Social Profile
Food & Drink: International food is available in most large hotels and many restaurants serve a range of local traditional foods. On the coast, prawns and other seafood are popular. Dishes include traditional soups (palmnut, groundnut), Kontomere and Okro (stews) accompanied by fufu (pounded cassava), kenkey or gari. In Accra there are also restaurants serving Middle Eastern, Chinese, French and other European cuisine.
Local beer (which is similar to lager) and spirits are readily available.
Nightlife: In Accra and other major centres there are nightclubs with Western popular music and Afro beat. Concerts can be seen at the national theatre in Accra. The School of Performing Arts, Univeristy of Ghana, Legon often hosts drama, poetry and cultural dancing shows. Foreign and Ghanaian films can be seen at the Ghana Film Theatre and Executive Film House in Accra.
Shopping: Almost all commodities, including luxury items, can be found in the shops and markets. Artefacts from the Ashanti region and northern Ghana can be bought along with attractive handmade gold and silver jewellery. Modern and old African art is also available (although prices are high), in particular Ashanti stools and brass weights formerly used to measure gold. In all the northern markets, earthenware pots, leatherwork, locally woven shirts and Bolgatanga baskets woven from multi-coloured raffia are sold. Shopping hours: Mon-Tue, Thurs-Fri 0800-1200 and 1400-1730, Wed-Sat 0800-1300.
Special Events: Ghanaian festivals are well worth seeing with drumming, dancing and feasting. Every part of the country has its own annual festivals for the affirmation of tribal values, the remembrance of ancestors and past leaders, and the purification of the state in preparation for another year. The following is a selection of the major festivals celebrated annually. For more information and for exact dates, contact the tourist office (see Contact Addresses section).
Jan Edina Buronya (New Year), Elmina. Mar Gologo, Upper East region. Mar/Apr Ngmauen, Odumase. May Dipo, Krobo Odumase; Aboakyer, Winneba. Jul Bakatue, Elmina. Aug Asafotufiam, Ada; Dumba, Upper West region; Homowo, Accra. Sep Kobine, Upper West region; Odwira Festival, Akropong; Fetu Afahye, Elmina. Aug/Sep Ghana Flower and Garden Fair, Accra. Oct Hogbetsotso, Anloga.
Social Conventions: Ghanaians should always be addressed by their formal titles unless they specifically request otherwise. Handshaking is the usual form of greeting. It is customary in much of West Africa not to use the left hand for touching food. Photography: Permission should be sought before photographing military installations, government buildings or airports. Tipping: When a service charge is not included, a ten per cent tip is usual.
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