 Ghana | |
 Map of the Ghanaian Diaspora in the world | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| c. 34 million | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Nigeria | 500,000 (2021)[1] |
 United States | 256,750 (2015)[n1][2] |
 United Kingdom | 250,000 (2021)[n1][3] |
 Ivory Coast | 111,024 |
 Italy | 50,414 (2015)[n1][4][5][6] |
 Netherlands | 40,000 (2003)[n1][5][7] |
 Canada | 35,495 (2016)[n1][5][8] |
 Germany | 39,000 (2023)[n1][9] |
 Spain | 12,699 (2007)[n1][10] |
 Lebanon | 10,297 (2013)[n1][11] |
 France | 10,000 (2007)[n1][12] |
 South Africa | 10,000 (2010)[n1][13][failed verification] |
 Belgium | 5,600 (2015)[n1] |
 Sweden | 5,266 (2024)[n1][14] |
 Australia | 3,866 (2011)[n1][15] |
 Israel | 3,000 (2003)[n1][16] |
 Norway | 2,424 (2014)[n1][17] |
 Japan | 2,000[18] |
 Finland | 2,135 (2017)[n1][19] |
 Senegal | 2,000[18] |
 Denmark | 1,600 (2015)[n1][20] |
 Cuba | 533 (2011)[n1][21] |
 Turkey | 500 (2012)[n1] |
 New Zealand | 277 (2007)[n1][22] |
 Russia | 200 (2011)[n1][23] |
 Brazil | 442,189 (2013)[n1][24] |
 United Arab Emirates | 300 |
 Togo | 47,000[18] |
 Benin | 16,000[18] |
 Liberia | 8,000[18] |
 Mali | 6,000[18] |
| Languages | |
| Religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
^[n1]Ghanaian citizens orGhanaian card nationals. | |
Ghanaians are a nation originating in theGhanaian Gold Coast.[29] Ghanaians predominantly inhabit the Republic ofGhana and are the predominant cultural group and residents of Ghana, numbering 34 million people as of 2024, making up 85% of the population.[27][30] The word "Ghana" means "warrior king".[31] An estimateddiaspora population of 4 million people worldwide are of Ghanaian descent.[32] The term ethnic Ghanaian may also be used in some contexts to refer to a group of related ethnic groups native to the Gold Coast.[33]
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Theethnogenesis of Ghanaians is traced back tonomadic migration fromNubia along theSahara desert then south to the Gold Coast, and the Ghanaian ethnogenesis taking place on the GhanaianGold Coast region from the 10th to 16th century AD.[34] Early Ghanaians were involved in a lucrative trade with gold bars and other natural minerals to thePortuguese in 1471; these Ghanaian states were among the wealthiest on the African continent from the 17th century onwards, following successful further expansion of lucrative Ghanaian gold bars trading to theDutch,Prussian andScandinavians from the 16th century through to the 20th century.[35]
Early Ghanaians established a number of powerful kingdoms and empires from the 10th to 17th century, some of which became great powers in the west African region.[35] By 1902, the kingdoms had been annexed by theUnited Kingdom to theGold Coast colony following a series of Anglo-Ghanaian conflicts in the 19th century.[35] Ghanaians gained their independence fromBritish colonial rule in 1957, and renamed theirsovereign state "Ghana (Warrior King)" because the various Ghanaian kingdoms were a warrior-based society according to contemporary and historical historiography.[36] The Republic of Ghana was thefirst African country to gain independence from European colonial rule.[37][38]
More than 90% of the Ghanaian citizens in Ghana live inurban areas—a figure higher than the world average. The rate of Ghana's population growth is at the world average.[25] Most Ghanaians move to urban areas seeking well-paid jobs. Ghanaians have high level of education in science,technology, mathematics and vocational studies. However, the rural areas have large productivity in agricultural produce. Ethnic groups in Ghana include theAkan (47.3%), theMole-Dagbon (18.5%), theEwe (13.9%), theGa-Dangme (7.4%), theGurma (5.7%) and theGuan (3.7%).
