Historical Overview
Ghana's rich history centers on the once-great Ashanti Empire, which rose to power during the late 17th century and continued to prosper as a center of the 18th century slave trade. The Ashanti capital, Kumasi, was during this period one of the finest and most advanced cities in Africa, and the Ashanti state even employed significant numbers of Europeans as advisors and administrators. The European presence in Ghana is also marked by the multitude of colonial forts that dot its coastline--strongholds that anchored the European trade in gold, ivory, and slaves. Although Ghana, then known as the Gold Coast, was largely considered a British territory by the latter half of the 19th century, it wasn't until 1900 that the British succeeded in defeating the Ashanti and the area's other strong kingdoms.
If Ghana was late in coming under European control, it was also the first African nation to win back its independence, in 1957. However, corruption and internal military strife proved to be apparently intractable problems, and Ghana went through an extended period of instability in the 1960s and 1970s marked by military rule. The country has been since then been moving steadily toward political stability and economic prosperity, and seems today to possess one of the most promising futures of any of the West African nations.
Most of Ghana's 23 million people practice either Christianity or Islam, which are prevalent depending on the region. Christianity prospers in the south, while Islam dominates the rural north. Local religions also endure in Ghana, and are often practiced alongside the mainstream religions.
Practical information
Ghana Nature Tours warmly welcomes you to Ghana, land of natural treasures and hospitality.
Ghana has all the ingredients for great tourism and an exciting holiday: safe beaches lined with coconut trees, forts and medieval castles, national parks and tropical rain forests. In this section we present you with information about Ghana, its history, culture, people and nature.
You will discover Ghana to be a country rich in culture, festivals, and social customs. The people are genuinely friendly, warm and hospitable. Ghana is an ideal haven for holiday makers, lovers of nature, wildlife and adventure.
Language
English is the official national language and it’s widely spoken as a result of the country’s long links with Britain. A total of at least 46 African languages and 76 dialects are spoken in Ghana, generally divided into the Akan, Mole-Dagbani, Ewe and Ga language groups. Twi is the main Akan tongue, first language to roughly half the population, including both the Ashanti and Fante, and widely spoken elsewhere in central and southern parts of the country.
Tourism
Ghana is a stable and prosperous country compared to other countries in the region and is becoming increasingly popular among tourists but is still free of mass-tourism. The combination of natural attractions and cultural heritage makes Ghana a perfect travel destination.