The essentials on one page: capital, currency, time, plugs, languages, the 16 regions, public holidays, and how Ghana compares with Britain.
Ghana is almost exactly the size of the United Kingdom, at around 238,500 square kilometres. Its population of more than 30 million is about half that of Britain, and much younger: a large share of Ghanaians are under 25.
Ghana had ten regions until 2019, when six new ones were created. Each region has its own capital:
More than 30 million people live in Ghana; the 2021 census counted 30.8 million. The largest group is the Akan, which includes the Asante and Fante, followed by the Mole-Dagbani of the north, the Ewe of the Volta Region and the Ga-Adangbe of the Accra plains, with dozens of smaller peoples.
English is the official language, but most Ghanaians speak at least one Ghanaian language at home. Twi, an Akan language, is the most widely spoken, and you will hear it in markets across the south. Ga, Ewe, Fante, Dagbani and Hausa are also widely used.
The majority of Ghanaians are Christian, with a large Muslim population, especially in the north and the zongo communities of the cities. Traditional beliefs run through both. Sunday is church day, and Friday prayers matter in Muslim areas.
Ghana people and languagesWho lives where, and useful words. Ghanaian names by day of birthKofi, Ama and the rest, on ghana-net.com.Ghana built its name on gold, which is why the British called it the Gold Coast, and it remains one of Africa's biggest gold producers. It is also one of the world's leading cocoa producers, and much of the chocolate sold in Britain contains Ghanaian cocoa. Offshore oil has been pumped since 2010.
The wealth has not spread evenly. Galamsey, the illegal small-scale gold mining that has poisoned rivers and destroyed farmland, is one of the most serious problems the country faces today.
Tetteh QuarshieThe blacksmith who brought cocoa to Ghana, on ghana-net.com. The Jubilee oil fieldWhat oil did and did not change, on ghana-net.com.Banks, government offices and many businesses close on public holidays. The list has been changed several times in recent years, so check the current year's dates before you plan around them.