According to a 2005Y-DNA study, indigenous Ghanaians in Ghana carry 61%E1b1a.[39][nb 1] Indigenous Ghanaians also belong topaternal lineages at 2.2%E1a.[39] Indigenous Ghanaians in Ghana are 1.1%E1b1bclade bearers, ahaplogroup that is most common inNorth Africa and theHorn of Africa.West Eurasian haplogroupR1b is present in 1.1% of the population.[39]
The inhabitants of Ghana possessingGhanaian passports are 20 million persons, including an additional 3‒4 million persons abroad. Ghana has a diverse population that reflects its colorful history and the peoples who have populated the region from ancient times to the present, with the historic amalgam of the main groups forming the basis of Ghana's current demographics.Native West Africans make up 98% of the population.[40][41][42] There is also a new population ofAsians,Middle Easterners,Europeans and other recentimmigrants.[citation needed]
To obtainGhanaian nationality, one must benaturalized after seven years ofGhana Cardpermanent residency.[citation needed] TheAsians, Middle Easterners andEuropeans who have lived in Ghana for most of their lives have acquired Ghanaian citizenship, which is granted without any discrimination.[citation needed] Two thirds, or 67%, of Ghanaians speak English.[25][43] There are more than 100 ethnic groups, each with its own distinct language.[44] However, languages that belong to the same ethnic group are usually mutually intelligible. There are ninelanguage family groups and 11 languages from these groups are officially sponsored by the government:Akuapem Twi,Asante Twi,Ewe,Fante,Ga,Dangme,Dagbani,Nzema, Ahanta language (Ahantas)Dagaare,Gonja andKasena.[45]
During the colonial era, a number of Europeans intermarried with Africans and had offspring, who include such notable Gold Coasters asCarel Hendrik Bartels andJames Bannerman. Most European settlers left the Gold Coast after it won independence. Currently, the most significant immigrant populations in Ghana are Africans from other countries on the continent, Asians (Indians andChinese), some of them Europeans (Britons,Portuguese,Dutch, French,Italians, Latin Americans, Poles,Scandinavians, andGermans), and Middle Easterners, particularly Lebanese and Syrians.[citation needed]
The Ghanaiannationalism was suspended by theGhanaian government during the time ofWorld War II, but was resumed in 1945.[46] The Ghanaians allied with theAllies in World War II.[46] TheFifth Pan-African Congress held in October 1945, served to form the support for theliberalization of Ghanaian colonial domination on 4 August 1947.[46][47] On 12 June 1949,Kwame Nkrumah, formed the first governing party in the history of the Gold Coast, which refused to cooperate with the colonial authorities and which led to the achievement of Ghanaian independence and the opposition to the1951 Constitution, in which Nkrumah was incarcerated together with his collaborators.[47]
On 8 February 1951, the first elections in the history of the Gold Coast were held; Nkrumah's win was confirmed on 12 February 1951.[47] Ghanaian nationalism was initiated in organisation with the Ghanaiannationlist movement, theBig Six and through theGold Coast Aborigines' Rights Protection Society; then strikes and mass riots were formed on the streets of the Gold Coast by its natives for Gold Coast independence, the colonial governor at the time, theEarl of Listowel, proclaimed Gold Coast's independence on 6 March 1957.[48] Nkrumah became the firstprime minister.[49] On 1 July 1960, Nkrumah drew up the firstConstitution of Ghana; the British monarch ceased to behead of state, and Ghana became arepublic.[49]
Approximately 5% of Ghanaiancitizens live in rural areas and 95% in urban areas. The rate of urbanization estimated for the period 2010–2015 is 4% per annum,[50] one of the highest amongdeveloping countries.
| Region (2010)[25] | Region population | Area (km2)[25] | City (2010)[51] | City population | Administrative divisions of Ghana | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashanti Region | 4,780,380 | 24,389 | Kumasi | 1,989,062 |  | |
| Brong-Ahafo Region | 2,310,983 | 39,557 | _logo.JPG){kind=logo} | Sunyani | 87,642 | |
| Central Region | 2,201,863 | 9,826 | _logo.PNG){kind=logo} | Cape Coast | 217,032 | |
| Eastern Region | 2,633,154 | 19,323 |  | Koforidua | 127,334 | |
| Greater Accra Region | 4,010,054 | 3,245 | Accra | 2,291,352 | ||
| Northern Region | 2,479,461 | 70,384 | _logo.jpg){kind=logo} | Tamale | 537,986 | |
| Upper East Region | 1,046,545 | 8,842 | _logo.JPG){kind=logo} | Bolgatanga | 66,68 | |
| Upper West Region | 702,110 | 18,476 | Wa | 102,446 | ||
| Volta Region | 2,118,252 | 20,570 |  | Ho | 96,213 | |
| Western Region | 2,376,021 | 23,921 | _logo.jpg){kind=logo} | Sekondi-Takoradi | 445,205 | |
| Total Ghana | 24,658,823 | 238,533 |  | Accra |
Ghanaian Arabs are Ghanaians andcitizens ofArab origin or descent. Ghanaian Arabs are mainly fromLebanon,Syria andArab Maghreb. Ghana has the largest Arab population in western Africa.
