Spotlighting Culture in Ghana From a Buffer Teammate

I’ve lived in Ghana my entire life and I’m glad to share extra about this stunning nation with you! I grew up within the capital metropolis, Accra, was in highschool in Cape Coast for 3 years, college in Kumasi for 4 years and moved to Tema after I obtained married about 6 years in the past. All of those locations I’ve skilled are cities in order that’s about as a lot private perspective I’ve of Ghana.

Private

I spent nearly all of my early years in Accra. I used to be privileged to have attended personal Catholic College, for my primary/elementary college training from kindergarten until JSS 3 (aka grade 9). Attending a non-public college is the will of most households in Ghana, as public primary colleges usually are not in the most effective of states.

I lived with primarily my nuclear household – dad and mom and two siblings all through this time, with family members coming in every so often to stick with us for some time. That is fairly regular in Ghana –  households have sturdy ties with each other to the extent that in most of our native languages, the identical phrase is used to consult with your siblings and cousins.

In Ghana, adults are extremely revered and as a toddler, you can’t give a counter opinion to what an grownup says. There’s even a proverb that claims, “Kids have to be seen, not heard”. I’ll say my household didn’t maintain onto this so strongly, however there have been undoubtedly moments the place we wished let’s imagine extra as youngsters.

Occurring holidays shouldn’t be quite common in Ghana, nonetheless, my mum labored with an airline across the time we have been rising up so we obtained the possibility to take a number of journeys abroad, largely to the UK, as soon as to the US after which as soon as to South Africa. Outdoors of that, college holidays have been spent taking part in outdoor with associates or visiting our hometown, Aflao to see our family members there.

After primary/elementary college, I attended a public boarding highschool, in Cape Coast. That is additionally the norm in Ghana, that’s, attending boarding college throughout your highschool years. Most youngsters sit up for this chance to depart dwelling for the primary time and the most effective colleges typically wrestle with admissions as they at all times have far too many purposes coming in.

I can relate this to the will to attend Ivy League colleges within the US. Cape Coast has the most effective of the most effective colleges so as soon as once more I can say I used to be privileged. Though I used to be in highschool for 3 years, I do know subsequent to nothing about Cape Coast as a result of we weren’t allowed to discover town – there have been lots of strict guidelines to stay by!

Greater training

After highschool, I took a spot 12 months throughout which I had a instructing job at my primary/elementary college. Taking a spot 12 months after highschool was additionally the norm on the time, nonetheless issues have modified with some training reforms so this isn’t as in style anymore. You do get some people nonetheless opting to take a spot 12 months although. That is largely for monetary causes – to lift cash to attend college/school as attending school on a scholar mortgage shouldn’t be quite common in Ghana.

I attended one of many 13 public universities in Ghana, KNUST which is in Kumasi. Public universities are the extra reasonably priced and trusted choices for college training in Ghana. In latest instances, personal universities like.Ashesi University, Central University and Academic City College have grown as trusted universities however they don’t come low cost and have very restricted consumption so it’s arduous to get a spot in them. Because of this, I’ll say as soon as once more that I used to be privileged to have attended KNUST. Fortunately, there may be way more freedom within the college so I obtained the possibility to discover Kumasi albeit not an excessive amount of as a result of I wasn’t too adventurous, I assume.

I’ve intentionally highlighted the truth that I used to be privileged all through my years of education as a result of for my part, that creates a world of distinction within the alternatives which can be open to the typical Ghanaian. Elements that contributed to this privilege are the monetary energy my dad and mom had, my grades, and perhaps a little bit of probability.

Bear in mind what I discussed about how households have an in depth knit relationship in Ghana? Nicely, in each household, there are sure to be a number of who’re as privileged as I used to be and our accountability is to “take care” of our family members who aren’t as privileged. It is rather regular in Ghana for family members to really feel entitled to a share of your month-to-month revenue merely since you are supposed to grasp they aren’t as privileged as you’re.

