Guyana and World News and news from the Guyanese Diaspora
Ghana: If you are planning to visit Ghana — by Francis Quamina Farrier – Updated with videos
Map of Ghana – click to enlarge
— by Francis Quamina Farrier
The recent state visit to Guyana by the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Mahamudu Bawumi, was in keeping with a promise made by the President of Ghana during a state visit. The Head of State of the Republic of Ghana, President Nana Akufo-Addo, paid a two-day state visit to Guyana in July 2018 to much acclaim by Guyanese.
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During his short visit, the Ghanian president toured some of Guyana’s manufacturing companies and also held a meet-and-greet session with Guyanese, especially of African heritage, at the Guyana Marriot Hotel in Georgetown.
Many issues of mutual interest were raised by those in attendance, principally about closer relations between Africans on the continent and those in the diaspora, including Guyana. Jet aircraft flights by airline companies, directly from the Caribbean to Africa, would take just about six hours, and much cheaper airline tickets than from North America and Europe, which is the situation at present. Current journeys from North America and Europe take eight and more hours to Ghana, South Africa and other countries in Africa, and you have to travel to Europe or North America to connect to flights. That situation was central in the discussion with the Ghanaian president and those at the meet-and-greet session back in 2018.
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At the time of that Ghanaian Presidential State visit, I had already visited Ghana four times and had written a few articles about the country, especially the growing relationship between Guyana and Ghana. My visits to Ghana have so far, covered about 60 percent of the country; that includes almost all of the coastline and deep into the hinterland including cities such as Ada, Ho, Kumasi, Tachiman, Tamale and Teshia, as well as some small rural communities. While on one hinterland river journey by speedboat, I felt as though I was travelling on the Pomeroon river in Region 2, Guyana. Even the vegetation on the banks of that river were similar to those along many river banks in Guyana. Since I have traversed so much of Guyana’s deep hinterland for over 70 years, it was pretty easy for me to recognize those similarities, and to enjoy them.
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Politics in Ghana
One of my previous articles had the headline, “Why I like the New President of Ghana.” In that article, I was looking at the human side and actions of that Ghanian politician. I pointed out that when Nana Akufo-Addo did not win the December 2012 Presidential elections – which in fact was by a very narrow margin, and which he claimed to have been cheated – he took a step which is not generally taken by politicians, especially in (so called) third world countries. Nana Akufo-Addo instructed his party members and supporters not to demonstrate or engage in any public protests. Instead, he decided to take the matter to the court for arbitration. That turned out to be unsuccessful for him. Gallant in defeat, his official statement on that judicial decision was, “I do not agree with the decision of the court, but I will abide with it.” Although Nana Akufo-Addo probably felt the pain of the loss of the presidency at that time, he met with the victor His Excellency President John Mehama and had cordial discussions.
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It must be mentioned that Ghana has a National objective to be regarded as one of the most peaceful countries in Africa, and most Ghanaians strive to upkeep that objective. Not that Ghanaians do not have heated political arguments. While I was on a three-hour-long bus trip within the country, a political debate erupted. It was in one of the languages of Ghana which of course, I do not know. However, because of the temper of those who were arguing, and hearing the names of Ghanian politicians constantly mentioned, I realized what the arguing was all about – politics and politicians. It got to the point when even the driver of the bus became involved in the arguing and was waving his arms all about; at times neither of his hands was on the steering wheel. I became petrified. Then, a woman who was seated directly in front of me, shouted in her language, what could only have been an order to “Stop the damn nonsense before this bus crash.” Because immediately, everyone became quiet, and the rest of the journey, extremely quiet and pleasant. Did the national motto of “Ghana, the most Peaceful Country in Africa” kick in? Seems most likely.
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Over the past weekend, the Vice President of that West African country, His Excellency Dr. Mahamudu Bawumi, paid a three-day official state visit to Guyana which proves that the two countries are continuing to work together for their mutual benefits. The Private Sector of that African country has expressed an interest in assisting Guyana’s Private Sector in several areas including infrastructure, Oil and Gas, Tourism and Agriculture as stated by the Chairman of Ghana’s Investment Promotion Centre Governing Board, Alex Dadey.
