Western Africa · AfricaGhana
Discover Ghana - the Gold Coast nation that led Africa to independence, home to vibrant kente cloth, Afrobeats roots, and the warmest welcome on the continent.
Where Is Ghana?
Ghana is a country in Western Africa. Its capital is Accra.
- Capital Accra
- Population 35.1M
- Area 238,533 km²
Ghana was the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence from colonial rule, in 1957, and it has been setting the pace ever since. Named after the medieval Ghana Empire that actually existed further north, the country sits on the Gulf of Guinea and was once known as the Gold Coast for reasons that require no explanation. Gold, cocoa, and now oil drive the economy, but what really defines Ghana is something harder to quantify - an openness and warmth that visitors notice within minutes of arriving.
Accra is a city that never stops moving. Makola Market swallows entire city blocks, highlife music drifts from every corner, and the street food scene, anchored by jollof rice and kelewele, is world-class. Beyond the capital, the Ashanti Kingdom in Kumasi preserves traditions that predate European contact by centuries, the slave castles on the Cape Coast are a sobering and essential pilgrimage, and the cocoa farms of the interior produce a significant share of the world's chocolate. Ghana consistently ranks among Africa's most stable democracies, and Ghanaians are fiercely proud of that fact.
At a glance
Largest cities in Ghana
Accra
Kumasi
Tamale
Sekondi-Takoradi
Cape Coast
Famous people from Ghana
Kwame Nkrumah
PoliticsLed Ghana to independence in 1957, becoming the first prime minister and president, and a founding figure of Pan-Africanism
Kofi Annan
DiplomacySeventh Secretary-General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace Prize laureate (2001), born in Kumasi
W.E.B. Du Bois
LiteratureAmerican civil rights pioneer who chose Ghana as his final home, becoming a citizen and dying in Accra on the eve of the March on Washington
Abedi Pele
SportThree-time African Footballer of the Year and Marseille legend, widely regarded as one of the greatest African footballers ever
Ama Ata Aidoo
LiteraturePioneering feminist author and playwright whose works like Our Sister Killjoy challenged both colonial and patriarchal narratives
Traditional cuisine of Ghana
- Jollof Rice
- Ghana's version of the West African staple - tomato-based rice that Ghanaians insist is superior to Nigeria's, sparking an eternal rivalry
- Fufu
- Pounded cassava and plantain formed into a smooth, stretchy ball, the essential companion for light soup and palm nut soup
- Kelewele
- Spicy fried plantain cubes seasoned with ginger, chili, and cloves, the ubiquitous Ghanaian street snack
- Waakye
- Rice and beans cooked together with millet leaf for a distinctive reddish-brown color, served with shito pepper sauce
- Banku and Tilapia
- Fermented corn and cassava dough served with grilled tilapia and fiery pepper sauce, a beloved coastal combination
Nature and landmarks in Ghana
- Kakum National ParkNational Park
- Tropical rainforest with a spectacular 350-meter canopy walkway suspended 30 meters above the forest floor
- Lake VoltaLake
- The largest artificial lake in the world by surface area, created by the Akosombo Dam and visible from space
- Mole National ParkNational Park
- Ghana's largest wildlife refuge in the northern savanna, where elephants, antelopes, and baboons roam freely
- Wli WaterfallsWaterfall
- The highest waterfall in West Africa at 80 meters in the Volta Region, home to thousands of fruit bats
- Cape Three PointsCoast
- The southernmost point of Ghana and the closest land point to the center of the world where the equator meets the prime meridian
Sports in Ghana
- Football
- Black Stars reached the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals and have won four Africa Cup of Nations titles, making Ghana a continental powerhouse
- Boxing
- Produced world champions including Azumah Nelson, considered the greatest African boxer ever, and Joshua Clottey
- Athletics
- Growing sprint program with athletes competing at World Championship and Olympic levels
Did you know?
Ghana was the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence, on March 6, 1957, inspiring liberation movements across the continent
Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake by surface area - so large it covers 3.6% of Ghana's entire land area
Ghana is the second largest cocoa producer in the world, meaning a good chunk of the world's chocolate starts here
The Ashanti Golden Stool is believed to contain the soul of the Ashanti nation and has never been sat upon by anyone
Year of Return 2019 brought the African diaspora to Ghana, generating over $1.9 billion in tourism revenue
Ghana's kente cloth, woven by the Ashanti and Ewe peoples, has become a global symbol of African identity and pride
The country was named after the ancient Ghana Empire, even though that empire was located about 800 kilometers to the north
Can you find Ghana on a map?
Drop a pin where you think it is and see how close you got. A few rounds and you will place Ghana and its neighbours without a second thought.
