GHANA-

COUNTRY

PRESENTATION

AGENDA

History

Geography

Government and Politics

Education

Cultural Life

Economy

Hospitality Business

Ghana _USA Relations

HISTORY OF GHANA

End of the 16th century, ethnic groups constituting the modern Ghanaian population settled in their present locations. Archaeological remains found in the coastal zone indicate that the area has been inhabited since the Bronze Age (ca. 2000 BC). Archaeological work also suggests that central Ghana north of the forest zone was inhabited as early as 3,000 to 4,000 years ago.

The Portuguese : earliest Europeans to arrive in Ghana in the 15th Century; found so much gold and named it "da Mina", (The Mine), and was subsequently known as the Gold Coast. In 1482, the first castle was built in the Gold Coast by the Portuguese at Elmina for trading, including slaves.

Ghana was colonized by the Dutch and the British.

1958, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, a Ghanaian who obtained his Ph. D from Lincoln University, PA, USA, led Ghana to gain independence from the British and Ghana became a Republic.

There have been numerous coups d'états since then

Ghana is currently ruled by a democratically elected government led by President John Mahama.

Total Population- little over 25.90 million (2013)

HISTORY OF GHANA-

(Cont’d)

Elmina castle-built in 1482

GEOGRAPHY OF GHANA

11 Administrative Regions: Located in West Africa; 5.5500° N,

0.2000° . Boarded on the West by la Cote D’Ivoire, on the East by

Togo, North by Burkina Faso and the South by the Atlantic Ocean.

Administrative capital is Accra.

Climate is tropical and has two seasons:

Wet and Dry.

GOVERNMENT AND

POLITICS

The constitution

The Presidency

Cabinet and Ministers of State

Parliament

Judiciary

National anthem

National pledge

The Coat of arms

EDUCATION –Government

and Private Sectors Pre School

Kindergarten

Primary

JSS

SSS

Vocational/business schools

Polytechnics

Teacher Training Colleges

Nursing Training Colleges

Institute of Professional Studies

Ghana Institute of Management

& Public Administration

Universities (State and Private)

CULTURAL LIFE IN GHANA

People-4 main regional groups: Mole-Dagbani, of the Northern Region. Ewe, east of Lake Volta. Ga-Adangbe, of the East. Akan (including the Twi, Asante/Ashanti, Baule, Fante and Guang)

Languages-English(British not American) is the official language; 36 known local dialects exist, 60% of Ghanaians speak Twi(Akan).

Food: Most popular: Fufu ,Tuo Zafi, khebab ,Red Red (fried ripe plantain and beans stew),fried yam ,Banku, Waakye, gravy, Kelewele/ Tatale, Fresh pepper sauce, Kenkey , Jollof, Shito ,Gari , akepeteshie, pito, corn beverage, coconut juice, palm wine, Omo Tuo , fomfom, tuo zaafi, akpiti, orfam, white rice ,soups-peanut, palm nut, light, okro, abunabun; bofrot, laakua, agbeli kaakro, aboloo, yakeyake, among others. Snails, crabs, mushrooms and all types of fish form some typical meals. https://www.google.com/search?q=Local+dishes+from+Ghana&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=ROdHVbDGCoKcNtWUgMAB&ved=0CCkQ7Ak&biw=1366&bih=544

CULTURAL LIFE (cont’d)

Festivals: Very colorful and dramatic. Over 20 are celebrated in various parts of the regions. Significance: history, morally, religion, social networking, economically, politically, and for strategic development.

Religions-Christians (Roman Catholics, Baptists, Protestants etc.) -71%; Muslims-17.6; traditional religions-5.2%

Pop Culture and Entertainment-Local, traditional and Western, mainly from the USA and UK

Sports-Soccer is the most popular-3 appearances in the World Cup in 2006, 2010, 2014.

Most Ghanaian football fans support European Football clubs, the most popular are Chelsea, Man U, FC Barcelona, etc. Many Ghanaians also play for these premier league clubs in Europe.

TRADITIONAL GHANAIAN

HAIRSTYLES

GHANA TEXTILE

PRINTS(TRADITIONAL

MODERN GHANA TEXTILE

PRINTS

KENTE cloth, is Ghana’s national fabric, with

the most expensive ones made with golden

threads for kings only (in the olden days).

ADINKRA SYMBOLS-Traditional

Ghanaian Akan Alphabets

ECONOMY OF GHANA

Currency: Cedi (1 Gh Cedi=100 Pesewas)

Natural Resources: Minerals: gold, diamond, bauxite, manganese, iron ore, petroleum

Agricultural products: Cocoa,(Hershey’s cocoa is grown in Ghana), rubber, timber, tropical root crops, sugarcane, corn, rice, coffee, fishing, cotton, tobacco, among others

Industrial: Mines, Oil production including refineries, energy from hydro electric plants (3), modelled along the TVA, Agro processing including chocolate factories and Cocoa processing, textiles, tourist products, canneries, commercial ship building; lumbering;

Services Sector: Hospitality, Tourism, Technology, legal, administrative and business support, banking etc

ECONOMY OF GHANA

(cont’d) GDP : $117 billion (2014 estimate)

GDP decreased from 15 % in 2011 to 8.5 % in2014 (due to over borrowing to develop the oil sector)

GDP by sector: Services: : 50.6% (2013); Industry: 28.1% (2013); Agriculture: 21.3% (2013)

GNI has increased from $320.00 in 2003 to $1770 in 2013

Labor force by occupation: Services: 28% (2011 est.); Industry: 20% (2011 est.); Agriculture: 52% (2011 est.)

