Spotlighting Tradition in Ghana From a Buffer Teammate

I’ve lived in Ghana my entire life and I’m completely happy 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, faculty in Kumasi for 4 years and moved to Tema after I bought 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 Faculty, for my primary/elementary college training from kindergarten until JSS 3 (aka grade 9). Attending a personal college is the need of most households in Ghana, as public primary colleges aren’t 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 coming in every so often to stick with us for some time. That is fairly regular in Ghana –  households have robust 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 baby, you can not give a counter opinion to what an grownup says. There’s even a proverb that claims, “Kids should be seen, not heard”. I’ll say my household didn’t maintain onto this so strongly, however there have been positively moments the place we wished let’s imagine extra as children.

Occurring holidays will not be quite common in Ghana, nonetheless, my mum labored with an airline across the time we had been rising up so we bought the prospect 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 had been spent taking part in open air with buddies or visiting our hometown, Aflao to see our family 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 stay up for this chance to depart residence for the primary time and the most effective colleges typically battle with admissions as they at all times have far too many functions coming in.

I can relate this to the need 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 the town – there have been loads of strict guidelines to reside by!

Larger 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 widespread anymore. You do get some people nonetheless opting to take a spot 12 months although. That is largely for monetary causes – to boost cash to attend college/faculty as attending faculty on a pupil mortgage will not 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 inexpensive and trusted choices for college training in Ghana. In latest occasions, personal universities like.Ashesi College, Central College and Tutorial Metropolis Faculty have grown as trusted universities however they don’t come low-cost and have very restricted consumption so it’s laborious 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’s far more freedom within the college so I bought the prospect to discover Kumasi albeit not an excessive amount of as a result of I wasn’t too adventurous, I suppose.

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 are open to the common Ghanaian. Elements that contributed to this privilege are the monetary energy my dad and mom had, my grades, and possibly a little bit of likelihood.

Bear in mind what I discussed about how households have a detailed knit relationship in Ghana? Properly, in each household, there are certain to be a couple of who’re as privileged as I used to be and our accountability is to “take care” of our family who aren’t as privileged. It is extremely regular in Ghana for family to really feel entitled to a share of your month-to-month earnings merely since you are supposed to grasp they aren’t as privileged as you might be.

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 residence the place visitors often have preferential therapy.

Life in Ghana can 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 persons are usually much less stressed about points and are in a position to simply chuckle issues off. What I don’t like about this although is that getting issues completed in Ghana takes ceaselessly.

If this includes an vital doc that you just want for one thing, it will possibly get fairly annoying. Nonetheless, issues have modified quite a bit in the previous couple of years and proceed to vary 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 truth, it’s virtually alien to be eager on following your ardour. To most individuals, a job is a job, no want to fret about if you’re reduce out for it or not. Oh, and another factor, if an occasion is scheduled to start out at 8:00, don’t be shocked 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 be aware, once I was a child, I really thought this was the true which means of GMT. 😄 Even when the occasion is being organised by a bunch that’s eager on altering this mindset and as such, they imply 8:00 GMT, it might be laborious 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 most well-liked one is Akan – you might be certain to get folks in every of the 16 areas in Ghana who converse some variant of Akan. Don’t inform anybody I instructed you this although, different tribes don’t wish to agree that Akan is the most well-liked 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 undeniable 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 often on a regular basis meals and largely reserved for the weekends, particularly Sundays and holidays. On a regular basis meals embody rice dishes reminiscent of jollof and waakye, beans and fried plantain, yam and palava sauce (constituted of kontonmire which is kind of much like spinach).

Grocery looking for recent meals is often completed in open markets just like the Makola market. Malls and supermarkets have gotten actually widespread in the previous couple of 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 accommodations are the favored locations of alternative.

Climate

The climate in Ghana is sunny for essentially the most a part of the 12 months, with a mean temperature between 27 and 30 levels Celsius. For a couple 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 admittedly chilly in Ghana.

There’s additionally the wet season between Could and June. It may rain for a couple of hours about 2-3 occasions 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 will 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 automotive, and many others.

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

Festivals, Holidays, Occasions

Ethnic teams in Ghana every have a minimum of one pageant they have fun. These festivals largely have a significance associated to the historical past of the group. For instance, the ethnic group I’m from, Ewe, have fun the Hogbetsotso pageant as a approach to keep in mind their migration from current day Togo to Ghana after they fled from a depraved king.

At present, these festivals are events that ship metropolis dwellers residence 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 spiritual teams, each different public vacation is handled the identical method 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, occasion, go to a resort, and many others.

Weddings are massive occasions in Ghana and funerals are even larger. It’s common to finances for as many as 500 visitors when planning your wedding ceremony in Ghana. In truth 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 received’t even plan for a set 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 normal 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 robust, anticipate to see relations that you just 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 ceremonial dinner.

Funerals start with a wake-keeping often 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 might final until the night. On Sunday, there’s one other occasion referred to as the “ultimate funeral rites” which is just about just like the reception that occurred on Saturday afternoon.

Throughout each receptions, there’s loads of consuming, ingesting, dancing and fund-raising. Sounds extra like partying than mourning? You’re proper to assume that method. Bear in mind, Ghanaians don’t have a necessity to fret so even mourning for too lengthy is mistaken. As soon as the burial is over, it’s time to have fun 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 persons are probably not allowed to mourn as a lot as they need/should.

Value of Residing

It’s laborious to provide a common reply to what the price of dwelling is like in Ghana. Google’s reply will in all probability be that the price of dwelling is low, which will be true if you’re referring to dwelling primarily based on a sure form of customary. Nonetheless, for a extra comfy life in Ghana, the price of dwelling is extraordinarily excessive.  Folks barely ever make sufficient to have that form of life right here.

A very good instance to elucidate that is housing. When younger adults get married, they’d often lease a 2-bedroom home and keep on this home for a very long time to come back as they increase children 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 children are not children to take pleasure in it, and the cycle continues.

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

Over time, I’ve come to look at that I nonetheless have loads 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 completely different from the common Ghanaian in my mindset, beliefs, values and many others and but when in comparison with folks from different cultures, I’m nonetheless very completely different. Lots of what is appropriate in Ghana is just about part of me.

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