PEOPLEGhanians come from six main ethnic groups: the Akan (Ashanti and Fanti), the Ewe, the Ga-Adangbe, the Mole-Dagbani, the Guan, and the Gurma.
Ashanti Tribe
The Ashanti tribe of the Akan are the largest tribe in Ghana and one of the few matrilineal societies in West Africa. Once renown for the splendour and wealth of their rulers, they are most famous today for their craft work, particularly their hand-carved stools and fertility dolls and their colourful kente cloth. Kente cloth is woven in bright, narrow strips with complex patterns; it's usually made from cotton and is always woven outdoors, exclusively by men.
The village is a social as well as an economic unit. Everyone participates in the major ceremonies, the most frequent of which are funeral celebrations which typically last several days. Attendance at funerals is normally expected from everyone in the village and expenditure on funerals is a substantial part of the household budget.
The Ashanti are noted for their expertise in a variety of specialized crafts. These include weaving, wood carving, ceramics, and metallurgy. Of these crafts, only pottery-making is primarily a female activity; the others are restricted to male specialists. Even in the case of pottery-making, only men are allowed to fashion pots or pipes representing anthropomorphic or zoomorphic figures.
Ewé
The Ewé have over 600 deities to turn to in times of need. Many village celebrations and ceremonies take place in honour of one or more deities. Tehy also weave kente cloth, and their more geometrical patterns contain symbolic designs handed down through the ages.
The Ewe occupy southeastern Ghana and the southern parts of neighboring Togo and Benin. Most Ewe were farmers who kept some livestock, and there was some craft specialization. On the coast and immediately inland, fishing was important, and local variations in economic activities permitted a great deal of trade between one community and another, carried out chiefly by women
Fanti Tribe
The Fanti tribe are mainly located in the coastal areas of Ghana
Ga-Adangbe Tribe
The Ga-Adangbe people inhabit the Accra Plains. The Adangbe are found to the east, the Ga groups, to the west of the Accra coastlands. Although both languages are derived from a common proto-Ga-Adangbe ancestral language, modern Ga and Adangbe are mutually unintelligible. The modern Adangbe include the people of Shai, La, Ningo, Kpone, Osudoku, Krobo, Gbugble, and Ada, who speak different dialects. The Ga also include the Ga-Mashie groups occupying neighborhoods in the central part of Accra, and other Gaspeakers who migrated from Akwamu, Anecho in Togo, Akwapim, and surrounding areas.
Gaun Tribe
The Guan are believed to have begun to migrate from the Mossi region of modern Burkina around A.D. 1000. Moving gradually through the Volta valley in a southerly direction, they created settlements along the Black Volta, throughout the Afram Plains, in the Volta Gorge, and in the Akwapim Hills before moving farther south onto the coastal plains. Some scholars postulate that the wide distribution of the Guan suggests that they were the Neolithic population of the region. Later migrations by other groups such as the Akan, Ewe, and Ga-Adangbe into Guan-settled areas would then have led to the development of Guan-speaking enclaves along the Volta and within the coastal plains.
LANGUAGES
The major languages spoken are Twi, Fante, Ga, Hausa, Dagbani, Ewe and Nzema. English is the official language of Ghana.
FESTIVALS OF GHANA
DIPO (Puberty Rites)
A puberty festival to initiate young girls into womanhood with
a parade in attire close to nudity.
Held in Krobo land, 50 miles east of Accra.
April.
ABOAKYIR (Deer hunting)
A hunting expedition by two Asafo groups to catch live
antelope. The first group to present its catch to the Chief at
a colorful durbar is declared winner and is highly regarded for
bravery. Winneba, 17 miles west of Accra.
May.
BAKATUE (Fish Harvesting)
A royal procession of chiefs and stool holders riding in
palanquins through principal streets to a sacred shrine where
chiefs pour libation and sprinkle sacred food. Pouring of
mashed yam and eggs into the Bake (lagoon), followed by
scooping with a net, after which permission is given to
fishermen to open the fishing season, after a ban. Festival
culminates in a regatta. Edina/Elmina, 99 miles west of Accra.
July.
FETU AFAHYE (Harvest commemorating first contact with whites)
A colorful procession of chiefs, amid drumming, dancing and
firing of musketry. There is a uniqueness in the attire.
Sacrifice of a cow to the seventy-seven (77) gods of Oguaa.
Cape Coast (Oguaa), 90 miles west of Accra.
August/September.
HOMOWO (Harvest/Thanksgiving)
Ceremonies for this festival include a procession of chiefs
through principal streets with all twins in the area dressed
purposely for the occasion. All this is done amidst the
sprinkling of festive food kpokpoi to the gods and ancestors of
the state.
Accra/Ga Traditional Area.
August/September.
ODWIRA (Harvest/Thanksgiving)
This festival dramatizes the tradition myths and legends of the
people, and commemorates a period of remembrance and
thanksgiving to the gods for their mercies in the past year,
and renewal of family and societies. A durbar of chiefs crowns
the celebration amidst drumming and dancing.
Akropong Traditional Area, 90 miles north of Accra.
September.
DAMBA
Originally linked with the birth of Mohammed, the Prophet of
Allah. This festival has assumed a traditional character A two-
day festival full of pageantry, showmanship and horse riding.
Tamale/Yendi, 425 miles north of Accra.
September/October.
HOGBETSOTSO
Symbolizes the migration of Anlos from the tyrannical ruler of
Notsie in older day Togoland to their present homeland in
Ghana. There is a re-enactment of this migration, which
involved walking backwards, performed by women, children, the
old and the young alike.
Anlo Traditional Area, 88 miles east of Accra.
November.
FIOK (War festival)
A war festival to re-enact ancient historic exploits of the
Busa people. There is a durbar, as well as drumming, dancing,
and thanksgiving to the gods.
Sandema.
December.
ADAE (festival of Purifying of the Ashantis' ancestral stools)
Festival of the Asante. Celebrated every 40th day. Especially
magnificent when it falls on a Sunday.
Kumasi, 168 miles (272 kilometers) north of Accra.