Average gross salary :Increase ¢29,669.16 / $10,483.8 (per year)

Average net salary: Increase ¢2,472.43 / $873.65 (per month)

GHANA ECON0MY

(cont’d)

Major IMPORTS-$17.56 billion (2012);

manufactured durables; vehicles, agric

machinery, pharmaceuticals; building materials,

capital equipment, foodstuffs

Partners: China-25%; Nigeria- 10.9%; US- 7%;

Germany-4.2%

Major EXPORTS:$13.73 billion gold, bauxite,

aluminum, manganese, electricity, oil, cocoa,

tuna, agric produce, timber

Partners: France-13.3%; Italy-12.1%; Netherlands-

8.7%; China-7.2%; Germany-4.2%

Gross Domestic Product

(2005-2014)

HOSPITALITY BUSINESS IN

GHANA Hotels-148 registered foreign and domestically owned hotels and Guest

Houses Several Guest Houses exist

International brands and chains: Marriott, Best Western, Ramada,

Holiday Inn and Novotel

Ghana has placed 10th in a survey conducted by Lagos-based consultancy W Hospitality Group of countries in sub Saharan Africa in

hotel development pipeline.

TOURISM: The Ghana Cities Guide places in the hand of the tourist a

compact and handy pack containing print information, a video and a

map of tourist attractions and investment opportunities in various

regions of the country.

Ministry of Tourism pursues a proactive program to market the country

to Ghanaians through school excursions and the formation of tourist

clubs in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

HOSPITALITY BUSINESS

(cont’d) Tourist attractions: Aburi Botanical Gardens; Forts and

Castles along the coast, game reserves at Paga and Damongo, a national park located at Kakum in the Central Region, water falls, a meteor/volcanic formed lake at Bosumtwi in the Ashanti region, beautiful sandy beaches are few notable among several. For a comprehensive list, refer to: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/tourism/attraction.php

Hospitality business schools: mainly offer certificates and vocational training-still in its infancy of development in awarding higher degrees.

Future trends of the hospitality industry remain potentially large as Ghana is an attractive destination for local and international business, leisure and vacationing for emigrants from Europe and the USA.

GROWTH IN HOTELS AND

RESTAURANTS

Ghana Government Statistics

HOSPITALITY BUSINESS IN

GHANA(Cont’d)

Tourism contributed to 4.9% of GDP in 2009, attracting around 500,000 tourists. Tourist destinations include Ghana's many castles and forts, national parks, beaches, nature reserves, landscapes and World Heritage buildings and sites.

In 2011, Forbes magazine published that Ghana was ranked the eleventh most friendly country in the world

Tourist sector has now refocused its International marketing and promotional drive to the Asian Tourism Market and is participating at the ongoing 11th China Outbound Travel Tourism Market (COTTM) in Beijing, China.

Ghana at Beijing Tourist

fair

TYPICAL HOTELS IN

GHANA

FIRSTS IN GHANA

First African Country south of the Sahara to gain Independence

First Ghanaian President attended Lincoln University, PA

First to establish the only Pharmacy University Faculty in West Africa

Richest and most educated territory in West Africa by end of the second world war

First to open a Nautical College in West Africa by 1970

Ghana is the first country to which United States Peace Corps volunteers were sent in 1961.

CHALLENGES FACING

GHANA Low Life Expectancy at birth is 61yrs, an increase

from 58yrs in 2003 , still very low

Energy shortage-Power shortages affecting the economy and daily life

High inflation rates: 11.50%

Budget Deficit: -12.5%

High unemployment: 11%

Insufficient storage facilities after crop harvest

Cedi depreciation: 8.3%

Exchange rates cedi (GHC) per US dollar -

1.796 (2012 est.), 1.512 (2011 est.), 1.431 (2010 est.), 1.409 (2009), 1.1 (2008); …Today’s rate?

POTENTIAL BUSINESS

ATTRACTIONS IN GHANA

Agricultural processing

Education-Hospitality business colleges

Manufacturing

Tourism

Real Estate Business

Infrastructure development

Research

Renewable energy development

GHANA –USA RELATIONS

Dates back since: Ghana’s independence in 1957

Past US Presidents who visited Ghana: Carter, Clinton, Bush

and Obama

Highlights of President Barack Obama’s visit to Ghana was

historic and can be viewed on

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/10/ghana-

excited-for-obama-v_n_229532.html

Areas of cooperation :Trade,

Education, International

diplomacy, industry, among

others.

VISIT GHANA-ALL are

Welcome!!

AKWAABA!!!

REFERENCES

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/t

ourism/hotels.php?page=12

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g293797-

Accra_Greater_Accra-Hotels.html

http://data.worldbank.org/country/ghana

http://touristswatch.com/site/?news=ghana-

explores-china-outbound-tourism-market

http://www.statsghana.gov.gh/docfiles/GDP/GD

P2015/2014%20Q3%20Annual%20GDP.pdf

The World Bank

????

Thank you, me daase, na agoode, akpe, oyiwala dorng……Caroline Agbemabiese,UD'14; MS, MSc.,

Hospitality Business, Regional Development Planning and Management

Aramark |Supervisor| Higher Education

Mobile: 302-547-7689

caroagbe@gmail.com

www.linkedin.com/pub/carolineagbemabiese/7a/b44/701