Category: Demographic, culture, economy, geography

Welcome to Ghana ” Akwaaba” !

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DEAR READERS, AKWAABA !!! (WELCOME !!!)

Here are short direct information you should know about Ghana:

You can go to Ghana wikipedia information , “Routard” french travel guide , Lonely planet Guide to know more.

The Republic of Ghana, located in West Africa along the Gulf of Guinea and Atlantic Ocean, is a sovereign unitary presidential democracy.  It has a population of approximately 27 million, with different ethnic people, languages and religions.

  • DEMOGRAPHY

98% of ghanaian are Black Africans. In 2010, most of the 24.2 million inhabitants were predominantly citizens of the Ashanti territories.

The Government of Ghana states that the official language of Ghana is English, and is spoken by 67.1%. However, there are 11 other ethnic languages (Twi, Fente, Gâ, Mossi…).

In 2010, 71% were Christian (29% are Pentecostal, 18% Protestant and 13%Catholic). In 2013, 18% were Muslims. Traditional (indigenous) beliefs are also practiced.

Life expectancy is 65 years old. Ghana has a universal health care system strictly designated for Ghanaian nationals, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)Ghana’s universal health care system has been described as the most successful healthcare system on the Africa continent by the renowned business magnate and tycoon Bill Gates. As of 2012, the HIV/AIDS prevalence was estimated at 1.40% among adults aged 15–49.

  • GEOGRAPHY

carte ghana routard

Its  geography,  since Ghana is located in West Africa along the Gulf of Guinea and Atlantic ranges from coastal savannahs to tropical jungles.

Grasslands mixed with south coastal shrublands and forests dominate. But Ghana has also plains, waterfalls, low hills, rivers, Lake Volta (the world’s largest artificial lake).

=> You will see trough my “week end pleasures” category (in the expatriation part) some articles with photos of all theses landscapes!

 

 

  • CLIMATE

The climate of Ghana is tropical and there are two main seasons: the wet season and the dry season. Go and see more photos in the “Kiss the seasons Goodbye” part of my blog.

 

  • ECONOMY

Ghana’s economy prosperity is the 9th-largest power on the Africa continent. It has an economic plan target known as the “Ghana Vision 2020″to become a developed country between 2020 and 2029.

It produces petroleum and natural gas and export them, (it has the 5th  largest oil reserves and 6th largest natural gas reserves). 

akosombo dam
Akosombo dam

It is the 7th and 9th world’s largest gold and diamond producer, and tends to become the biggest cocoa producer in the world. It also produces coffee, bananas, pineapple, coconuts, yam,  cashews and  rice.

 

The Akosombo Dam, built on the Volta River (and others) provide hydropower.

 

 

contruction ghanaThe real estate and housing market of Ghana has become an important and strategic economic sector, particularly in Accra, Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi and Tema. The gross rental income tax of Ghana is withheld at 10%.

Ghana ‘s good economy has given birth to a boom in the construction sector generating billions of dollars/year  and a robust political stability.

 

  • TRADE AND EXPORTS

 

Tema and Takoradi Harbour
Ghana is one of the fastest growing and expanding shipping industry in West African Coast.

Tema harbour is Africa’s largest manmade harbour and with Takoradi harbour they handle goods and exports for Ghana. It is  where goods are transhipped by cargo. They export mostly cocoa,  manganese, diamant, gold, wood, aluminium.

  • EDUCATION

With over 95% of its children in school, Ghana currently has one of the highest school enrolment rates in all of Africa.

  • CULTURE

I speak about culture in several categories (food, typical things, places to visit…) in my Ghana part.

bandeau ghana cult

 

Kiss the season goodbye

Published on by Isafrica1 Comment

  • Weather in Ghana

As usual in tropical country (we are close to equator), expatriation in Ghana means to kiss the seasons goodbye…….

equator

Accra features a tropical savanna climate that borders on a semiarid climate. You can see the equator is just under Ghana.

The only seasonal change is the switch between dry season  with harmattan and the rainy and humid season.

But it will always be more than 24 ° !

  • SUN:

As Accra is close to the equator, the daylight hours are practically uniform during the year.

The sunrise  is around 6am latest and Sunset around 6pm. There are never clouds and it is always shiny except when the harmattan is coming.

You can see how is the sunrise from Airport area during the harmattan in february 2016 :

AND the nice blue sky during the year : in markets and in the villages …

Tema where it is always sunny even when it is cloudy in the center of Accra city:

P1010559

  • RAINFALL

flooding
Flooding street in Accra

The average annual rainfall is about 730 mm, which falls  during Ghana’s two rainy seasons ( from April to mid-July and october) and causes local flooding in which drainage channels are obstructed.

Precipitation is most likely around June, occurring in 31% of days. Precipitation is least likely in January , occurring in 4% of days.

On March,1st, 2016,  after 3 months without rain… in Accra, we had a “sand storm” coming from Tema.

I was outside in East Legon with a friend eating in a restaurant when the waitress tolds us that this storm was coming… here are the pictures:

We came rapidely inside a room and afterwards wemanage to come into our car to go back home …you can see how was theroad from East Legon to Airport area:

  • TEMPERATURES

Very little variation in temperature occurs throughout the year. The average monthly temperature is between 24.7 °C to 35 °.

Cooler months are more humid and humidity generally high, varying from 65% in the midafternoon to 95% at night. Strong wind gusts occur with thunderstorms often cause damage to property by removing roofing material.

harmattan Ghana
The dusty sky during the harmattan

Warmer months are when there is the windy harmattan season in January. You can see on the right how the sky is.

As to the consequence,  Accra feels “dry heat” when this wind comes from Sahara desert: it lowers the humidity, dissipates cloud cover, prevents rainfall formation and sometimes creates big clouds of dust which can result in duststorms or sandstorms.

Humidity drops to as low as 15%, which can result in spontaneous nosebleeds for some people.

Other health effects on humans may include conditions of the skin, eyes, and respiratory system, including aggravation of asthma.

Hope you will enjoy coming here and discover the tropical weather !!

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