Ghana Visa Services

Dubbed West Africa’s ‘golden child’, Ghana is one of the continent’s biggest success stories, and offers many marvels for visitors to enjoy.

Ghana's Culture

A country of around 30 million people, Ghana’s population is notable for containing at least 100 different ethnic groups. These include the Akans — by far Ghana’s largest ethnic group — in the central and southern regions of the country, the Ga and Adangbe around Accra, and the Gonjas, Dagombas and Mamprusi in the north. As a result, although English is Ghana’s official language, numerous other tongues also have official status, including the indigenous Twi of the Ashantis, the Fante language, Frafra, Ga, and Ewe.

Ghana is an incredibly religious country, with over 70% of the population Christians and more than 17% practising Islam. This has a huge impact on the country’s culture, with Ghanians' adherence to religious practices permeating many parts of daily life. You’ll often see preachers on public transport and street corners, churches everywhere you look, and devotional services at public schools

Dance is another huge part of Ghanian culture, with each ethnic group having its own traditional sequence for certain occasions. For instance, the Gome dance is performed by the Ga people during the Homowo festival in August. While other notable aspects of everyday life include the country’s love of football, its array of traditional clothing (including the colourful smock), and Ghana’s fantastic food. Some examples of staple Ghanian dishes are jollof rice, tomato-based stews and a starchy side-dish known as fufu.

Ghana's Economy

Ghana is noted for having one of the fastest-growing economies in West Africa. which is largely down to the country’s diverse and rich resource base. It is Africa’s second-largest producer of gold and cocoa, while also being rich in diamonds, manganese ore, bauxite and oil. Ghana enjoyed 6.1% GDP growth in 2019 and is predicted to expand by 4.8% in 2021 after the coronavirus crisis caused an economic slowdown in 2020.

Ghana's Most Popular Destinations

One of the best reasons to visit Ghana is its incredible landscapes. And top of your must-visit list should be the country’s national parks, with Kakum and Mole arguably the best options. Kakum is situated in the central region of Ghana and covers an area of 145 square miles. Enveloped in tropical rainforest, it was set up by local people rather than an official authority and contains fauna including the African elephant, the giant bongo antelope and the Diana monkey. Meanwhile, Mole National Park is Ghana’s largest wildlife refuge. Located in the Savannah region of the country, you’ll find everything from Old World monkeys and lions, to hippos and leopards here.

You can’t visit Ghana without taking a trip to the seaside. With over 300 miles of coastline, it’s no wonder Ghana’s nickname is the Gold Coast. You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to finding a beach on which to relax, though the scenic stretch of coast west of Takoradi is perhaps the pick of the bunch. Other top locations include Busua with its ample surfing opportunities, and Elmina, which also has its own castle and museum. Aside from its national parks and beaches, you should check out the country’s picturesque lakes, with Bosomtwe and Volta being the two standout destinations.

Ghana also offers bustling metropolises for you to get lost in, and you simply must visit the capital of Accra before you leave. Highlights include its vibrant arts and culture scene, historical sites like the Black Star Square and the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park & Mausoleum, and its bustling markets, such as Makola and Kaneshie. Beyond Accra, other cities worth checking out are Cape Coast, Kumasi and Tamale.