Tradition

Most vacationers who’re requested say Ghanaians are very heat and hospitable folks. Err…I may agree partly; I’d say we’re usually nicer to guests/foreigners. This even applies throughout the dwelling the place visitors normally have preferential therapy.

Life in Ghana can also be very chill, no rush, no urgency, no want to fret. I form of like this to some extent as a result of it means individuals are usually much less wired about points and are in a position to simply snicker issues off. What I don’t like about this although is that getting issues achieved in Ghana takes eternally.

If this entails an necessary doc that you simply want for one thing, it could get fairly annoying. Nonetheless, issues have modified quite a bit in the previous few years and proceed to alter as some authorities businesses have put measures in place to make the acquisition of paperwork quite a bit sooner and less complicated.

This “Hakuna. Matata way of life in Ghana additionally implies that it’s usually okay to accept something. In reality, it’s virtually alien to be eager on following your ardour. To most individuals, a job is a job, no want to fret about in case you are reduce out for it or not. Oh, and yet another factor, if an occasion is scheduled to start out at 8:00, don’t be stunned to have a Ghanaian ask you if it’s 8 o’clock gmt or GMT. The “gmt” in small letters stands for Ghana Man Time and it means –  though you say 8 –  the occasion can begin at 9 or 10 or 11 with no apologies.

In spite of everything, no worries in life proper? As a facet notice, after I was a child, I truly thought this was the true that means of GMT. ? Even when the occasion is being organised by a gaggle that’s eager on altering this mindset and as such, they imply 8:00 GMT, it could possibly be arduous for them to start out on time as a result of that can imply beginning the occasion with an virtually empty room! However issues are altering, punctuality has gotten higher over time.

Language

Ghana has over 100 languages however the preferred one is Akan – you’re certain to get folks in every of the 16 areas in Ghana who communicate some variant of Akan. Don’t inform anybody I advised you this although, different tribes don’t need to agree that Akan is the preferred language. ? English is nonetheless the official language in Ghana so programs/topics in colleges are taught predominantly in English and enterprise is generally transacted in English as effectively.

Meals

There’s not a single meal that may be described as the commonest in Ghana. Because of urbanization, most cultures take pleasure in native meals from different cultures. Some notable ones are fufu and soup from the Ashanti Area, banku and okro from the Volta Area, kenkey, fried fish and chilli sauce aka shitor from the Larger Accra Area.

One widespread proven fact that our native meals share is that they take a very long time to be ready. Because of this, they don’t seem to be normally on a regular basis meals and largely reserved for the weekends, particularly Sundays and holidays. On a regular basis meals embrace rice dishes corresponding to jollof and waakye, beans and fried plantain, yam and palava sauce (comprised of kontonmire which is sort of just like spinach).

Grocery searching for recent meals is normally achieved in open markets just like the Makola market. Malls and supermarkets have gotten actually in style in the previous few years however they’re most well-liked for packaged meals, garments, bedding and many others. Eating places are the place to go to for dates and hangouts.

For celebratory dinners and particular events, Chinese language eating places and buffets at resorts are the favored locations of selection.

Climate

The climate in Ghana is sunny for probably the most a part of the 12 months, with a mean temperature between 27 and 30 levels Celsius. For a number of weeks in December and  January, we expertise harmattan which is characterised by dry, dusty winds. Throughout this time, temperatures can fall to about 20 levels Celsius within the evenings and early mornings, which is basically chilly in Ghana.

There’s additionally the wet season between Could and June. It may rain for a number of hours about 2-3 instances every week and it’s sunny the remainder of the time ?

Faith

Christianity and Islam are the 2 dominant religions in Ghana. Nonetheless, most cultures nonetheless have some type of reverence/acknowledgement of African Conventional Faith.

Associated to faith and spirituality, folks in Ghana could be superstitious about a complete lot of issues. This creates a state of affairs the place it’s fairly an abomination to share your success tales like graduating from college, getting a brand new job, being pregnant, shopping for a brand new automobile, and many others.

The upcoming technology doesn’t appear to understand this tradition of conserving issues underwraps a lot so we’re step by step preventing it. Social media has helped quite a bit in making us develop into extra open, however the older technology nonetheless don’t absolutely help what we share publicly.

