In Ghana, the overwhelming majority of people accused of witchcraft are women and girls. Nearly all victims killed during witch hunts are female. In the so-called “witch camps” or “outcast homes” in northern Ghana, it is rare to find a man among the residents. The population is almost entirely women—elderly women, widows, divorced women, poor…
Africa is one of the most misunderstood places in the world. Popular myths—often repeated in classrooms, media, and casual conversation—have distorted global understanding of the continent. Below are some common falsehoods about Africa, alongside the facts. False: Africa Is a Country True: Africa is a continent.Africa is the world’s second-largest continent and is made up…
Every year, thousands of tourists visit Ghana. According to the 2024 Tourism Report published by the Ghana Tourism Authority, Ghana welcomed 1,288,804 international visitors in 2024. The country continues to promote tourism in order to expand the industry and increase its benefits. This raises an important question: Is tourism beneficial to Ghana? How Tourism Benefits…
With colonialism came missionaries who sought to convert Africans to Christianity and, in the process, reshape African ways of life. This encounter was not culturally neutral. It involved a systematic attempt—sometimes subtle, often overt—to redefine African identity, values, and social institutions. While missionary education brought literacy and formal schooling, it also carried profound cultural consequences…
In the years following Ghana’s independence in 1957, one of the most influential political and intellectual concepts articulated by Kwame Nkrumah was “neo-colonialism.” For Nkrumah, independence did not mark the end of foreign domination in Africa. Instead, he argued that a new, more subtle form of control had emerged—one that operated through economic power, political…
The story of Ghana’s “Dream Team” is not merely a sporting tale; it is a generational narrative—one that reflects continuity, discipline, and the organic evolution of talent within Ghanaian football. Though the phrase “Dream Team” is more commonly associated with Olympic squads, in Ghanaian discourse it has come to affectionately describe the U-20 national football…
Corporal punishment is when an adult uses physical force to discipline or control a child, with the aim of causing pain, though not serious injury. In simple terms, it means hurting a child’s body to punish them. Examples of corporal punishment include beating or caning, slapping or spanking, whipping, hitting with objects such as sticks,…
Ghana stands for “God Has Anointed the Nation Already.” Many Ghanaians see their country not merely as a geographical territory in West Africa, but as a land endowed with immense natural, human, and spiritual blessings. From abundant mineral wealth to fertile agricultural lands and a vibrant population of educated citizens, Ghana possesses many of the…
Cohabitation refers to an intimate arrangement in which a man and a woman live together in a shared residence without being formally married. While cohabitation has become increasingly common in many contemporary societies, it is generally frowned upon in Akan society and regarded as socially improper. Within the Akan marital system, there is a strong…
For many years, this question has generated curiosity, debate, and speculation. But the answer lies not only in romance. It lies in politics, diplomacy, and a bold continental vision during one of the most transformative periods in African history. When Ghana gained independence from Britain on March 6, 1957, Kwame Nkrumah stood at the center…
When the Gold Coast achieved independence on March 6, 1957, becoming Ghana, the event generated immense public excitement and hope. For millions of Ghanaians, independence was not merely a constitutional change—it represented the promise of economic prosperity, political empowerment, social transformation, and a new national identity. Newspapers, political speeches, and public celebrations of the time…
Homicide is the killing of one person by another person. The study of homicide is an important part of criminology and is carried out by criminologists, especially those who specialize in homicide or lethal violence. Homicide is not a single, uniform act. There are many different types of homicide, and criminologists use specific terms—often called…
Along the wind-carved coastline of southern Ghana, among the Fante, physical games were never idle diversions. They were social rehearsals—training grounds for endurance, hierarchy, and communal rhythm. Two in particular—Atentam and Osibir—stand out in the historical record. Atentam derives from the Fante/Akan root tam, meaning “to push,” “to press,” or “to force against.” The prefix…
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…
Femicide refers to the intentional killing of females because they are female. It is widely recognized within criminology and gender studies as a distinct form of homicide, shaped by gender inequality, power imbalances, and cultural norms. Scholars of homicide and lethal violence use several related terms to describe gender-based killings. One such term is gynocide,…
