ghana. |
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Offshore
Resources Gallery
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| Ghana is
a tourist nation with a mixed culture of African and European. Several
transients from Belgium, France, and the Netherlands and other countries
across Europe used to visit this country for recreational tours and sightseeing.
The famous Cape Coast and the Elmina Castle built by the Portuguese in
1842 (first among such castles along the coast), commemorates the
historical trading of gold dust and permanent trading base of the Portuguese.
The gold trade was later replaced by the trading of other lucrative commodities
– slaves. Nonetheless, Ghana still has a plethora of gold, manganese, diamond,
bauxite, and is also one of the largest cocoa producers in the world.
In the 18th
century, the British, Dutch, Portuguese along with other countries in Europe
regimented certain areas of the coast. And later in the 19th century, withdrew
its trade interests with the exception of the British who took full control
of the coast and became involved in series of wars with the Ashanti tribe,
the largest in Ghana. The illegal trade of slaves was termminated by the
British Government in 1807. Ghana was then named Gold Coast Colony by the
British: it was annexed to the British Crown in 1886 during the time of
Queen Victoria. |
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| Culture
And Currency
I was taking
my meal in the hotel’s restaurant, when some European guests joined my
table and conversed with me. Among them were a Dutchman, 2 Belgian ladies,
and a French linguist. We sojourned in the same hotel and shared each other’s
perspectives about Ghana during dinner. I found out that they came often
to Ghana to visit.
Aside from
having leisure and recreation, they found Ghana to be very safe. Ghana
is a peace–loving and free country. Its people have affluent self–values,
hospitality, respect and humility. Culture is well–kept and preserved and
family ties remain very important. Thus, it is an attractive destination
for many tourists and visitors all across Europe and the States. Cedi is
the currency as US$ 1.00 is equivalent to 8,913.00 to 9,000.00 Cedis, while
selling paced to 9,200.00 Cedis. |
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Offshore
Resources Gallery
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| From my time
spent in Accra, I was very impressed with the people and the country; during
my stay I made many friends, and enjoyed the personalties of the people
of Ghana: the people of Ghana are very friendly.
Festivals in
Ghana are marked with beach parties, for example, on New Year’s Day and
the Rice Festival at Akpafu in the Volta region. Most Ghanaians are Christians,
at least 69% of the population, 16% of the population are Moslems, while
the rest of the population is still practicing traditional religions. Parliamentary
democracy is the system of governance, as mining, lumber, cocoa and light
manufacturing are the major industries; the U.S., U.K., Germany, France,
Japan and South Korea are the major trading partners.
The major ethnic
groups; Akan 44%; Yoruba 1%; Moshi-Dagomba 16%; Ewe 13%; Ga 8%; Gurma 8%;
European & other 1.5%, lead to one Ghana Republic with FREEDOM and
JUSTICE
declared on its sovereign will. Places of interest such as the Cape Coast
and the Elmina Castle are situated along the Central Region of the country.
Transients and visitors, however, are required to have a visa with an exemption
to those citizens belonging to the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS); such as Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Mali, which only
requires valid Identification upon entry.
Present–Day
Menace And Threat
Ghana has a
stable economy unlike other African States. This is according to a reliable
source of information relayed to me by one of the important personalities
of the nation. However, risk in Ghana must be given great importance especially
to visitors and tourists. At least 20 persons every 24 hours are being
infected with HIV in Ghana.
Rampant and
unbridled AIDS in Africa is, indeed, one of the indecipherable predicaments
of the regime particularly in the AIDS-affected countries. Furthermore,
the Ghanaian Government with the support of the Ministry of Health is engaged
in a strong campaign against AIDS. It is then extremely important to every
vistor and foreigner in this country to be cautious and wary and to avoid
harm; and to take precautions againist this fatal and morbid malady.
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