Need a quick guide to Ghana?

Culture
- importance of etiquette and hospitality - Madassi (thank you); Eta sane (How is it?/How are you?); use right hand for all greetings/gestures
- patrimonial and matrilineal (in most cases) society
- hierarchical society, particularly relating to age + importance of extended family networks (no word for cousin - refer to him/her as brother/sister)

Economy
- mineral-rich: light crude oil, bauxite, gold, diamonds + agriculture (primarily cocoa)
- liberalized economy hurts local industries (IMF/WB policies)
- imports too heavily --> currency depreciates
- though poor country, strong self-perception and attitude toward future --> wants greater integration politically and economically in Africa (AU) and world
- accelerated income gap has precipitated greater crime, thought crime still remains relatively low (few handguns)
- importance of the informal sector - large but counted and contributing?
- populating explosion - 4.5 in mid-1950s ; now 22 million with 3% growth rate --> affects the efficacy and resource distribution of all industries, particularly education





Politics
- most recent election was very close - peaceful shift in power
- Ghana has a history of being a political leader in Africa - Kwame Nkrumah (Pan-African Socialist leading the movement for African independence & Ghana's first president)
- 1951 - first elections with universal suffrage (before US)
- '57 - independence declared
- '66 - military coup supported by CIA ousted Nkrumah
- '72-'79 - brief return to democratic rule
- '81-'00 - military coup topples military government. Leader maintained through election.
- Current ruling party is a descendant of Nkrumah's party.



Leaders historically are not ideologically-oriented but may shifted policies based upon convenience. Government is now taking into account past successes and failures in policy rather than considering the previous governments evil.
Ghana has a history of pan-African affairs and leadership in African, peace-keeping and peace-making throughout Africa, and promoting development.
[I have more detailed information about the nature of and conditions surrounding the military interventions and political culture, if anyone would like that information. If interested, just ask. If you have particular questions, you can of course research yourself, or I can try to answer.]

... One could see the effects of neoliberal policies through the great economic inequality - with the booming downtown/airport area bustling with growth and the nearby neighborhoods plagued by poverty as well as individuals' responses to such through the growth of the informal sector, ranging from street venders to prositutes. In light of this, I must note Ghanaian cultural pride and desire for improvement: greater global economic and political integration. I wish the majority of Americans shared this attitude as opposed to adopting a sense of entitlement to anything and everything.

Religion
For an African, religion = center of life. There is a necessary connection between the physical and spiritual worlds. Rituals, perceived cosmic order, rites of passage, etc.
When the professor/pastor was asked if these syncritistic (blending traditional and modern religious beliefs and practices) methods were in conflict with the modern world, he responded, "Yes," to my surprise.