Ghanaian Indians are Ghanaians and citizens ofIndian origin or descent. Many Ghanaian Indians are descendants of those who migrated fromIndia followingIndia's partition in 1947.[52]
There are 3–4 million Ghanaians in thediaspora.[32]
Ghanaian Australians aredual citizens with Australia and residents of Ghanaian origin and descent. More than 50% of all Ghanaian-born Australians live inSydney,New South Wales.[53]
Ghanaian Americans are dual citizens with America and residents of Ghanaian origin and descent.
Ghanaian Canadians aredual citizens with Canada and residents of Ghanaian origin and descent.
Ghanaian British are dual citizens with Britain and residents of Ghanaian origin and descent.
Ghanaian New Zealanders are dual citizens with New Zealand and residents of Ghanaian origin and descent.[citation needed]
An estimated 45,000 people of Ghanaian descent reside in Nigeria.
Ghanaian South Africans are dual citizens with South Africa and residents of Ghanaian origin and descent.
Ndyuka (also spelled "Djuka") or Aukan or Okanisi sama, are a GhanaianAkan subgroup who live in EasternSuriname and west ofFrench Guiana and speak theNdyuka language, a sub-language of theAkan language. They were shipped as imported labourers slaves from theGold Coast (modern-day Ghana) to Suriname about 300 years ago to work on Dutch-owned plantations. Ndyukas or Aukans are subdivided into theOpu, who live upstream of theTapanahony River of southeastern Suriname, and theBilo, who live downstream of that river. They further subdivide themselves into 14matrilinear kinship groups calledlo.[citation needed]
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| Culture of Ghana |
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Ghana's cultural diversity is most evident in cuisine, arts, literature, heritage, music, dance, clothing, and sports.[54][55]
Kente is a Ghanaian ceremonial cloth traditionally used as the national costume. Kente is hand-woven on a horizontaltreadle loom in strips measuring about 4 inches wide, which are sewn together into larger pieces of cloth. Cloths come in various colours, sizes and designs, which have different meanings, and are worn on important social occasions.[54] During the 13th century, Ghanaians developed their unique art ofadinkra printing.
Notable Ghanaian authors include novelistsAyi Kwei Armah (The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born),Ama Ata Aidoo (Our Sister Killjoy: or Reflections from a Black-eyed Squint) andJ. E. Casely Hayford, author ofOsiris Rising. In addition to novels, other literary genres such as theatre and poetry have been well developed at a national level.
Ghanaian music incorporates several distinct types of instruments, includingtalking drums, theatenteben and koloko lute, the atumpan, and logxylophones used in asonko music. The most well-known genre to come from Ghana ishighlife.[56] Highlife originated in the late 19th century and early 20th century. In the 1990s, a new genre of music,hiplife, was created through the combination of highlife, Afro-reggae,dancehall andhip hop.[57] Hiplife is the most popular Ghanaian music,[58] followed by the other genre of Ghanaian music,highlife.[59] Ghanaian dance is globally well known and performed worldwide.[57] The dances are varied and may involve complex and co-ordinated movement of the arms, torso, hips, feet and head, performed to different Ghanaian music forms for entertainment, celebrating at festivals, and other occasions. Some popular dances include Adowa andAzonto.[60] Other traditional dances from Ghana areKpanlogo, Klama and Bamaya.[60]
Sports in Ghana is dominated by association football represented by theGhana Premier League and theGhana national football team.[61]The rich culture in Ghana led to the annual festival held at the capital region, Greater Accra at the James Town township which is celebrated along with the Homowo festival. This new festival calledChale Wote[62] has caught the eyes of many who seek to experience the true Ghanaian culture and festival for themselves.
