A visitor to Ghana will quickly notice something striking on the roads: commercial motor vehicles speak. Tro-tros, buses, taxis, and long-distance vehicles often carry inscriptions—short messages painted boldly on the body of the vehicle. These inscriptions may appear on the back of the vehicle, across the windscreen, or on a signboard fixed to the front….
Witchcraft is commonly understood in Ghana as a supernatural power believed to be possessed by some individuals, enabling them to influence the behavior, health, fortune, or misfortune of others—either as victims or beneficiaries. Belief in witchcraft and witches remains widespread and deeply embedded in Ghanaian society. Although no comprehensive national survey exists to measure belief…
Newspapers occupy an important place in Ghanaian society. Long before the rise of social media and online news platforms, newspapers were the primary source of information for the public. Even today, despite digital competition, newspapers continue to serve critical social, political, educational, and cultural functions across the country. Source of News and Information At their…
When entering a typical town or village in Ghana, a traveler is often welcomed by a metal signpost bearing the name of the place. These names are familiar to residents, yet many people rarely pause to ask an important question: How did this town get its name? In Ghana, as in many parts of the…
Culture refers to the total way of life of a people. It encompasses both material and non-material elements. Material culture consists of tangible aspects that can be seen and touched, such as cooking practices, eating utensils, earthenware, palanquins, drums, and idiophones. Non-material culture, by contrast, includes intangible elements such as language, music, art, religion, dance,…
Animism is the belief that the environment and society are populated with spirits. Many Ghanaians hold animistic beliefs, maintaining that their surroundings are inhabited by spiritual beings. Some of these spirits are believed to be benevolent, while others are considered malevolent. Animistic beliefs are widespread across Ghana’s ethnic groups. Even Ghanaians who identify as Christian…
Ghana is a multiethnic and multilingual country, home to numerous ethnic groups with distinct histories and cultural traditions. Among these groups are the Kwahu people, one of the many subgroups within the larger Akan ethnic group. The Kwahu are primarily located in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Their largest town, Nkawkaw, lies approximately 66 miles…
Traffic accidents in Ghana are more than statistics—they are daily tragedies that claim lives, ruin families, and leave survivors with lifelong injuries. Beyond the loss of life, road crashes lead to pain, suffering, disability, and economic hardship for individuals and communities alike. Recent data from the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and other reports show…
In Ghana, success is loudly celebrated, quietly envied, and endlessly debated. Yet, beneath the noise of social media displays, church testimonies, political slogans, and family expectations lies a deeper question we rarely pause to ask ourselves honestly: what does success truly mean to you? Not to your parents. Not to your pastor. Not to society,…
Almost everyone dreams of success. From childhood, we are taught to aspire, to achieve, and to “make it” in life. Parents encourage their children to succeed, communities celebrate successful people, and society often rewards those it considers accomplished. But an important question remains: What does success really mean—and who should be considered a successful person…
In an age of rapid social change, urbanization, and shifting lifestyles, it is worth asking a simple but important question: What is a family, and why do we still need one? Despite changes in how people live and relate to one another, the family remains the most fundamental institution in every society. Anthropologists who have…
In Ghana today, many parents encourage their children to speak English, sometimes at the expense of local languages. This trend is common not only in Ghana but also among Ghanaian families living abroad. While parents may believe that prioritizing English will make their children academically brighter, this approach often has unintended consequences for cultural identity…
Across Africa, myths and misunderstandings about bedwetting continue to affect children and families. In Ghana, many parents still believe that children who wet their beds at night are lazy or unwilling to wake up to urinate. As a result, some children are physically disciplined. In past decades, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s, children who…
Time to Break Old Beliefs For too long, society has told girls they are weaker, less capable, or meant to play second fiddle to boys. It’s time to shatter that myth. Girls can do it all—excel in school, lead in government, innovate in business, and make decisions that shape nations. Gender does not determine ability;…
Discarding Outdated Beliefs It is time for Africans to discard the outdated belief that boys and girls differ in abilities and potential. For too long, harmful cultural attitudes have suggested that women should play second fiddle to men. But reality proves otherwise: for everything a boy or a man can do, a girl or a…
