Five Things to Know About Ghana
AFP/APP
Paris: Ghana, one of the more stable countries in West Africa, faces significant challenges amidst a severe financial crisis and political infighting ahead of Saturday’s presidential election. Here are five key facts about this nation of 34 million people:
- Top Gold Producer
Once known as the Gold Coast, Ghana has overtaken South Africa to become Africa’s leading gold producer. It is also the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, after Ivory Coast, and has been extracting oil since 2010.
Despite these achievements, Ghana faces its worst economic crisis in years, marked by inflation and youth unemployment. In 2022, the country defaulted on its external debt but is stabilizing with a $3 billion IMF relief package.
The crisis has spurred illegal mining, known locally as “galamsey,” which threatens the environment and cocoa production. The issue has been a key focus in political campaigns.
- Turning the Page on the Slave Trade
Ghana was the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence from colonial rule on March 6, 1957, after more than 80 years under British control.
Historically, it was a major hub for the transatlantic slave trade. Cape Coast, once the largest slave-trading center in West Africa, is now a fishing village and tourist attraction.
In 2019, President Nana Akufo-Addo initiated the “Year of Return” program to encourage African Americans to reconnect with their heritage. Many have since settled in Ghana permanently.
- Stability with Fault Lines
Ghana is often praised for its political stability in a region rife with coups and insecurity. However, parliamentary tensions have emerged, notably during the 2021 inauguration when soldiers had to intervene following a brawl between members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Saturday’s presidential and legislative elections are expected to be fiercely contested between these two parties.
- Fast Fashion Tsunami
Ghana is one of the largest importers of secondhand clothing, receiving $164 million worth of used clothing in 2022, mainly from Britain, China, and Canada.
While this trade has created jobs, the rise of fast fashion has led to environmental and social crises. Low-quality clothing has flooded the market, reducing profits for Ghanaian traders and contributing to mountains of textile waste.
- Pioneer Photojournalist
James Barnor, Ghana’s first and most renowned photojournalist, has documented the country’s evolving identity for over 50 years.
His vivid street scenes, from Accra to London, reflect life and optimism and are exhibited globally. In a BBC Africa documentary marking his 95th birthday, Barnor remarked, “I always liked to show pleasure, life, and futureness in people.”
