Every society has norms, which are rules that guide behavior. One important norm in Ghana concerns the use of the left hand in social interactions.
Traditionally in Ghana, using the left hand in social interactions can be problematic. Giving something to someone or receiving something with the left hand is considered rude or insulting.
Growing up in Ghana in the 1960s and 1970s, I did not know anyone who was left-handed. When I moved to North America in the 1980s, I noticed that many people were left-handed. This made me wonder: Are left-handed people not born in Ghana?
Reflecting on my childhood experiences, I realized that parents often discouraged children from using their left hand. If a child tried to receive something with their left hand, adults would refuse to give it until the child used the right hand. Sadly, in extreme cases, children who persisted in using their left hand sometimes had the fingertips of that hand lightly cut with a razor blade, with the belief that pain would force the child to switch to the right hand.
In some Ghanaian communities, left-handed individuals from royal families may be disqualified from becoming chief, or if there are multiple candidates for the stool, left-handed candidates may not be selected. This preference is rooted in traditional beliefs about the right hand being proper, respectful, and socially “clean”, while the left hand was historically associated with unclean tasks. In the eyes of these communities, a chief must embody the highest standards of respect and ritual propriety, so right-handedness is sometimes considered an important attribute.
Similarly, in certain communities, there is a prohibition against using the left hand to pour libation, a sacred Akan ritual honoring ancestors and deities. The ritual use of the right hand symbolizes respect, correctness, and proper social conduct. While left-handed individuals can still participate, they are often expected to use their right hand for this sacred act to show reverence and uphold tradition.
These practices illustrate how cultural norms about handedness have influenced leadership selection and ritual behaviors in some Ghanaian societies.
Today, attitudes are changing. People in Ghana are not as strict or horrified by left-handedness as in the past. This shift is partly due to cultural diffusion—the exchange of cultural practices between societies. Scientific research now shows that being left-handed is natural, and there is nothing wrong with using the left hand.
