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….
The question of whether independence in 1957 marked the true birth of a free African press in the Gold Coast—now Ghana—is both historically complex and deeply debated. While Ghana’s independence symbolized political liberation from colonial rule, the evolution of press freedom was far more gradual and contested. Newspapers had played a crucial role in anti-colonial…
In 1964, at just 22 years old, the newly crowned world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali stepped onto Ghanaian soil—and into African history. Fresh from his stunning victory over Sonny Liston in Miami, the young champion—then newly renamed Muhammad Ali—embarked on a tour of Africa. One of the most memorable stops on that journey was…
The early years of Ghana’s independence, particularly between 1957 and the mid-1960s, reveal the gradual emergence of state control over the media. While independence initially generated optimism about press freedom, archival newspaper records, government policies, and editorial patterns show that signs of state influence appeared almost immediately. These early developments shaped the long-term trajectory of…
The growth of newspaper readership in the Gold Coast—modern-day Ghana—cannot be understood without examining the critical role played by nineteenth-century mission schools. These educational institutions, established by European Christian missions, were not only centers of religious instruction but also engines of literacy, intellectual transformation, and political awareness. By producing a new class of literate Africans,…
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…
The end of the trans-Atlantic slave trade in the nineteenth century is often presented in historical narratives as a clear moral victory led by European abolitionists. However, in reality, the process was complex, uneven, and frequently misrepresented—particularly in early newspapers and colonial reports. In the region now known as Ghana, selective reporting played a crucial…
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…
Few infrastructure projects in the history of Ghana have had as profound an impact as the construction of the Akosombo Dam. Built in the early years of Ghana’s independence, the project symbolized the ambitious development vision of the country’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, who believed that industrialization was essential for true economic independence. The dam…
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…
The portrayal of Kwame Nkrumah as a national hero was not simply a spontaneous public perception—it was carefully shaped, amplified, and sustained through newspapers and other media channels during the late colonial and early post-independence periods. In the Gold Coast, now Ghana, the press played a decisive role in constructing Nkrumah’s public image as a…
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…
An observable feature of Ghanaian social life is a recurring tendency toward silence in moments that might otherwise call for resistance or confrontation. Even when individuals experience clear forms of mistreatment, there is often a strong social and cultural pull toward restraint rather than action. People are frequently encouraged to endure, to exercise patience, and…
Suicide is defined as death resulting from self-directed harmful behavior carried out with the intent to die. A suicidologist is a professional who specializes in the scientific study of suicide and suicidal behavior. Suicidologists examine the causes of suicide, develop strategies for prevention, design and evaluate intervention measures, and study postvention—the responses and supports needed…
