HOMOWO: Economy and People of Ghana

ECONOMY

Ghana’s economy is primarily based on agriculture. Over 50 percent of the labor force works to harvest Ghana’s cash crops. Cacao (from which cocoa and chocolate are made) is the most important cash crop and accounts for about 60 percent of all exports. Other exports include coffee, fruits, corn, root crops, peanuts, millet, and sorghum. Mining is also important to the economy as Ghana has many valuable natural resources like gold, diamonds, aluminum, and bauxite. Other key industries include timber, fishing, and light manufacturing.

Traditionally regional chiefs were the protectors of Ghana’s assets, economic and agricultural. Today, chiefs provide guidance and leadership to the people of their ethnic group, presiding over special occasions, solving disputes, and overseeing festivals.

Obo Addy

PEOPLE OF GHANA

Present day Ghana is a country composed of many ethnic groups who generally live in certain parts of the country, speak their own distinct language, and have a distinct culture. They maintain their own customs, for instance some groups are matrilineal and others are patrilineal. But, despite the variety of languages and customs in Ghana, English is currently the official language, primarily because of Ghanaian developments after British colonization. Following is a listing of some of Ghana’s major ethnic groups.

The Akan people, located in southwest Ghana, have been greatly influenced by British culture and have a matrilineal form of descent.

The Ewes inhabit southeastern Ghana, have a patrilineal form of descent and are mainly farmers and fisherman.
The Guan who live near the central region of Ghana have many different language dialects and are thought to be one of the oldest populations in the area.
The Central Togo groups live just above the Ewe people where patrilineal groups are organized under a chief. Here people mainly farm cocoa and the primary religion is Christianity.
The Fanti peoples live in the coastal areas
The Ga are the original inhabitants of Accra, the capital and live in the southern coastlands
The Asante in the south-central area well known for their beautiful artistry in ceramics, wood carving, pottery and weaving the famous kente cloth.
The Hausa and Moshi-Dagomba live in the north.