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| Total population | |
|---|---|
| ~1,000,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Ghana | ~1,000,000[1] |
| Languages | |
| Guan,English | |
| Religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
TheGuan orGuang people are anethnic group found almost in all parts ofGhana, including theAkyode people who speakGikyode,Anii,Krachi peopleNkonya tribe, the Akpana/Logba people who speak Ikpana, theGonja,Anum,Larteh,Akposo, Etsii in the Central Region,Nawuri, Nyagbo andNtsumburu. The Guan are believed to have been the first settlers in modern day southern Ghana, migrating from theMossi-Dagbon region of modern Ghana[2] and Burkina around 1000 A.D.[3] TheGonja of the Guan are however late settlers in northern Ghana, invading easternDagbon in the 1600s, capturingDaboya and many towns.[4][5][6][7]
They primarily speak theGuan languages of the Niger-Congo language family.[8] They make up 3.7% of the population of Ghana.[1]
However, some of the Guan languages have been influenced by major languages especially the Anii-Basila in Ghana, depending also on the location of a particular Guan tribe.Guans can be found in the Eastern region which includesAnum, Makɔ who once spoke Anii, Boso,Larteh, Okere, and Kyerepong. Guan in the Oti Region includesAkyode, Krachi, Buem, Nkonya, Likpe, Santrokofi, Akpafu, etc. Guan in the Volta Region includes Avatime, Logba, Nyagbo, Tafi etc. In the central region are theEfutu, Awutu-Senya, Bawjiase as well as the Etsii groups who now form an arm of the modern Fante Confederacy. TheGonja people are in the north and part of Brong Ahafo, Bono and Ahafo. The Nawuri people live in parts of the North and parts of the Oti Region, mostly at the eastern end of the Salaga district, on the west bank of the Volta Lake/Oti River, some 70 kilometers north of Kete Krachi.
As Guan were the first settlers in Ghana, some were assimilated into the cultures of the major ethnic groups in the various regions of today. Thus, indigenes of Kpeshie in Greater Accra, Nzema, Sefwi, Ahanta, etc. in the Western and Western Noth region also trace their roots to Guan people. The indigenes of most of the Fantes in the central region including Asebu, Edina (Elmina), Shama,Oguaa (Cape Coast), Aguafo, Assin, etc. as well as Agona can also trace their origins from Guan.These Guan groups are mostly referred to as "Etsii". At present it is accepted that the Guan people can be found in twelve (12) regions in Ghana: Oti, Northern, North East, Savannah, Bono, Ahafo, Central, Western North, Western, Eastern, Volta, and Brong Ahafo Regions. They are very tolerant and live as commoners in their various environments. They speak the languages of the major ethnic group where they are found natively, speaking their distinct languages at home.[citation needed]
The Guans originated from thesavanna regions of Ghana and Burkina Faso.[9][2][10] These regions are inhabited by theMossi-Dagbon people.[11][12]
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The following individuals of Guan descent or affiliation have made significant contributions to Ghana and beyond:
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