Ghana Facts & Worksheets

Premium

Download the Ghana Facts & Worksheets

Click the button below to get instant access to these worksheets for use in the classroom or at a home.

Download This Worksheet

This download is exclusively for KidsKonnect Premium members!
To download this worksheet, click the button below to signup (it only takes a minute) and you'll be brought right back to this page to start the download!

Sign Me Up

Already a member? Log in to download.

Download

Edit This Worksheet

Editing resources is available exclusively for KidsKonnect Premium members.
To edit this worksheet, click the button below to signup (it only takes a minute) and you'll be brought right back to this page to start editing!

Sign Up

Already a member? Log in to download.

Edit

This worksheet can be edited by Premium members using the free Google Slides online software. Click the Edit button above to get started.

Along the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean, on the western side of Africa, lies the country of Ghana. The West African country spans over 238,535 square kilometers and is officially known as the Republic of Ghana.

See the fact file below for more information on the Ghana or alternatively, you can download our 26-page Ghana worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

GENERAL FACTS

• The capital city of Ghana is Accra, a city covering 225.67 square kilometers. As of 2012, Accra has an estimated population of 2.26 million.
• Accra is divided into 12 local government districts, consisting of 11 municipal districts and the Accra Metropolitan District.
• The Accra Metropolitan District is 173 square kilometers wide.
• English is the official language of Ghana, and there are a total 21 recognised national languages.
• The national languages of Ghana are Asante Twi, Akuapem Twi, Bono Twi, Ahanta, Dagaare, Dagbani, Dangme, Ewe, Fante, Ga, Gonja, Kasem, Mampruli, Nzema, Wasa, Talensi, Bassare, Frafra, Kusaal, Hausa, and Ghanaian Sign Language.
• Ghana is an ethnically diverse country. There are 10 major ethnic groups inhabiting Ghana: Akans, Mole-Dagbon, Ewe, Ga-Adangbe, Bassare, Konkomba, Guan, Gurunsi, Kusasi, and Bissa people.
• Christianity is the leading religion in Ghana, comprising 68.8% of its population.
• The inhabitants of Ghana are called Ghanaians.
• Ghana’s government is a Unitary Presidential Constitutional Republic.
• Ghana’s current President is Nana Akufo-Addo.
• The current constitution of Ghana was signed on April 28, 1992.
• The population of Ghana is now estimated to be 31,072,940.

FLAG DESIGN

• The flag of Ghana features three horizontal strips of red, gold, and green with the same height and width.
• The red strip symbolizes the blood spilled to achieve Ghana’s independence.
• The gold strip symbolizes Ghana’s mineral wealth, as Ghana is known for the gold industry.
• The green strip symbolizes the tropical rainforests found in Ghana and the country’s wealth in natural resources.

ETYMOLOGY

• The name “Ghana” actually means “Warrior King” in the Soninke language, a Mande language—languages spoken in West Africa—particularly spoken by the Soninke people, a West African ethnic group.
• Ghana or “Warrior King” was the title bestowed on kings of the Ghana Empire that thrived from the 6th to 13th century. However, the empire resided further north of the Guinea region.

GEOGRAPHY

• Ghana is bordered by the Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea and Atlantic Ocean to the south.
• Ghana is located on the Gulf of Guinea, the northeasternmost part of the Atlantic Ocean, and is only a few degrees north of the Equator, making it a country of warm climate.
• Ghana is a tropical country that only has two seasons: the wet and dry season.
• The world’s largest artificial lake, Lake Volta, is located in Ghana.

HISTORY

• Early kingdoms
  • The area that is now the Republic of Ghana was inhabited by Akan kingdoms on the South and Central land during the Middle Ages.
  • The Akan kingdoms included the
    • Ashanti Empire (1670-1902)
    • Akwamu (1600s-1700s)
    • Bonoman (1000s-1900s)
    • Denkyira (1500-1701)
    • Mankessim Kingdom (1252-1844)
  • The Akan people moved a lot in West Africa until they permanently settled in the 5th century.
  • The Akan state called Bonoman was established during the 11th century, a trading state located in southern Ghana.
  • In the 13th century, several Akan states were created to focus on gold trading.
• Interactions with Europe
  • Akan began trading gold with the Portuguese in the 15th century.
  • The Elmina Castle was built in 1482 in Ghana, commissioned by Portugal.
  • The Dutch joined the gold trade by 1598 and established the Dutch Gold Coast and built forts at Fort Komenda and Kormantse.
  • The Olnini Castle was captured by the Dutch in 1617.
  • Many more European countries joined the gold trade in the 17th Century, including Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.
  • At the beginning of the 17th century, Portuguese, English, and French people also traded slaves in Ghana, known as the Atlantic slave trade.
  • The Europeans built more than thirty forts and castles in Ghana.
  • Parts of Ghana were ruled by Great Britain in 1874, and established the British Gold Coast.
  • Military conflict between the British colonial forces and the Akan nation-states broke out.
  • The Ashanti-Anglo conflict began on January 22, 1824 and ended on July 15 1900.
  • The Ashanti Kingdom won several times but they were defeated at the War of the Golden Stool.
  • From March 6, 1957 until July 1, 1960, Ghana was a dominion—a semi-independent country under the British crown and constituting the British Empire.
  • Ghana officially became a republic on July 1, 1960, and was the first African country to became independent.

CULTURE

• Since Ghana is a diverse country, Ghanaian culture is an amalgamation of the various cultures of the ethnic groups inhabiting Ghana.
• Adinkra consists of traditional Ghanaian symbols used in printing and designing their traditional attire.

MUSIC

• The three distinct types of music in Ghana are ethnic, highlife, and choral music.
• Traditional music is played at festivals and funerals.
• Highlife music is a blend of traditional and imported music.
• Choral music is performed in concert halls, churches, schools, and colleges.

DANCE

• Since Ghana is ethnically diverse, each ethnic group has its own traditional dances.
• Dances are performed at funerals, celebrations, for praise and worship.
• Examples of Ghanaian dances are:
  • Kpolongo by the Gas
  • Agbadza by the Ewes
  • Adowa by the Akans
  • Bambaiya by the Northerners
  • Patsa by the Ga-Adangbes

CUISINE

• Ghanaian cuisine is also diverse and specific to each ethnic group.
• However, Ghanaian cuisine generally includes starch, sauce or soup, fish, snails, meat, or mushrooms.

SPORT

• The most popular sport in Ghana is association football.
• The national men’s football team is called the Black Stars.

SIGHTS TO SEE

• Akaa Falls — a complex waterfall located in the rainforest of east Ghana.
• Tagbo Falls — located in Volta, a waterfall 60 meters tall.
• Hani Archaeological Site — a Prehistoric cave settlement located in Brong Ahafo that was inhabited around 1200 BC.
• Larabanga Mosque — an adobe mosque in northern Ghana built in 1421.
• Elmina Castle — The oldest European building in the Sahara, built by the Portuguese in 1482.

Ghana Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Ghana across 26 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Ghana worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Ghana. Along the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean, on the western side of Africa, lies the country of Ghana. The West African country spans over 238,535 square kilometers and is officially known as the Republic of Ghana.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

• Ghana Facts
• What’s in a Name?
• Geography Blanks
• Flag Sketch
• National Symbols
• In a Nutshell
• Regions of Ghana
• Ghana City Search
• Dance Match
• Sights Scramble
• Fact Recap

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as Ghana Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, September 21, 2020