WEBMASTER: nii.kommey@ghanaemberlin.de

                     nii_kommey@msn.com

Introduction

Ghana, officially called the Republic of Ghana, is a country on the West Coast of Africa, about 450 km north of the equator between latitudes 4 and 11.5º North and longitudes 3.11º West and 1.11º  East.  It borders Cote d’Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the South.

Ghana was inhabited in pre-colonial times by a number of ancient kingdoms, including an inland kingdom, the Ashanti kingdom and various Fante states along the coast.  Trade with European states flourished after contact with the Portuguese in the 15th century.  The British established a crown colony, the Gold Coast, comprising the coastal states in 1874.

Surface Area/Population

Ghana has a land area of 239.460 sq. km (92,100 sq. miles) with a population of 22.6 million.  

Climate

Tropical, warm and comparatively dry along the southeast cost; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in the north.

Official language : English

Capital

Accra, with a population of 3.6 million.

Emblems

The Flag

The flag of Ghana consists of red, gold and green horizontal strips with a five pointed black star in the center of the gold stripe.

The Colour:

Red represents the blood of those who died in the country’s struggle for independence, Gold stands for the minerals wealth, while Green symbolizes the rich forest.

The Black star represents the lonestar of african freedom.

The Coat of Arms

The Ghana Coat of Arms  was designed by Mr. Amon Kotei, a Ghanaian.

This  is found on all government official letter heads.

COMPOSITION:

The Ghana Coat of Arms is composed of a shield, divided into four quarters by a green St. George's Cross, rimmed with gold. The following are the symbols in the quarters  and their meanings.

1. Crossed linguist staff and ceremonial sword on a blue background

Position: Top left-hand quarter. Represents local administration

2. A heraldic castle on a heraldic sean with a light blue background

Position: Top right-hand quarter. Represents National Government

3. A Cocoa Tree Position: Bottom left hand quarter. Represents the Agricultural wealth of the country

4. A Mine Shaft

Position: Bottom right hand quarter. Represents the mineral wealth of the country 5. A Gold Lion

Position: In the centre of the green St. George's Cross. Represents the continued link between Ghana and the Commonwealth

6. Black five pointed star rimmed with gold standing on the wreath of red, gold and green colours

Position: Surmounting (On top of) the shield. Represents the lone star of African Freedom

7. Two Eagles, around each of whose neck hangs a black star suspended from a ribbon of Ghana colours - red, gold and green

Position: Supporting the shield (Coat of Arms). Signifies a protector with strength, very clear and attentive eyes keeping watch over the country

8. The motto FREEDOM AND JUSTICE is found under the shield.

FESTIVALS

Ghana has many exciting traditional festivals. They are occasions of great cultural pomp and pageantry on the indigenous calendars of the various ethnic groups. These are the most important occasions when sons and daughters return home to meet relations. Festivals mark the beginning of the traditional year or to celebrate great events of the past. Festivals are also held to purify the traditional state, and on other occasions, the celebrations are done to mark the harvesting of a staple crop. The mode of the festivals differs from one area to the other and can be celebrated at any particular time of the year.

During these festivals, there are family unions and feasting. Revered ancestors and gods are invoked to participate. For the Chiefs, festivals are the time for public renewal of allegiances to the paramount stool and the state while plans for development projects in the community are discussed. Most of the activities span a week and during this time sacred and antiquated states regalia as well as important works of art are put on public display.The grand durbar of chiefs is the apogee of the festive celebrations and is usually preceded by a royal procession through the principal streets, as the Chiefs are borne aloft in stately palanquins and sheltered by large ceremonial umbrellas. Some of the festival activities are of deep religious content and held in private with fasting by chiefs and royal functionaries. Afterwards comes the public rejoicing often mistaken for the ceremony itself.

Click FESTIVALS for more!