The Republic of Ghana was formerly called the Gold Coast due to its abundant endowment in Gold. Ghana lies north of the equator between latitude 4º45'N and 11º11'N longitude 30 W and 0º 30'E. IT covers an area of 239,460 sq. km (92,000 sq. miles) with a distance from North to South stretching 672km (420 miles) and East to West along its coast line measuring 560 km (348 miles). Ghana is bordered by Cote d'Ivoire on the west. Burkina Faso to the North and Togo to the East. One can see Benin and Nigeria further east. On the South stretches the coastline along the Gulf of Guinea (Atlantic Ocean).

Since Ghana is only a few degrees north of the equator, the only seasonal changes are distinct wet and dry seasons. The best time to visit is during the December-February dry season, when day temperatures are in the 80s-90s F/27-36 C and nights in the 70s F/18-26 C. (Another dry season occurs in July and August, but it's hotter.) The worst time to visit is April-June, when it's the rainiest. A dry northeast wind known as the harmattan blows almost continuously in January and February. The eastern coastal belt is warm and comparatively dry, the southwest corner has the highest humidity and rainfall, while the north is frequently hot and dry. Don't forget to take along an umbrella during the rainy season.

The people:
The population of Ghana is about 18.9 million. Ghana is divided into 10 regions, namely Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western, Northern, Central, Eastern Brong Ahafo, Volta, Upper East and Upper West.

	Cuisine: Ghanaian cuisine has diverse traditional dishes from each ethnic group, tribe and clan from the north to the south and from the east to west. Generally, most Ghanaian dishes are made up of a starchy portion (rice, fufu, banku, tuozafi, gigi, akplidzii, yekeyeke, etew, ato, etc) and a sauce or soup saturated with fish, snails, meat or mushrooms. Most dishes are usually served with a stew (often based on tomato with other protein cooked in it) or soup. The most popular soups are groundnut soup, light soup, and palmnut soup. Okra soup and stew are also popular. Usually rice is served with a soup or stew,kenkey (fermented corn and cassava dough, wrapped in corn or banana leaves and cooked into a consistent solid paste) is served with fired fish and hot pepper while banku (cooked fermented corn dough and cassava dough) is usually served with okra stew or soup and a few times with tilapia. Fufu (pounded cassava and plantain or pounded yam and plantain, or pounded cocoyam), akple and konkonte (from dried cassava chips) are served with soup.
Fufu with Light Soup
Currency and Economy: Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains somewhat dependent on international financial and technical assistance as well as the activities of the extensive Ghanaian diaspora. Gold, timber, cocoa, diamond, bauxite, and manganese exports are major sources of foreign exchange.
Ghana's currency is the Ghana Cedi (GH¢) which ismade up of 100 Ghana Pesewas. The Ghana Cedi denomination comes of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 notes and 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 Ghana Pesewas in coins.
Politics: Political parties became legal in mid-1992 after ten-year hiatus. Under the Fourth Republic, major parties are National Democratic Congress, led by Jerry John Rawlings, which won presidential and parliamentary elections in 1992; New Patriotic Party, major opposition party; People's National Convention, led by former president Hilla Limann; and (new) People's Convention Party, successor to Kwame Nkrumah's original party of same name.

Electricity:
The electricity in Ghana is a 200/240 volts. Electric outlet accepts either 2 or 3 prolonged plugs or convectors. Water is safe from the tap. Bottled mineral water is also available for purchase.

FESTIVALS IN GHANA
There are over two hundred festivals, which is celebrated each year in Ghana. Among them are Adae and Akwasiddae, Dzwuwu, Apoo, Ngmayem, Dipo, Aboakyer/Antelope, Kundum, Fetu Afahye, Kobine, Odwira, and Sasabobrim and many others. Many festivals include thrilling durbars of chiefs, when tribal leaders and Queen Mothers process in decorated palanquins, shaded by the traditional umbrellas, and supported by drummers and warriors discharging ancient muskets.

However, one of the most interesting festivals is Akwasidae Festival of the Ashantis. The Akwasidae festival is celebrated every 42 days in Ghana.

The Ashantis believe in the dead. Each time that a king dies, his stool ("chair") is sent to a special place where it is kept. It is the duty of the Asantehene , the Ashanti King to purify at every 42 days the stools of the dead kings. The festival starts on Friday and it is called Adaefofie. It continues on Saturday and this is called Memeneda Dapaa. Both Friday and Saturday celebrations are performed behind close doors and the public cannot participate.

Panafest
This festival is held very summer. It is celebrates Ghanaian roots. People from other African countries as well as the African-Americans with roots in Ghana visit the country and celebrate their heritage.

The Homowo Festival
The word "Homowo" actually means 'making fun of hunger.' Our traditional oral history describes a time long ago when the rains stopped and the sea closed its gates. A deadly famine spread throughout the southern Accra Plains, the home of the Ga people. When the harvest finally arrived and food became plentiful, the people were so happy that they celebrated with a festival that ridiculed hunger.

Rites and Rituals
There are several rites and rituals that are performed throughout the year in various parts of the country. They cover the right of passage child-birth, puberty, marriage and death. To the majority of people, these celebrations provide all that is satisfying to their communities and families.