Festivals, Holidays, Occasions

Ethnic teams in Ghana every have not less than one competition they have a good time. These festivals largely have a significance associated to the historical past of the group. For instance, the ethnic group I’m from, Ewe, have a good time the Hogbetsotso competition as a solution to keep in mind their migration from current day Togo to Ghana after they fled from a depraved king.

As we speak, these festivals are events that ship metropolis dwellers dwelling to attach with their roots. They’re additionally a type of vacationer attraction.

We love public holidays in Ghana! Aside from holidays like Christmas, Easter and Eid Fitr/Adha that are celebrated by non secular teams, each different public vacation is handled the identical approach by most Ghanaians.

Formally, there might be some type of public occasion. Nonetheless, for most individuals, it’s simply one other day to spend a while on the seaside, organise a funfair, social gathering, go to a resort, and many others.

Weddings are large occasions in Ghana and funerals are even greater. It’s commonplace to price range for as many as 500 visitors when planning your wedding ceremony in Ghana. In reality inviting fewer visitors makes you appear stuck-up and planning an invitation-only occasion will certainly get you some enemies for all times. For a funeral, you gained’t even plan for a hard and fast quantity, simply plan to cater for everybody who exhibits up and they’re certain to be greater than 500!

Weddings are largely in 3 elements. The standard wedding ceremony, which is the primary, is meant to be primarily between each the bride and groom’s households. Nonetheless, as a result of household ties are sturdy, count on to see relations that you simply by no means knew existed. That is adopted by a church or court docket wedding ceremony after which lastly a reception. For people who find themselves nonetheless eager on having a extra intimate set of visitors, there might be a 4th occasion, which is generally a lunch or banquet.

Funerals start with a wake-keeping normally beginning on a Friday night into the early hours of Saturday. On Saturday morning, there’s a church or household pre-burial occasion, adopted by the precise burial. A reception then follows which may final until the night. On Sunday, there may be one other occasion known as the “closing funeral rites” which is just about just like the reception that occurred on Saturday afternoon.

Throughout each receptions, there may be lots of consuming, ingesting, dancing and fund-raising. Sounds extra like partying than mourning? You might be proper to suppose that approach. Bear in mind, Ghanaians don’t have a necessity to fret so even mourning for too lengthy is flawed. As soon as the burial is over, it’s time to have a good time the lifetime of the individual. Sorry if this makes you uncomfortable, it’s one of many issues I don’t fairly like both as a result of I really feel individuals are not likely allowed to mourn as a lot as they need/must.

Value of Residing

It’s arduous to provide a normal reply to what the price of residing is like in Ghana. Google’s reply will most likely be that the price of residing is low, which could be true in case you are referring to residing primarily based on a sure form of normal. Nonetheless, for a extra snug life in Ghana, the price of residing is extraordinarily excessive.  Folks barely ever make sufficient to have that form of life right here.

An excellent instance to clarify that is housing. When younger adults get married, they might normally lease a 2-bedroom home and keep on this home for a very long time to return as they elevate youngsters and attempt to construct their dream home on the similar time. Taking a mortgage to purchase a home is such a uncommon possibility and is so costly. By the point the dream home is constructed, the youngsters are not youngsters to take pleasure in it, and the cycle continues.

I keep in mind after I first joined Buffer, one factor I discovered inside my onboarding doc that struck me was a video of “Ask vs Guess” culture. I realised how a lot in Ghana we have now a really sturdy “guess” tradition and I had at all times been seen as totally different as a result of I like to ask questions quite a bit.

Over time, I’ve come to watch that I nonetheless have lots of the attributes of somebody from a “guess” tradition ingrained in me. That is simply one of many methods I realise that I’m very totally different from the typical Ghanaian in my mindset, beliefs, values and many others and but when in comparison with folks from different cultures, I’m nonetheless very totally different. Loads of what is suitable in Ghana is just about part of me.

Hope this has given you a bit glimpse into life in Ghana.