50 Fun Facts About Ghana

What is the capital and most populous city of Ghana?

The wider metropolitan area holds about 4 million people, and the Prime Meridian passes through nearby Tema.

On 6 March 1957 Ghana became the first colony in sub-Saharan Africa to do what?

It united the Gold Coast, Ashanti, the Northern Territories and British Togoland as one dominion.

By what name was Ghana known as a British colony?

The name Ghana was borrowed from a medieval empire that lay hundreds of kilometres away in the Sahel.

Who led Ghana to independence and served as its first prime minister and president?

He founded the Convention People's Party in 1949 with the motto 'self-government now' and was overthrown in 1966.

The title Kaya Maghan, held by rulers of the empire Ghana is named after, is thought to mean what?

The empire of Wagadu flourished from the 3rd to the 12th centuries far to the north-west of modern Ghana.

The black star on Ghana's flag symbolises what?

Artist Theodosia Okoh designed the red, gold and green flag in 1957; it inspired the flags of Guinea-Bissau and São Tomé and Príncipe.

Ghana's national football team is nicknamed what?

The name comes from the black star on the flag; the team has won four Africa Cups of Nations.

Whose goal-line handball denied Ghana a late winner in the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals?

Asamoah Gyan missed the resulting penalty and Uruguay won the shoot-out.

How many times has Ghana won the Africa Cup of Nations?

The titles came in 1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982; the team has been runner-up five times.

Ghana ranks where among the world's cocoa producers?

Only Ivory Coast produces more; oil and gold are the other big earners.

Ghana overtook which country to become the continent's largest gold producer?

It produced about 140 tonnes in 2019, seventh in the world.

Lake Volta, formed by the Akosombo Dam, holds what world record?

It covers 8,502 square kilometres and ranks third by volume; the dam was completed in 1965.

The Asante Golden Stool is said to have fallen from the sky onto the lap of which first king?

The high priest Okomfo Anokye conjured it as the sole unifying symbol of the empire founded in 1701.

The 1900 War of the Golden Stool began after Governor Frederick Hodgson demanded what?

Yaa Asantewaa, Queen Mother of Ejisu, led the Asante against the British in response.

Yaa Asantewaa, who commanded the Asante in the 1900 war against the British, held which position?

The Ashanti had won several battles in a century of Anglo-Ashanti wars before finally losing in 1900.

Elmina Castle, begun by the Portuguese in 1482, holds what distinction?

The Dutch seized it in 1637 and later took over the whole Portuguese Gold Coast.

Which nation's company first built Cape Coast Castle as a timber fort in 1653?

It was named Carolusborg after King Charles X Gustav and traded timber and gold before slaves.

By Asante tradition, kente cloth originated in which town?

It was historically worn toga-style by the Asante, Akan and Ewe.

Adinkra symbols, printed on cloth once reserved for royalty, each derive their meaning from what?

The art of adinkra printing dates back to the 13th century.

Ghanaian diplomat Kofi Annan served as which secretary-general of the United Nations?

He held the post from 1997 to 2006 and shared the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize with the UN.

Jerry Rawlings, who ruled Ghana in 1979 and from 1981 to 2001, came to power holding what military rank?

The air force officer's 1992 election win under a new constitution launched the Fourth Republic.

The 1966 coup that overthrew Nkrumah was code-named what?

It was led by Colonel Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka and Brigadier Akwasi Afrifa on 24 February 1966.

Ghana's currency is called what?

The name comes from the Akan word for cowry shell; it was redenominated at 10,000 to 1 in 2007.

Ghana lies on which body of water?

It borders Ivory Coast to the west, Burkina Faso to the north and Togo to the east.

The Prime Meridian passes through which Ghanaian port town, near the capital?

That makes Ghana the country closest to the point where 0° longitude meets the Equator, offshore in the Atlantic.

Which is the largest ethnic group in Ghana, at about 47% of the population?

The Asante are the best-known Akan people; the Mole-Dagbani are second at about 18%.

Roughly what share of Ghanaians are Christian?

Almost a fifth are Muslim, concentrated in the north where Hausa is widely spoken.

Highlife, the guitar-and-horn genre that spread across the region, originated where in the 19th century?

The 1990s fusion of highlife with hip-hop and dancehall became hiplife.

The trickster Anansi of Akan folklore is most commonly depicted as what creature?

His name literally means spider, and his tales travelled to the Caribbean with enslaved Akan.

Ghana's highest point, Mount Afadja, rises to about what height?

It stands in the Akwapim-Togo Range on the eastern border.

Kakum National Park is one of only three places in Africa with what attraction?

The 350-metre walkway links seven treetops high above the rainforest floor.

Wli Falls in Ghana's Volta Region is described as the largest waterfall in which region?

Kintampo Falls and the meteorite-crater Lake Bosumtwi are among the other natural attractions.

Ghana became a republic, with Nkrumah as president, on 1 July of which year?

It followed a constitutional referendum and presidential election.

The 1947 call for 'self-government within the shortest possible time' came from a convention led by which group?

Nkrumah, then a member, was arrested and jailed for a year before founding his own party.

Ghana's population as reported by the UN in 2024 was roughly how many?

About 29% are under the age of 15.

Ghana in 1957 unified the coastal colony, Ashanti, the Northern Territories and what else?

The Ewe of Togoland had voted in a 1956 plebiscite to join.

The Asante Empire, an Akan state, lasted from 1701 until which year?

It was centred on Kumasi and remained a separate British territory until independence.

The 1481 commission to build Elmina Castle came from which king?

Diogo de Azambuja finished it in three years; the Dutch took it in 1637.

The 2000 election of John Kufuor marked the first time under the Fourth Republic that what happened?

He served the two-term limit and handed over in 2009.

The staple rice dish waakye combines rice with what?

Jollof, fried rice and plain rice with kontomire or tomato stew are the other everyday rice meals.

Ghana's Kofi Annan International Training Centre reflects the country's long involvement in what?

The armed forces started in 1957 with three infantry battalions and an armoured reconnaissance squadron.

Per Akufo-Addo, Ghana was the first sub-Saharan country to achieve which Millennium Development Goal?

The country is also known for peaceful transfers of power.

In 2013 the Bank of Ghana began circulating which foreign currency alongside the cedi for trade?

It reflected the growth of trade with China.

Ghana's record football win, 13-2, came away to which country?

It came under coach Charles Kumi Gyamfi, who won the 1963 and 1965 continental titles.

In 1962 Ghana hosted and drew 3-3 with which European club, then champions of Spain?

The match took place at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The 'new cedi' of 1967 was pegged at introduction to what?

By 2007 the largest 20,000 note was worth about two US dollars.

Ghanaian-British designer Ozwald Boateng is best known for introducing what?

They featured in his 2012 collection.

The Ewe people of Ghana's Volta Region trace their migration to the Ketu area of which modern country?

The walled town of Nortsie in Togo was their final dispersal point.

Ghana is a founding member of which international grouping of states outside the Cold War power blocs?

It is also a founding member of the African Union.

Ghana produced roughly how much gold in 2019, placing it in the world's top ten?

The metal gave the colony its old name and Ghana its rank as Africa's top producer.