1. A passport and visa are required for travel to Ghana. Visa cannot be obtained without a passport being in your possession.  Likewise, if your passport will expire within six months of your departure date, you will have to get a new one.  International travel regulations presently will not permit travel by a U.S. citizen outside the USA in countries where a visa is required, if that passport will expire within 60 days of your departure date from the USA.

2. Country Travel will facilitate your visa application by providing the group with an introduction letter to be attached to their application forms to be submitted to the Embassy. There is a fee for visas.  You will be notified at the time of application and processing regarding these fees and this should be about 45 days before your trip.

3. If you have a medical condition, please check with your physician to guarantee that you are medically able to take this trip.  There is a moderate amount of walking on this tour. Please insure that you are physically able to climb steps and walk short distances. Please notify us of any medical conditions prior to your travel.

4. Yellow fever immunization are required for re-entry back to the USA. Anti-malarial medications are highly indicated, as are updates on Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Diptheria and Tetanus.

5. We recommend that you carry a mixture of cash, credit cards, and   traveler’s checks for your tour. You can exchange money at the many banks and forex exchange bureaus in the country.  Our guides will assist you in this process.  The exchange rate fluctuates daily and hourly.  To get a general idea of what the exchange rate will be, it is at the moment about one (1) Ghana Cedi to one (1) US Dollar, though it is about two (2) cents above the dollar.

6. Trading is a viable process in Africa. In exchange for some US goods, you can barter for handicrafts, cloth, art, etc. But cash is still king when working out deals.  So, test your “haggling” skills accordingly.

7. You can use credit cards to get money from ATM machines in the country. You will receive the currency of the country and not US money. On occasion, some banks will give you exchanges in U.S. dollars. Please note that Visa and MasterCard provide you with more shopping options than American Express and Carte Blance or Diner’s card. Discover cards are not accepted in the country.

8. Purchase your film or digital camera discs in the USA before leaving. Photographic film and other items are extremely expensive in the country. When you are taking pictures of people, please ask them if you can, sometimes they will demand some money before accepting to that and some will rarely refuse.

9. Cotton clothes are essential and cooler in tropical climates than polyester etc.  Don’t over pack. You will need room for all of those items that you are going to purchase. Otherwise, be prepared to pay for overweight luggage or extra bags. These fees begin at $150 and go upwards. They can wear sundresses, as the sun is almost everywhere. Women can wear trousers, jeans, shorts and any other clothing that might expose their legs or arms but should not be “provocative”.

10. Items purchased may be shipped by air cargo, UPS or FedEx.  However, this is quite expensive.  It might be cheaper to just take one empty suitcase when you go so you can fill it up for the return trip.  Your ticket will permit you to have #2 checked bags and one carry-on. Anything in excess of that will be charged a fee and may not be permitted to be taken.  We recommend taking one bag filled with pens, paper, school supplies, clothes for trading and as presents etc. so that once you empty it, you can then fill it with your newly purchased items.

11. When it doubt, always ask first. Our guides are excellent resources and are there to assist you with your requests.

12. Please do not discuss politics and religion despite your driving urge to do so.  You are a guest in another country, don’t wear out your welcome or cause unnecessary notice to yourself.

13. Protect your passport at all costs. Do not pack it or other important papers and medications in your checked luggage.  Put these documents in carry-on bags and keep them with you.

14. Drink only bottled water and do not brush your teeth with tap water either. In addition, we recommend that you do not use ice in your drinks. You can get cold water, sodas, and juices. You do not have any immunity against these bacteria and viruses in Africa.

15. Wash off with bottled water all raw foods. Do not cut into food with a knife that has been washed with the local water supply. Wash off the knife or other cutlery and wash off the fruit or other vegetables before you slice them or peal them.

16. Negotiate all taxi fares before you sit inside the cab when you are traveling on your own. If you are in doubt about what to pay, ask the hotel concierge about fares etc.  They are invaluable resources.

17. There are many Internet café’s in the country. Their rates are generally cheaper than those of the hotel.  Should you elect to use one, make sure that you log out of your ISP when you are finished. Otherwise, you will begin to get a lot of e-mail requests for money or offering you participation in numerous money schemes as those coming behind you will have access to your e-mail address and data. Likewise, erase all messages from the hard drive that you delete so that they are not readily accessible to curious eyes.

18. There will be opportunity for you to purchase tailored men’s and women’s clothing items both custom-made as well as “from the rack”. If buying custom items, it is customary to leave a deposit upfront and the balance paid upon receipt of the items in case that exchanges will need to be made.

19. Of note, is the fact that all human interactions and transactions are carried out with the right hand, even in left-handed individuals.  Please get in the habit of passing food, shaking hands, etc. with the right hand exclusively. This is true all over Africa no matter what country you visit. If you find yourself, using your left hand despite warnings, just apologize “Excuse my left hand” and move on. The African sentiment is to forgive you and they know that you are from the USA and will often laugh it off.

20. Gifts can be given out but be careful of the number of people around as they can scramble and get you and themselves injured in the process. If you want to part a gift to someone, please consult your guide.

21. Airlines keep changing their departure and arrivals times from various cities and airports. Final flight times and information will be passed to the group about 45 days before the start of the tour to avoid mix up with the information.

For more information about Ghana: