Kamikaze Canuck

In just 4 short days, Meg and I are off to Ghana!

It’s the first time either one of us have set foot in Africa and I can’t be more excited.  I have a hunch that this will be the best backpacking trip I’ve ever been on!

 

 Why Ghana You Ask?

It’s got a bit of everything.

• Colourful culture
• Beautiful beaches
• Great food
• Wonderful people
• Cheap prices.

It’s also well off the tourist radar which guarantees us an authentic look at the real Africa.

Ghana in a Nutshell

Ghana is about the same size as the UK and has about 23 million people.

It’s a former British colony which makes it one of the only English speaking countries in West Africa.   Until 1957 (when Ghana gained independence from the British) Ghana was called “The Gold Coast”.

 It is estimated that an astounding 1.5 million slaves were taken out of Ghana during the slave trading days.  We plan on touring some of the coastal forts where slaves were held before being shipped off to North and South America (see above).  Elmina Castle is the oldest European building in Africa.

It has made it’s own genre of music called “highlife” (Funk + Reggae)

It has been called “the most religious country in the world”.  Every business is named after Christianity in one way or another.  Homosexuality is illegal for men (often ending in prison sentences) but not for women – I have trouble wrapping my head around that one.

Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan is from Ghana.

 

Ghana is also a very safe and stable country with a rapidly growing economy.  It’s main exports are gold, timber, cocoa, diamond, bauxite, and manganese.

Next blog post will be from Ghana! 

 

 

 

 

 Until then, smoke and a pancake?