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…
The first English newspaper on the continent of Africa was published in Cape Town in 1800. The following year in Sierra Leone, The Royal Gazette and Sierra Leone Advertiser were published in Freetown. Both were European undertakings concerned with matters of government. In 1826, Charles Force, an American freed slave, published the Liberia Herald. He…
Robert Mensah: A Football Story and Tragedy in the Ghanaian Football In the annals of Ghanaian sporting history, few names evoke as much reverence, myth, and sorrow as Robert Mensah. His story is not merely about football; it is a narrative woven into the socio-cultural fabric of late colonial Gold Coast and early post-independence Ghana—a…
A taboo is an act so deeply forbidden that it provokes moral outrage, fear, or spiritual anxiety when violated. Taboos are cultural universals: every society draws invisible lines that must not be crossed. Yet these lines are not the same everywhere. What one society condemns as unthinkable may be ordinary or morally neutral in another….
Sociologists use the term ableism to describe prejudice, discrimination, and social exclusion directed against persons with disabilities. The terms ablism and disablism are also used in the scholarly literature to refer to the same phenomenon, namely, the systematic disadvantaging of people whose bodies or minds do not conform to socially constructed notions of “normalcy.” Although…
In 1858, Charles Bannerman — the son of a British lieutenant governor and an Asante princess — founded the Accra Herald, recognized as the first African-produced newspaper in West Africa. Unlike the colonial-run press, this handwritten paper reached primarily African readers, circulating among some 300 subscribers. It focused on local issues, social commentary, and matters…
Long before Ghana had a film industry or digital streaming platforms, music was the country’s most powerful form of entertainment—and Highlife became its loudest voice. From colonial ballrooms to roadside bars and global stages, Highlife music has shaped Ghana’s cultural identity for more than a century. The Birth of Highlife in the Gold Coast (1890s–1920s)…
Politics, at its core, is a struggle over resources, influence, and authority. While much of political competition is expressed through negotiation, elections, and policymaking, history shows that the pursuit of power can also result in extreme acts, including the deliberate taking of human life. Homicide—the act of one person killing another—assumes particular significance when it…
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,…
Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwamena is a distinguished and widely respected businessman from Nkwatia in the Kwahu enclave. Though originally from Nkwatia, he was raised in Nkawkaw, where he also began his early education at the elementary level. His academic journey took him through two notable institutions—Mpraeso Secondary School and St. Peter’s Secondary School—both of which…
Introduction: The Hidden Face of Family ViolenceHomicide refers to the killing of one person by another, and within this broad category lies a deeply troubling subset known as family homicide, which involves the killing of one family member by another. Although the family is often idealized as a haven of care, protection, and emotional support,…
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…
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…
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…
Introduction: A Name That Became a Symbol In the sociological imagination of the Gold Coast—what is today Ghana—names are never merely labels; they are identities, narratives, and sometimes prophecies. The name Abedi Pele transcends the ordinary. It is a fusion of biography, mythmaking, and cultural symbolism that reflects both indigenous values and global influences. To…