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A few years ago, I wrote an article pointing out the growing closeness of the two countries as they engage with bilateral projects. Both Guyana and Ghana are located just north of the equator, on opposite sides of the Atlantic ocean. They share a number of bilateral projects such as Oil and Gas, Gold and agriculture products among others. While Guyana continues to struggle to develop its Tourism Industry, Ghana struck ‘gold’ as it were, during their “YEAR OF RETURN” in 2019. Not only did the regular tourists turn up and entered that “Door of Return” but many international celebrities, including American Steve Harvey.
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Guyana with 83,000 square miles in size, is slightly smaller than Ghana which is 95,000 square miles. However, Ghana with a population of 30 million is much more populated than Guyana with under a million people in residence. While Guyana’s coastland is below sea level at high tide, this is not so in Ghana. On my visits I particularly looked at the level of sections of Ghana’s coastlands with the Atlantic Ocean, and all of which I have observed, are well above the level of that ocean which forms part of the boundaries of both countries. In the case of Ghana, the Atlantic is at its southern side, while it is at the Northern coast of Guyana.
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Respect for Elders
Ghana has a culture of respect and love for elders, that is immediately noted by the visitor from abroad. An elderly person is always offered assistance by a younger person when assistance is observed to be needed. There was the occasion when I was waiting to cross a very busy street in Accra, the capital. After about three minutes, a youngster probably in his late teens, left what he was doing, and went to the middle of the street, and with arms raised, brought traffic to a stop. “Come Daddy,” he instructed me. I gave him a gentle tap on the shoulder and said, “Thanks very much” as I hurried to the other side of the street. If you plan to visit Ghana after the Covid is over, just go for it; especially if you are of a certain age.
Author of the best-selling book, “TO SIR, WITH LOVE” Guyanese E.R. Braithwaite, whose other book “A Kind of Homecoming” chronicles his visit to Ghana. He passed away on December 12, 2016, at age 104. (Photo by Francis Quamina Farrier)
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VIDEO: 10 Most Impressive Mega Projects in Ghana
The New Africa Channel – March 1, 2021
10 Most Impressive Mega Projects In Ghana – in this video we will present the 10 most impressive mega construction projects in Ghana, which is set to change the face of the country. Investment in Africa by country is at all-time high and as a developing nation, Ghana’s focus on infrastructure growth is aimed at driving socio-economic development and enabling greater productivity within the various sectors of the economy. The annual infrastructure funding gap is estimated at $1.5 billion for the next decade. and government and private sector participants are developing innovative ways to bridge this gap.
VIDEO: President Akufo-Addo Addo’s infrastructure projects
The first permanent state in present-day Ghana was the Bono state of the 11th century.[11] Numerous kingdoms and empires emerged over the centuries, of which the most powerful were the Kingdom of Dagbon in the north[12] and the Ashanti Empire in the south.[13] Beginning in the 15th century, the Portuguese Empire, followed by numerous other European powers, contested the area for trading rights, until the British ultimately established control of the coast by the late 19th century. Following over a century of native resistance, Ghana’s current borders took shape, encompassing four separate British colonial territories: Gold Coast, Ashanti, the Northern Territories and British Togoland. These were unified as an independent dominion within the Commonwealth of Nations on 6 March 1957, becoming the first colony in sub-Saharan Africa to achieve sovereignty.[14][15][16] Ghana subsequently became influential in decolonisation efforts and the Pan-African movement.[17]
Ghana (/ˈɡɑːnə/ (
listen)), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It spans the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with the Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and Togo in the east.[10] Ghana covers an area of 238,535 km2 (92,099 sq mi), spanning a diverse geography and ecology that ranges from coastal savannahs to tropical rain forests. With over 31 million people, Ghana is the second-most populous country in West Africa, after Nigeria. The capital and largest city is Accra; other major cities include Kumasi, Tamale, and Sekondi-Takoradi. 
Comments
Respect for elders…That is one thing that is sorely lacking in the West, including Guyana.
Been reading lots of stories of elderly Guyanese being robbed and murdered by younger people, including young men they hire to work for them.
Ghana and Botswana tend to be considered more stable countries.