Ghana

GHANA HISTORICAL FACTS

The name Ghana means warrior king and harks back to the days of the Ghana Empire between the 9th and 13th centuries.

The Ghana Empire was built on trade in salt and gold, which is why British merchants later called it the Gold Coast.

European contact with Ghana began in 1470. In 1482, the Portuguese built a trading settlement there.

In 1821, the British took control of all of the trading posts located on the Gold Coast.

From 1826 to 1900, the British fought battles against the native Ashanti and in 1902, the British defeated them and claimed the northern part of today's Ghana.

Ghana became the first Sub-Saharan country to gain independence from the British on March 6, 1957 at 12 a.m.

Ghana became a Republic and Kwame Nkrumah its first President on July 1, 1960. This meant that Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom ceased to be its Head of State.

GHANA FUN FACTS

193 is the fire emergency number in Ghana.

The equator misses Ghana by about 380 miles.

Lake Volta (the world’s largest artificial lake) extends through eastern Ghana.

The currency unit in Ghana is called the Cedi. The word ‘cedi’ comes from a local word meaning a cowry chell. Cowry shells (from sea snails) were once used as money in Ghana.

After decades of high inflation had devalued the Cedi, the “Ghana Cedi” became the new currency.in July 2007 with  1 Ghana Cedi being equal to 1000 Cedi.

The only English word from the Ga language of Ghana is that of the wasting disease kwashiorkor.

Ghana has 47 local languages but English is its official language.

Ghana has never won an Olympic gold medal but has three silvers and a bronze.

Ferdi Ato Aboboe of Ghana set a world record in 1991 by running 100 metres backwards in 13.6 seconds. That record was equalled by Roland Wegner (Germany) in 2007 but Aboboe still holds the sole record of 12.7 seconds for 100 yards backwards.

Source Daily Express