In Ghanaian societypolygyny – marriages in which men are permitted to have more than one wife at the same time[63] – has been traditionally practised, especially among well-to-do Ghanaian men.[63] Amongmatrilineal groups, such as theAkan, married women continued to reside at their maternal homes.[63] Meals prepared by the wife would be carried to the husband at his maternal house.[63] In polygynous situations, visitation schedules would be arranged.[63] The separate living patterns reinforced the idea that each spouse is subject to the authority of a different household head, and because spouses are always members of different lineages, each is ultimately subject to the authority of the senior men of his or her lineage.[63] The wife, as an outsider in the husband's family, would not inherit any of his property, other than that granted to her by her husband as gifts in token appreciation of years of devotion.[63] The children from this matrilineal marriage would be expected to inherit from their mother's family.[63] Today, the percentage of women in polygynous marriages in Ghana's rural areas (23.9%) is almost double that of women in Ghana's urban areas (12.4%).[64] The age group with the most women in polygynous marriages is 45–49, followed by the 15–19 age group and the 40–44 group.[64] Rates of polygynous marriages decrease as education level and wealth level increase.[64]
During 2008–2012, the national literacy rate for women aged 15–24 was 83.2%, only slightly lower than that for males of the same age group (88.3%).[65] However, literacy rates fluctuate across Ghana country and socioeconomic statuses.[64][65] Byregions of Ghana, literacy rates for females range from 44% to 81%.[64] Women living at the highest socioeconomic status exhibit the highest literacy rates at 85%, while only 31% of women living at the lowest socioeconomic status are literate.[64] Over the timespan of 2008–12, there were 4% more females enrolled inpreschool than males.[65] Net enrolment and attendance ratios forprimary school were both about the same for males and females, net enrollment standing at about 84% and net attendance at about 73%.[65] Enrolment insecondary school for females was slightly lower than for males (44.4% vs. 48.1%), but female attendance was higher by about the same difference (39.7% vs. 43.6%).[65]
As of 2011, women made up 66.9% of economically active population in Ghana.[66] Within the informal sector, women usually work in personal services.[66] There are distinct differences in artisan apprenticeships offered to women and men, as well.[66] Men are offered a much wider range of apprenticeships, such as carpenters, masons, blacksmiths, mechanics, painters, repairers of electrical andelectronic appliances, upholsters, metal workers, car sprayers, etc.[66] In contrast, most female artisans are involved in either hairdressing or dressmaking.[66] Women generally experience a disparity in earnings, receiving a daily average of 6,280 cedis compared to 8,560 cedis received by men, according to the Ghana Living Standards Survey.[66] Women are flourishing in teaching professions.[63]
Early 1990s' data showed that about 19% of the instructional staff at the nation's three universities in 1990 was female.[63] Of the teaching staff in specialized and diploma-granting institutions, 20% was female; elsewhere, corresponding figures were 21% at secondary-school level; 23% at middle-school level, and as high as 42% at primary-school level.[63] Women also dominated the secretarial and nursing professions in Ghana.[63] When women were employed in the same line of work as men, they were paid equal wages, and they were granted maternity leave with pay.[63] However, women inresearch professions report experiencing more difficulties than men in the same field, which can be linked to restricted professional networks for women because of lingering traditional familial roles.[67]
Feminist organizing has increased in Ghana as women seek to obtain a stronger role in the nation's democratic government.[68] In 2004, a coalition of women created theWomen's Manifesto for Ghana, a document that demands economic and political equality as well as reproductive health care and other rights.[68] The National Council for Women and Development (NCWD) is fervent in its stance that the social and economic well-being of women, who compose slightly more than half of the nation's population, cannot be taken for granted.[63] The Council sponsored a number of studies on women's work, education, and training, and on family issues that are relevant in the design and execution of policies for the improvement of the condition of women.[63] Among these considerations the NCWD stressed family planning, child care, and female education as paramount.[63][69]
In 2007, the government of Ghana took legal proceedings to prosecute men who abuse their women.[70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77]
In 1966, Nkrumah was deposed, after which Ghana entered a period of military rule. On 31 December 1981, the regime led byFlight lieutenantJerry John Rawlings installed theProvisional National Defence Council (PNDC), of which he became chairman. In 1992, Rawlings retired from the military and set up theNational Democratic Congress (NDC), and was subsequently elected for two terms as president.
In 2002,John Agyekum Kufuor succeeded Rawlings asGhanaian head of state until the year 2008. Kufuor was replaced as Ghanaian head of state byJohn Atta Mills until 2012.[78] In 2013,John Dramani Mahama succeeded Mills as the Republic of Ghana President and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces.[78]
On 7 January 2017,Nana Akufo-Addo took office as President.[79] On 7 January 2025, John Dramani Mahama took office once again as President of the Republic of Ghana.
p27 Ghana 39270 (2020); p29 Ghana 29590 (2015)(underAusländische Bevölkerung - Fachserie 1 Reihe 2 - 2020)
Akan migration.Wickens, Gerald E; Lowe, Pat (2008).The Baobabs: Pachycauls of Africa, Madagascar and Australia.Springer Science+Business Media. 2008. p. 360.ISBN 978-1-4020-6431-9.
The Ghanaian Government states that English is the official language. It is being widely used in business, law, and government documents, as well being taught throughout schools as a medium of instruction. For the official percentage of English-language speakers in Ghana seeList of countries by English-speaking population
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