Exploring Ghana

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Exploring Ghana
Republic of Ghana is an autonomous state with a unitary leader. It is located along the Atlantic Ocean and Guinea Gulf around West Africa. The country has a land capacity of 238, 535 Km2 and bordered by Ivory Coast in the western region. According to the native people living in Ghana the country name means Warrior King. The country has a mixed culture where different beliefs and practices are mixed together among the people from the region (Van Andel 370).
Coming from a family of dynamic practices it was imperative to study and explore the region of Ghana. The desire was accelerated because of the large number of ethnic groups from the region. There are more than 100 ethnic groups, and the biggest being the Moshi-Dagbani, Ga and Akan. The Akan incorporates the Ashanti tribe which is known to be the largest society in the region of West Africa. Lineage among the society is found by using different maternal ancestors as opposed to the paternal ones.
The issues of family is respected and often emulated by all the people from Ghana. This is because it is seen as the only bond that leads to responsibility, loyalty and identity among the citizens. The obligations of all the families take precedence above all other matters that pertain to life in the society. The extended families are also vital in the region as they are used by members to receive recognition while in other parts of the world (Mike 122).
A general observation among different societies is their cultural variations, and this is seen among the Fanti and Ashanti people who have their affiliations through women.

Women are regarded with high esteem in these societies because they are considered to ensure continuity of the society as a whole. The collective nature of the family ensures that all losses and gains in the society are shared equally among the members. Such equality is deemed to bring about good reputation and honor while maintaining dignity among them. Such provisions have made members to act with decorum every time they are presented with an opportunity to avoid embarrassing their fellow members.
Ghana’s desire to have contact with the outside world began in the fifteenth century during the arrival of the Portuguese people. Later the British became the sole power brokers in the region and more specifically around the Gold Coast. The overall social and cultural history of Ghana was in turmoil until the introduction of democratization in the year 1990. It is vital to note that more than half of the population professes to be Christian and follow after the teachings of the bible.
There are various places people can visit while in Ghana. One such place is Accra which is friendly, warm and safe. The region is host of different beaches and the National Museum, which has varied historical treasures. The national theatre which was constructed using modern Chinese architecture is an awesome place to visit for purposes of viewing traditional crafts from the region (Owusu 136).
The economy of Ghana is diverse and resource based with various exportations of digital goods and technology. The country also deals in manufacturing, ship construction, automotive and exportation of industrial mineral and hydrocarbons. Such activities and many others have made Ghana to become one of the highest achievers of GDP per capita in the region. Due to the country’s GDP rebasement between 2010 and 2011, the country became one of the fastest growing economies (Aryee 65).
In the year 2012, the economy of Ghana revolved in offering services, and this constituted 50% of the total GDP of the nation. However, apart from the exportation of minerals, the country prides itself in the development of different plastics that are sold around Africa. The economy of Ghana has escalated in the previous years to an average growth of 6.0%. In the year 2013, the economy was seen as decelerating at a rate of 4.4% as opposed to 7.9% acceleration in the year 2012. The increment in the economy robust growth is associated with the service industry which has a high growth rate of 9.0% (Asafu-Adjaye 36).
In contrast, the continued gap of the budget deficit has become one of the major constraints of the nation. Due to the infant nature of the industries in Ghana, the nation has less integration of the global market. However when compared to other nations it is in a position to export and manage various value chains abroad and countries under ECOWAS (Palmer 398). The country is advantageous because it is located near other ECOWAS nations, and this is a simple recipe for success in the service offering industry.
Ghana is home to many giant shops which provide their customers with different products. The mega stores located in Accra provide citizens with all their requirements under one roof. The region also has embraced the use of online modalities while shopping to ensure minimal time while shopping.
In conclusion, travelling to Ghana is one of the best things that can happen to anybody who is willing to have a taste of different culture and people. It is a region which attracts most tourists from abroad and local members who desire to embrace their heritage and history.

Works Cited
Aryee, B. N A. “Ghanaʼs mining sector: Its contribution to the national economy.” Resources Policy 27.2 (2001): 61-75. Print.
Asafu-Adjaye, John. “Oil Production and Ghanaʼs Economy: What Can We Expect?” Ghana Policy Journal 4.December (2010): 35-49.
Mike Bristow. “Ghanaʼs Adjustment Experience: The Paradox of Reform.” Ed. Ebenezer Obadare. Democracy & Development 3.2 (2003): 120-122. Print.
Owusu, F. Y. “Organizational culture and public sector reforms in a post-Washington consensus era: Lessons from Ghanaʼs good reformers.” Progress in Development Studies 2012: 135-151. Print.
Palmer, Robert. “Skills for work? From skills development to decent livelihoods in Ghana’s rural informal economy.” International Journal of Educational Development 27.4 (2007): 397-420. Print.
Van Andel, Tinde, Britt Myren, and Sabine Van Onselen. “Ghana’s herbal market.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 140.2 (2012): 368-378. Print.