Basic Information
Ghana’s full name is the Republic of Ghana, and it was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence from European colonization in 1957!
Ghana - Facts for Kids
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Facts About Ghana For Kids
Ghana’s capital city is Accra, a bustling city where over 2.5 million people live and work!
Ghana has a population of over 35 million people, which is almost as many people as living in all of Canada!
Ghana sits right on the Greenwich Meridian (0° longitude) and is located in West Africa, with the beautiful Atlantic Ocean along its southern coast!
English is Ghana’s official language, but there are over 50 local languages spoken throughout the country, including Twi, Ewe, and Ga!
Ghana uses a currency called the Cedi, and the word “cedi” comes from the Akan word for cowry shells, which were once used as money!
Ghana is a democratic republic, which means the people get to vote for their president every four years!
Ghana’s flag has three horizontal stripes — red, yellow, and green — with a black star in the middle, and each color has a special meaning: red represents the blood of those who fought for independence, yellow represents the country’s mineral wealth, and green represents the forests!
Ghana has a tropical climate, which means it’s warm all year round and has two main seasons: wet and dry!
Geography & Nature
Ghana is a bit smaller than the U.S. state of Oregon, covering an area of 238,535 square kilometers!
Lake Volta in Ghana is the largest human-made lake in the world by surface area, and it’s so big you can see it from space!
Ghana’s highest mountain is Mount Leklata, which stands 907 meters (2,976 feet) tall — that’s as high as 177 giraffes standing on top of each other!
Ghana is home to Kakum National Park, where you can walk through the rainforest canopy on rope bridges 40 meters above the ground!
The harmattan, a dry and dusty wind from the Sahara Desert, blows across Ghana between December and March!
Ghana has beautiful waterfalls, including the Boti Falls, which local legend says are a boy and girl falling in love!
Ghana’s coastline stretches for 560 kilometers (348 miles) along the Gulf of Guinea, with beautiful sandy beaches and historic castles!
Ghana has five different types of forests, from rain forests in the south to savanna grasslands in the north!
The Volta River system, including the Black Volta and White Volta rivers, provides much of Ghana’s electricity through the Akosombo Dam!
Ghana is home to over 650 species of butterflies, including some that are as big as your hand!
Culture & Traditions
During Ghana’s Homowo Festival, people sprinkle traditional food called “kpoikpoi” around their homes to remember their ancestors!
Kente cloth, Ghana’s famous colorful fabric, is woven by hand and each pattern has a special meaning!
Ghana’s traditional dance called Adowa tells stories through specific hand movements and footsteps!
In Ghana, children often play a game called Ampe, where two players jump, clap, and compete to match each other’s movements!
Ghana’s talking drums can actually mimic the sounds of human speech and were once used to send messages between villages!
In Ghana, people show respect by giving or receiving things with their right hand or both hands together!
During Ghana’s Independence Day celebration on March 6th, children participate in parades wearing their school uniforms and carrying flags!
The Ashanti people of Ghana use special symbols called Adinkra symbols to represent different ideas and proverbs!
In Ghana, many children are named after the day of the week they were born, and each day name has a special meaning!
Traditional Ghanaian storytelling sessions often happen at night and include singing, dancing, and audience participation!
Fufu, a staple food in Ghana, is made by pounding cassava and plantains until they become a smooth, stretchy dough!
In Ghana, many people eat with their right hand instead of utensils, and they wash their hands in a special bowl before and after meals!
Ghanaian children often help their parents sell goods in markets after school, learning important business skills!
Many Ghanaian families live together in compound houses, where several generations share a living space with a central courtyard!
Ghana is one of the world’s largest producers of cocoa, which is used to make chocolate, and many children help their families on cocoa farms!
In Ghana, street food vendors called “chop bars” serve quick, delicious meals like kelewele (spicy fried plantains)!
Ghanaian children often wake up very early, around 5 AM, to help with household chores before going to school!
Many Ghanaian schools have a special period called “worship time” where students sing and dance together before classes begin!
In Ghana, it’s common for children to have both a traditional name and an English name!
History & Heritage
Ghana was once known as the Gold Coast because European traders came there to buy gold!
The ancient Ashanti Kingdom of Ghana was so powerful that its golden stool is still considered sacred today!
Ghana’s Cape Coast Castle, now a museum, reminds us of the important history of the transatlantic slave trade and helps us learn from the past!
Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president, helped lead the country to independence and became a hero across Africa!
The Larabanga Mosque, built in 1421, is the oldest mosque in Ghana and one of the oldest in West Africa!
The Ashanti people of Ghana created a golden stool that is believed to hold the spirit of the entire nation!
Ghana’s traditional kente cloth was once reserved only for kings and queens!
The word “Ghana” means “Warrior King” and comes from the ancient Ghana Empire, which was actually located in present-day Mali and Mauritania!
Ghana’s President’s official home, called Jubilee House, is shaped like a traditional African stool, which symbolizes power and authority!
The famous African-American scholar W.E.B. Du Bois moved to Ghana and is buried in Accra!
Modern Life & Technology
In Ghana’s capital city, Accra, there are modern shopping malls right next to traditional markets!
