African Network brings you an overview of Ghana's culture. Ghana is not a country for tourists; it's a country for guests. Ghanaians are open to visitors, who want to discover the greatest treasure of the African Gold Coast. You will hear the word 'Akwaaba' many times; it translates into a sincerely-meant welcome!

On the street, especially in the villages, you will be addressed with 'Broni' (Brouni), this means 'whiteman'. Mostly this is meant well, and people like it when you react in their own language with 'hello Bibini', which means 'African'.

The population of Ghana can be divided into many ethic groups or tribes with their own rituals and customs. Between the approximately 100 tribes are many similarities in language or identity. The official language in Ghana is English. The main local language is Twi. Other local languages are Ga, Ewe, Brong, Fanti and Hausa.

The Ashantis, Ewés, and Lobis are the principal art-producing tribes of Ghana. The Ashantis are famous for their Kente and Adrinka cloths, stools and fertility dolls, as well as gold works and linguist staff. They are also famous for their miniature bronze sculptures.

Even though some Ghanaians live according to the system of the modern society, like is known in the West, the major part of the population still live within the traditional system of small communities based on kinship and customs, with their own authorities and with the main means of support being small scale agriculture.

In the 1970s, Ghanaian highlife music was the most popular music in the region. Today, highlife is still big and there is a wide selection of artists to choose from, like Kojo Antwi, Nana Acheampong, Daddy Lumba and others.

About 43% of the population is Christian, 11% is Islamic and the remaining 46% is Animistic. The major part of the Christians are Catholics, followed by the Presbyterians. There is a lot of diversity in the Ghanaian food. Most common are the different kinds of soups, which is the base of a meal and is eaten with a starch staple, such as fufu, kenkey or banku.

Official holidays are:

1st of January - New Year’s Day
6th of March - Independence Day
1st of May - May Day
1st of July - Day of the Republic
25th of December - Christmas Day
26th of December - Boxing Day